Tide Of Twilight (Inactive)

Game Master Rickmeister

The battle continues to rage on between Theor and the last logger. The man is taking his last power and claws and bites like a man that has nothing to lose. He looks more and more like a wild lynx as he continues to rage and Theor drops to the floor, blood gushing in several places and dangerously close to the arteries in his neck and groin.

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
___Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Claw: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
___Damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Claw: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
___Damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Sorry Theor! :(
How much you got left?

Bayani decides that the life of the logger is of less importance than that of his teammate, and switches to full on, lethal damage. He peers at the bestial human, taking his measure as he raises his free hand to summon an electrical charge.

Knowledge check to try to figure out this altered human's strength or weaknesses: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 (Base Intelligence check, add +4 if Knowledge[arcana] is the appropriate skill)

Initiating spell combat, -2 to all attacks.

Shocking grasp, touch attack: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 2 = 4

Oops, almost forgot a concentration check to cast defensively: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

When the logger dodges his spell, Bayani steps forward with his rapier thrusting at the man's chest.

1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 2 = 7

Damn, OK, Bayani has the charge held for shocking grasp, but he misses both the touch and the rapier thrust.

-3/-16

Stabilize: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

After the fluury of claws, teeth and fur Theor lies unconcious on the ground slowly bleeding out.

Hearing the commotion to the southwest Horatius turns just in time to see Theor fall. Reaching down he scoops up his sword and hurries in that direction.

Pickup sword, move towards Theor

Kumari and Darius, you're up! :-)

Darius agains moves quickly towards the fighting, using a double move.

"Hang on Bayani, I'll be there in a moment!"

I can reach the logger on my next turn and still attack. Even if I had tried to run this turn, I couldn't have attacked at the end anyway.

Kumari double moves. Unless you want to change it, but I thought i'd move you to speed combat along.

The logger is going mental with pure bloodlust, and attacks Bayani on sight. Bayani falls to the same fate as Theor, blood gushing from several spots on his body.
The man lets out an unearthy howl, as he begins looking for his next victim! Darius looks into the cold stare of death incarnate.

Darius steels himself, then darts forward and stabs at the man/beast with his shortsword.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7
Extra +1 still from sharpening

Bayani yelps, "Medic!" as he slips into unconsciousness.

Rolling for stabilization: 1d20 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 - 1 = 16

He seems to be breathing steadily, but he's still taken a lot of damage.

-1/9 HP, Stable

As Darius turns the corner, his reflexes take over and the slashes the man across the neck, killing him in merely one second.

Out of combat. Do your thing.

Kumari quickly stabilizes her friends and then the logger. She pays special attention to the condition of any companions who have claws and such.

After everyone is stable she'll separate the loggers from the pathfinders and rouse the pathfinders with positive energy.
Channel: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + (6) = 12

Bayani groans and opens his eyes, feeling the warmth of positive energy wash over him. He mutters a few things in Minatan (you're not sure, but they sound like profanity), then murmurs to Kumari:

Looking at Theor, Horatius, and the loggers, Bayani asks, "How long have you two been feeling this effect? Did it only occur when we were attacked, or do you think it was building since before then?"

"As I've already said" the paladin begins with a bit of fire in his voice and then stops himself. After taking a breath he continues. "I'm sorry. I felt no different than ever until we began this battle. Now that it has ended I had hoped...." he trails off looking at his hands. "It is no matter. Our mission remains the same, we must find and stop these druids before they can afflict anyone else."

"These loggers are victims in this as well. We will need to contain them but should do our best not to harm them."

Theor sits up rubbing the newly formed scars from his healed wounds, and notices his hands. Tossing them up to look at them and then hearing Bayani's question he shakes his head in disbelief, "I didn't even realize... until now really. I think it was the fight, I remember feeling an odd rush when we started to fight, but the rest is just sor of a red haze."

"I've heard of warriors who harness the power of rage who summon a spirit of beasts to grow claws... but none of you are that sort of warrior, are you? The briefing we received from the Venture-Captain said the evil druids were using this artifact to directly turn people into beast-men. Perhaps now they've gotten it to work remotely? Very disturbing. Perhaps we three will be next..."

"Yes, Bayani, I agree. This is very troubling. I have to admit, I was almost too scared to move when I first saw what was happening. All the more reason to get to the bottom of this - and quickly!"

Everyone ready? Didn't see any updates for a few days, nobody wants to do anything with the KO dudes?

Sorry, busy weekend.

Bayani will search the loggers and examine them in detail.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

He will also search the surrounding area and the homes. Perception, taking 20: 20 + 3 = 23

"Do we want to wake them up and try to interrogate them?"

"Let's get them tied up and then we can rouse them. Hopefully they'll have some useful information."

At this point we're at the end of the adventuring day correct?

Maybe, maybe not ;)
Adventuring night anyone?
The sun is slowly setting, but you could have 2 more hours of travel if you wished.

"Let us take a few minutes to find what we can from the loggers and the camp. But if Theor and Horatius are affected from the short time we've spent near to the Henge, then I think we should seek to retrieve the splinter as soon as possible. If we can travel before nightfall, we should take the opportunity."

Kumari will help to bind the loggers and wake one with a cure light if Heal checks won't do it.

"I am out of spells, besides cantrips. I have a few scrolls but I would prefer not to use them unless necessary. Is this place defensible? "

"Certainly more defensible than the open wild. Let's see what the loggers have to say but I think we should make use of what time we have. The ritual draws to completion and I would not see it succeed."

Theor nods "I agree, whatever this is," he motions to the fur and claws "I would rather we stop it from going any further or being permanent. We should hunt down the druids and do what we need to do..."

When the loggers come to, they appear too feral to be of much use. They growl and bite, and attempt to break free.
Any questions you are asking fall on deaf ears.

All right, plan of action?

How long will it take us to reach the henge from here?

You suspect the next day (late) afternoon, if you don't run into any problem along the way.

"These will be of no help to us. Let's move on while we still have daylight. Though we may not reach the circle it will get us there all the faster tomorrow."

Theor nods taking the lead and keeping a sharp eye out as the progress, making sure they stay on the correct path.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 +2 vs humans
Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Do we find anything of use around the camp?

Nothing of interest around the camp. You head out, looking for the easiest road, and after two hours find it extremely difficult due to the weather.

Explain to me your night time/camp routine please.

I say we split up shifts into 4 hours a piece, have 2 on the early evening, two on the late night and one on the morning. (Or 2 on the morning if Dex is back)

"If I don't get 8 hours of continuous sleep, I'll be useless in the morning. The myth that elves do not sleep is only that -- a myth. I'd like to take the last shift in the morning so I can study my spellbook while the others sleep. If that does not work, I'll take the first watch instead."

Horatius will sit the middle shift

When the group finally stops to camp for the night Horatius goes through his usual routine of assisting in getting camp setup, maintaining his gear and taking time to pray to Erastil. As he does so he continues to feel a haziness to his thoughts but manages to focus through it for the most part.

After running through some martial exercises he settles down in a quiet spot to pray. As he communes with his god he finds an oddness to it. This night he feels an unusually strong attachment to the natural world around him. Sights, scents and sounds seem to surround him in nuances he'd never noticed before. As he explores them he can feel the natural bond growing and he is elated by it. Above the sound of a squirrel settling for the night, nearby the scent of a deer making its way to a stream, in the distance a lone call on the wind summoning others to run, to hunt, to kill. At the sound of it his pulse begins to quicken and he almost leaps to his feet when a gentle tug pulls at his mind back. Shaking his head he turns his thoughts from the path they'd started down. This was not Erastils way. Nature without control was simple savagery. Guidance, community, respect these were the gifts civilization brought to the world.

Refocused he returned to camp and settled down to sleep before his watch.

"I will watch the morning shift since I will rise before dawn for prayers in any case. Goodnight gentlemen."

Kumari will help to get the camp set up and then fret about her skirts and finding a way to lay comfortably on the ground. She gets off to sleep easily enough after today's exertions.

Dex should be back, don't know what's keeping him.. :s
And Bayani, you need 8 hours of sleep, but is it a rule that it needs to be conseccutive? I believed it didn't?

The wind blows through the night.

Kumari and Darius?

Darius offers to take the first watch.

"I'm usually kind of restless anyway. Probably comes from too many late nights back in Absalom, but I also have a hard time falling asleep outdoors."

Darius finds a place where he can watch the camp while reclining somewhat, and sets up to begin the watch.

Oops, forgot something:
After making a thorough search of the lumber camp, you find a pay box containing 55 gold pieces.

Back on track:
The night passed without any problems, though sounds of wolves tearing up their prey can be heard far in the distance.

After continueing on your path to Briar Henge, you find it running through a deep, placid river. A few large logs have been placed across the river, providing a crude bridge to access the other side. Sunlight dapples the surface of the murky water, the result of branches crisscrossing the river high overhead.

Horatius awakes after a restless night of sleep. Usually comfortable in the wild he couldn't seem to shake a feeling of restlessness that kept him on edge. What sleep would come was filled with dreams of the chase and left him feeling as if he'd run all night. With the sun starting to peek over the horizon he gave up on any further rest and began to prepare for the day ahead. It was not long before he noticed that the changes begun yesterday had further advanced. The fur now covering much of his body had thickened, his clawed hands had become more twisted and his canines had further extended. The haze plaguing his mind was still there and if anything had worsened. Focusing on complex tasks was difficult and his thought process seemed slowed.

Doing his best to push through it he dawned his armor and gear. The usually familiar weight and straps felt unwieldy and constricting. The push of nature around him, first noticed the night before, was now a constant background noise in his mind. The sounds and scents about the camp were a constant distraction.

"Let's go." he barks, impatient to be on their way.

Kumari wakes and is quite relieved to find that she has not turned into a monster as she slept.

She takes Horatius' place so that he can get a few hours of rest, and prepares herself to greet the day.

When the sun breaks the horizon she is waiting with prayers and supplication to the Dawnflower.

In the early morning twilight, Bayani prepares a new set of spells, with greater offensive intent.

What do you do with the bridge?

Wow completely missed the whole bridge thing somehow..

Horatius approaches the log bridge looking about for any sign of ambush. Sniffing at the air he puts a foot on the bridge to test its sturdiness. If it seems solid enough he will begin crossing, taking his time if it seems unstable or slick.

Perception looking around : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 Bayani looks around the bridge to see any chance of a trap or ambush.

Darius will hang back for the moment, and allow the others to test the bridge.

"I'm pretty light on my feet, friends, so I can try to cross first if you'd like, or even last, in case someone in front damages the bridge."

The logs provide an easy path across the wide river.
As in, no skill checks required :)

Horatius is preparing to cross it, having set his first foot on the logs.
Anyone want to go first/interject or anything?
Also: Who is second/third/...?

Bayani draws his sword and mutters, "Ready your weapons... I have a bad feeling about this."

He will be right behind Horatius.

Kumari readies her crossbow to cover the far side of the river.

Theor is looking around, his bow at the ready.

As soon as Bayani answers my questions, I'm pushing it further down the road!

Theor wakes very groggy from his sleep, seemingly a little slower to thought and quicker to irritation, but manages to get himself composed and ready to move on with the others.

At the bridge he'll look at the river trying to get a sense for how easy it would be to cross without even needing the bridge as well as to get a feel for the local wildlife that might inhabit it.

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 Not sure if it is right, but to try and figure out the strength of the river.
Know. Nature: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 For river wildlife