The large bat shifts and attacks Calistria
But misses.
Players are up.
The Tusk mountains were void of civil institutions, but not of tricksters. The glacial wastes gave many thieves places to hide, and one would be wise to keep a watch for those who strode above the frost without path. Ledir knew this well, and the scene before him brought him back to one such moment in his life where he did not heed the pathless walkers, and was slighted for it.
Vorelloex sees the patch of mess beyond the last drop of blood, but scans farther out, near the horizon.
[dice=Perception, following the not-trail]1d20+4
"This one is a trickster. The trail has not yet run cold, but where it rests I could not know... Chisohk!"
Frustrated, Vorelloex darts in the direction he most thinks the sorcerer would go. He still does not like this portal'd place.
After travelling for several hundred meters you still see nothing but forest.
Calistria shrieks and falls back as the giant bat lashes out at her.
"By the Sacred Butterfly!"
She rushes over and slaps her hand on Voryn's back, briefly praying for the goddess to guide his hand.
Seeing no other way, Voryn attacks the giant bat. As he swings the sword, it feels almost as if the blade directs itself.
The beast takes a severe slash from Voryn and will attempt to attack him on its turn. But the attack slides off his breastplate.
Players are up again.
Swift looks around, perplexed.
"This doesn't bode well for us. We might be running around, seeking something that isn't there to be found..."
Calistria does her best to stay behind Garekk, casting guidance upon him again.
Voryn puts all his might into his next attack.
"Chisok! ...Let us leave this cursed place and find some beer. The hunt is fruitless."
Vorelloex feels tired, which is an unusual place for him to be. He thinks of his brother and their younger days, when he never felt tired.
It disturbs him.
The beast howls in again in pain and attempts to flee triggering OOA from anyone in melee range of the creature.
Swift puts a reassuring hand on Vorel's shoulder.
"I know you are weary, but let us not give up hope just yet. I dread to think what might happen if we head back now."
He wrinkles his brow and firmly grasps both of Vorel's shoulders.
"I can't pretend I know how to proceed. I'm no tracker. But I refuse to let evil win, that is what this land needs. Hope. Something to believe in. We have been living centuries of strife. It is time we took the fight to them."
He looks straight into Vorel's eyes, hoping the half-elf can see the fiery passion that has taken hold of the monk.
The large bat flies out of the cave and disappears from view, leaving the adventurers alone in the ancient temple.
"I suggest we return to where we were, that is, to where the blood trail ended, and begin looking again in a new direction."
You guys will need to make another survival or perception check to pick up the trail.
"Is everyone unharmed? Does anyone need healing?" Calistria asks her fellow adventurers.
Voryn looks himself up and down. "I am unschated. The bat wasn't so lucky, but at least it can still fly. Shall we head back to the healer?"
The mountain man grunts out of fatigued frustration, and begins to wander back towards where he surmises the blood trail was left.
"Come on, then..."
[dice=Perception check to pick up the trail]1d20+4
The mountain man grunts out of fatigued frustration, and begins to wander back towards where he surmises the blood trail was left.
"Come on, then..."
Looking over the ground again you realize that the trail doubles back after the packed down area, heading behind the portal.
"I had a strong wall between myself and the bat." Calistria says, slapping Garekk on the back. "Let's go give our healer his water and then rejoin the others."
"There."
Vorelloex points to the blood trail curving behind the tree.
Why didn't I see this at first... Chisohk. It's been too long since my last hunt...
He follows the track behind the tree portal into wherever it would lead him. He doesn't wait for anyone.
"There."
Vorelloex points to the blood trail curving behind the tree.
Why didn't I see this at first... Chisohk. It's been too long since my last hunt...
He follows the track behind the tree portal into wherever it would lead him. He doesn't wait for anyone.
You follow the faint trail for about 750 meters before it goes into a some kind of cave opening at the bottom of a small slope.
The other 3 return from the temple with the water late in the day, reaching the village with the healer about an hour before sundown.
Swift eyes the ominous cave with a steely gaze.
"We are going to have to brave the dangers of this cavern if we are to have any hope of saving the innocent within. Justice does not come without it's price, whatever that may be on this day."
He looks at both of his companions.
"Are we prepared?"
The half-elf unwinds his flail, gives it a good twirl, and heaves the club-heads over his shoulder.
"No. I'm thirsty."
Vorelloex's dull eyes begin to flicker their usual shine again, not with his normal brute valor, but with a flash of rabid madness.
He struts aloof into the cave.
About 30 meters into the cave you encounter a solid wooden door with metal reinforcement. It doesn't appear to have a lock or any means of opening it from this side.
"I believe it to be unwise to announce our presence. Someone may be waiting on the other side of the door."
Swift carefully approaches the door and puts an ear against, trying to hear what is going on on the other side of the door.
"I believe it to be unwise to announce our presence. Someone may be waiting on the other side of the door."
Swift carefully approaches the door and puts an ear against, trying to hear what is going on on the other side of the door.
[dice=Perception]1d20+7
You hear nothing.
Vorelloex nods in agreement to the plots of his companions, and stands by, flail at the ready, prepared to destroy anything they cross.
"If this is his stronghold, I should check to see what we're up against first," Hailey suggests.
Hailey will cast Detect Magic.
You detect nothing.
The other 3 return from the temple with the water late in the day, reaching the village with the healer about an hour before sundown.
You find the healer easily enough and give him payment. The priest you brought for healing is much better, though still weak and tired. The healer indicates that you should take your friend and leave now that payment has been rendered.
Calistria yawns.
"Come on, brother." she says to the village priest, sliding her arm into his. "Let's get you home. Maybe I can even nap on the way."
"It seems we are at an impasse. As much as I hate to suggest this, there seems to be no way in. Should we wait for our comrades to return from their errand?"
The monk seems downcast at the thought of it. He rests his back against the wall while awaiting his friends answers.
"I could sure use a nap as well. I don't think I can wait.. *yawn*.. until Kotla." He gets up in the wagon and puts his hood over his head. "Wake me up if there's any trouble."
|
Garekk helps to load everyone in the wagon, then climbs into the drivers seat. "I slept on the way here, you two can sleep on the way back. Rest easy, I will stay vigilant." With a crack of the whip, they are off, headed back to their companions. I do hope Hailey has not gotten herself into any trouble.. Swift should have managed to keep her out of most of it, but she is so headstrong at times His expressions range between a furrowed brow and an easy smile, imagining the capers that the rest of the party has been dealing with.
The three in the woods return through the portal and arrive back in the village by sunrise.
They spend most of the day resting from their lack of sleep the night before.
By the next morning the other 3 have arrived back in town with the healed priest.