"Eh, didn't mean much by it. Just like to keep aware of my surroundings." Canim says dismissively, and continues eating the jerky he has.
From concealment As the stranger responds to the tea pot tip and drinks Kyomi study's him closely.
Appraise
Tea pot outfit
Perception
His weapon s
Sense Motive
Will he attack
Spellcraft
The drink
Knowledge (Arcana)
The drink his magics
Knowledge (Nobility)
He's class
Knowledge (Planes)
His true race
Knowledge (Religion)
His faith
Knowledge (Local)
Local or not
Byron emerges from the other cart with the owlbear brain in a jar soaking in a foul smelling concoction.
Well that got rather involved. Did I hear more howling?
with that Byron slipped out of thin air. He reappeared on a tree and began to walk up it calmly like one would walk down a side-walk.
[ooc]Perception
As per norm Byron had a hard time making out anything. Perhaps he needed glasses... No Byron shrugged off the thought. What he really needed was superhuman sight! He made a note to work on that later.
Owlbear group: Your groups violence wipes out the owlbears in a matter of seconds. The last of them shudders and falls to the ground with a wheezing moan.
Camp group:
The man drinks his tea steadily for several minutes taking stock of the camp and those in it.
Cilian follows Balik rubbing his hands together.
"Time to get some owlbear eggs. I wonder if you can raise them?"
Sixth and Seventh follow, cleaning the blood from their blades.
"If you are good enough... But you need to have some spirit for it Cilian. Sorry to say it, but you would have a hard time on it, as much as I can tell... By the way, congratulations everyone. I did not see anyone getting hit by them... Is any of you hurt?"
Cilian glares back at Sixth.
"Hey just because I don't like people doesn't mean I don't like fluffy, cute, cuddly, amazing, soft....."
Cilian stops talking for a second.
"Anyways let's go get those eggs."
Sixth and Seventh drop their jaws at the sudden fluffiness/cuteness/softness showed by Cilian.
Did you see that Seventh?
Yeah Sixth, if that's not a man lacking attention I don't know what one looks like...
They resume their path:
"Just a side question, who the heck said anything about eggs to begin with?"
Cilian seems thoughful for a moment.
"Well they're part bear, and part owl, so I think there's a 50/50 chance that they lay eggs, or just give birth as bears do. Hopefully they lay eggs."
Norbert wipes his blades clean and moves to assist in following the tracks..
Upon closer inspection the group of owlbears all appear to be male, this was likely a hunting pack. Fortunately it appears most of the hides are in relatively good condition despite the carnage. A good wash and proper preparation would do them well.
Seinal flicks his wrist to remove the large quantity of blood from Fortune Slayer then casts prestidigitation to finish cleaning it.
After a minute the extra images surrounding Seinal converge until just him remains. His voice behind the mask sounds irritated, "This was a waste. Let's get back to the others."
Well, we did some exercise! Back we go!
Sixth and Seventh grab each a owlbear body by the leg and start to drag them along the path, back to the camp.
Cilian makes sure to follow Balik towards he nest.
"Indeed.. Lets get back to the fire.. I'm hungry.." He'll take his sword and carve out a few select pieces of meat.. Looking towards the back strap before heading back..
While the path seems to meander on for agesm Balik is able to find the remains of some humanoid. While it's gender or even race are impossible to determine the masterwork light crossbow and obvious set of potion bottles 3 in all.
Back in the Camp:
The man finishes his drink and bows deeply before taking the warmed bread, "Thank you for the warmth of your fire, may freedom empassion your souls, should we meet again you may know me by, Geb. I would be glad to return the favor." He turns and walks out of your campsite and into the darkness with a smile.
Kyomi changes to Fox form and follows him, at a distance, with sent on.
"See you later, Geb," Canim says. "Not such a bad guy after all, I guess..."
"So, should we go back now?"
If so, Sixth and Seventh will drag two of the Owlbear bodies, as said.
Later Geb! Nice to meet you! Hope your travels are fruitful and exhilarating! Unless you want quiet of course, then I hope they are boring...
Finnigin has a huge smile on his face and waves excitedly as the stranger departs.
I thought he was cool, wouldn't be a fair fight though with him using drugs and all.
Byron feverishly going between carts to arrange materials stops in his tracks at Finnigin's comment and bursts out laughing.
"Fair? Fair is an abstract concept that is deeply flawed. Whoever wins always had the 'unfair advantage' Drugs, magic, training, talent are all equal determinants to the same conclusions. How is a drug any more 'unfair' then casting a spell? or knowing the proper fulcrum to leverage your weight?"
"If there is a destiny, it is a long train of actions and reactions that led you to that point in time. Not some big mystical force but simply a set of reactions. Even magic follows these rules."
Bryon gives Finnigin a hard look.
"Is this sinking in at all?"
Cilian walks back with the group lamenting his lost chance to make an owlbear army.
As they walk Seinal asks the halfling, "Balik, would you like me to try and determine the qualities of those potions?"
Upon seeing the dragged in corpses Byron is struck with inspiration to create a flesh golem out of owlbear parts, pity he is so full on projects.
However his conversation with Finnigan also made him think about actions and reactions and how the world is full of them. He realizes that he has been failing to account for other magnetic fields and how his device would react to them, that was why his calculations were off. He should be able to complete his research in a day now, finally Finnigan had proven himself useful through illuminating naivette.
Kyomi is able to track the man for some time, as he finishes his bread he stops to take of his backpack for the first time, as it clanks and sloshes heavily. She can see the tattered and scarred stumps where his wings once were. He pulls out a feathered cloak from a pocket on the pack and puts it on. As it transforms into wings you can see the clear look of shame and displeasure on his face,"I still can't feel them like my old wings." He begins flapping them and grabs the straps of the pack in his arms. He flies off awkwardly and slowly under the weight of the pack.
In a fair fight I would not use spells unless my enemy had an unfair advantage!
Clearly his ego was struck, but he finishes cooking the owlbear and begins eating it. As the others arrive Finnigin squeals with glee and announces:
Welcome Back!!! I made some dinner for each of you!
Byron stops in his track, his eyes drifting off. So lost in thought that he forgets to wipe the stupid look off his face. Seconds pass as he looks like perhaps he has had a stroke and then after Finnigan had responded to Byrons ranting, Byron appeared right in front of him like a mad-man.
"Finnigan, You...you, YOU!... Brilliant! Sometimes even the dimmest light can illuminate the shadows cast by even the brightest light!"
"I failed to see the outside forces... perhaps I have also failed to see those around me as well..."
Byron stood thoughtfully for a moment.
"Anyone who wants to join me in the research can and take part in my-.... our new creation. We should be able to finish it soon and then we can decide together what project to work on next."
"Thank you Finnigin, I'm starving already. This things are heavy, right Seventh?" He looks at the hooded creature but it gives no answer. "Did you cook the Owlbear meat?"
Sixth will try to clean the coats to prepare the hide of the 3 Owlbears and to dry the meat, storing it for later.
Cilian sighs, sits down, and he begins to tear into the owlbear meat with a vengeance.
"We didn't find any cute, and cuddly owlbears to take in, so this day is ruined. How did your day go?"
Kyomi comes racing back in fox form once in the fire light she lets her sister jump of,
Then changing into a woman again she says
"Every one please keep still a moment, right sister you know what we need find it"
Her sister runs over to where the stranger had spilled his drink taking picking up some liquid coveted grass blades.
"here sister"
Kyomi calls out to Norburt as she walks over.
"Norburt, your assistance if you please, I wish to know what kind of tea the stranger to our camp was drinking, I smelled blood and other things, what was in it and what would it do, but more to the point is it evil in nature, we only have a small sample I am sorry to say, but please do your best"
She waits for him to come over
Of course I cooked it. I mean I did not have anything to make a nice stew, but the meat is hot nonetheless. Please Enjoy!
|
Addressing Seinal, "If you have some skill in determining the effects of draughts and potions, that would be helpful. I'm far from an authority." Speaking more broadly, "Anyone up for a big-people-sized crossbow? Looks like a nice one, if oversized."
Balik gives Finnigin a peck on the cheek, "No one's impugning your honor, dear Finnigin. Just trying to keep it from killing you is all. It appears you've inspired Byron - so I'd say you've done a good day's work."
"Stranger? What stranger? We left for only a few minutes and you get a party going?"
Seinal examines the potions that Balik carries.
"Blood in it, eh?" Canim trails off, thinking what sort of fortifying potions could be made with blood and such.
"No one wants to explain it? Man, you've got secrets..."
He nods to Seventh, and the figure wanders into the forest, disappearing from sight. Sixth takes a large piece of meat from his bowl and starts to eat it politely. "What happened folks? Did someone came here and stole your spirit, leaving you unable to discuss what has just happened? We've been just traveling for a few days now. No new visions, no discussions, no plans. Either we start as a group or we will perish, and sooner than later."
Kyomi looks over
"Sixth there was a stranger here at the camp when I got back, when he got here I don't have any idea, but he was here making an evil smelling drink, which he had then walked off. I followed, he once had wings now gone, and carried a bag full of more drinks, what I don't know, he then put on a magic item that gave him wings then flow off badly heading... But wile he was here I secretly and unseen spilled his drink so as to get a sample. A sample I hope will tell use what wrong with the avirols because he was one, a wingless one, and something was wrong, when did they start drinking blood tea?"
-
"perhaps... the road is rough on me, as you may imagine. The accomodations are wonderful, no doubt, but I fear I am hardly myself when not in a tavern or in a library." Canim says in response to Sixth.
"And how is that cut going Canim? No offense, but I thought you would just bleed to death whenever someone pierced your skin." He smiles.
"Thank you for telling me what happened, milady. An avoral, you say? Are you sure about that? Did any of you managed to question him about what he was doing away from his group?" Sixth takes a slow look around, surveilling the area. "I mean, if there was one there are probably more of them, right? But if he sounded somehow wrong, maybe he's the only one off the standard..."
"eh, it's doing better now. Just a bit of the original cut remains. I do tend to bleed a lot, so you're not far off the mark. But under this exterior I am rather healthy."
"yes I think he was and I did not let him see me, so the others here talk to him! your better asking them, I came late"
She keeps trying to get more of the stuff he was drinking from the spill
Byron lets his offer hang in the air.
"Sixth, if I have not had anything to say to you it is because I have not thought of anything important to say. Traveling on the road already is a tedious and grueling process made none the better by pointless small talk. And owbear or an avoral are not terribly interesting, he just sat down at the fire."
Byron grabs up his things and gets back into his wagon, disinterested with the whole rest of the situation. When he climbed into the back of the wagon and his heart lifted, he saw the calculations and how they fit now. Soon he wouldn't be a mere copycat who lived off the creations of others, he would contribute and thrive.
That was an Avoral? I thought he was just a nice guy. He asked to sit by the fire, so I let him and offered him some food. He only wanted tea, he said it is like a regiment he must take every day. So after having his tea he said thank you and left.
Finnigin Shrugs.
What did you all find?
"Weird... We found some more Owlbears" - he points to the bodies close to the camp - "but they didn't put much of a fight... And we did not find pups, what a pity. Anyway, we might have a full day tomorrow, or at least I hope so, and thus we should get some sleep. Please wake me up when it's my shift."