Derlan moves outside.
Derlan looks to see who among his allies is the most injured, then moves to them and heals them.
Mindlessly, Jaryx hacks away at anything unfortunate enough to be in front of him.
(strength, specialization)
(strength, specialization)
Ko clicks her mandibles and dashes out the door, headed to the fight.
As Derlan heals some of his damage, Ludi manages to take a chunk out of one of the gith.
The gith facing Jaryx stabs wildly, barely having recovered it's balance after ducking the half-giant's attack. Behind him, the other gith fails to connect with Dismoon's unpredictable movements.
Ludi stabs again, and once again misses.
Jaryx continues to mindlessly hack away at anything unfortunate enough to be in front of him.
(strength, specialization)
(strength, specialization)
Seeing her new targets, Ko releases a flurry of crystaline throwing weapons.
17, 10, 21 Thac0: 18
14, 15, 17 dmg.
Ludi stabs one of the gith as it dodges Jaryx' lotulis and Ko's first chatchka finishes the creature off. An arrow grazes Jaryx and another hits Ludi. Meanwhile, Ko's next throw takes down the other gith, but one of the other's strikes Jaryx hard.
"Ow!"
Ludi can't spare a glance in the direction of the bowman who accidentally shot him; instead he keeps attacking the gith.
Hit AC 6
Jaryx continues to mindlessly hack away at anything unfortunate enough to be in front of him.
(strength, specialization) - Crit
(strength, specialization) x 2 = 30
Dismoon checks on Ekee. Although covered in blood and sporting a nasty wound, she finds the half-elf is still breathing. The gith had little of value on them, so she returns to the chamber that held the cursed dwarf. The blue glow points her to the orb, kicked out from beneath sand and dust during the fight. The white flashes are not as frequent or intense as during the fight.
It is a strange object with blue, green, and white patterns. The white seems to move, while the blue and greens retain their general shape. It strikes her that somehow, this object is alive. For a dwarf to make the object his focus and risk his soul suggests this object is of immense value.
Outside, the others realize Derlan has disappeared during the confusion. Tracks lead away from the ruined temple to the top of a ridge where they abruptly stop
A kaleidoscope of images swim though Ekee's mind. Mostly concerning close calls in the arena. Over and over the scenes all end the same, a massive dark figure hitting her.
"No." The Half-Elf's blue eyes snap open as she moans softly. It takes her several minutes before she focus. Seeing a pointed eared form sitting nearby she manages a slight smile then passes out.
Later she wakes and attempts to move the blinding pain tells her to lie still. Looking about and spying Dismoon, the expression on the Elf's face tells a tale.
"Who? How many?
Struggling to stand and wincing with the pain Ekee rises using the impailer as a cane. She moves slowly toward the large Thri-Kreen.
"Fellow warrior Ko, I understand your anger and concern over the terrible incident involving our large companion Jaryx. You did not witness the vile magics inflicted on him by that horrible creature. But I was there, it was not his fault he was not in control of his actions. I have seen such things once before during arena combat. The consequences then were just as sad and unthinkable as our encounter. There should be no further conflict between us."
She sways slightly as she speaks tightening her grip on the impailer until her knuckles turn white. When she finishes speaking her head lowers and she takes several deep breaths.
"Dis is right we need to return to the caravan. Although I might need a little help to get there." She says with a little smile.
Ko flattens her antennae against her head and clicks her mandibles in frustration before speaking.
"He lead, I challenge lead. I lead, he no clutch. I not lead, others decide. I hunt hunters. You on I, I carry You." Ko looks frustrated at the current predicament, but goes about creating a travois from her gythka and whatever skins or cloaks the others may have.
The solemn group returns to camp, light two members of their crew. Farcluun waits with his silent elves and an attractive young woman as the harsh sun sits low in the sky. Along with the cooling dusk comes a light breeze that stirs the young woman's long brown hair.
"Have you found it?" Farcluun asks flatly. "I sense trouble externally and see two of your cohort have not returned with you. Time may be running quite short. Fortunately this one blundered into our expedition. She has no association with my rivals, though I now know that at least one has an agent in the region, so be aware and never go anywhere alone."
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The new woman looks a bit nonplussed; normally you'd expect a traveler roped into Farcluun's schemes to be rather unhappy about it, but she doesn't much seem to care. Seated on a stone near the cursed oasis, she looks like just another lost soul from the wastes. Her outfit is practical and fitted desert fashion for hardships - a leather jerkin with bone studs providing defense against predators, a pack at her feet, and an impaler in her lap. A spear is strapped to her pack, though not in a fashion that would make it easy to reach, and she has a shield of stretched hide over a wooden frame next to her and a chatkcha on her belt.
Though human, she has (like most humans) a few distinguishing oddities; the backs of her ears are slightly jagged. She wears gloves and has a light, gauzy wrap to keep dust out of her mouth. Her complexion is olive, with tanned skin that has seen plenty of outdoors and a lean, tough frame. She wears a gray greasepaint on her forehead to protect against excessive sun.
Gritting her teeth she rises from the the travois Ko created to carry her. Ekee moves slowly toward Farcluum, stopping only when she is sure she has trespassed beyond his comfort zone. Staring the man in the eye, but taking note of the posture and movements of the Elf guard from the corners of her vision .
"Their names were Ludi and Derlan. Oh and why yes, the rest of us are just fine! Thank you for asking." She pauses assessing the man's reaction. Breaking eye contact for a moment to check on the guards and moving her arms ever so slightly away from her body to allow room for the use of her wrist razors. Should things get ugly.
"And to to answer your question. No we have not found it, yet"
Farcluun's guards remain as still as the statue of Firehand in the distance. As does Farcluun. He stares back at Ekee for several heartbeats. "You will want to rest and heal. It is critical that you make significant headway soon. If you wish for me to be concerned for your welfare, show me you are worth my time and resources."
He closes his eyes for a few minutes. "The one named Derlan lives. I believe one of my rivals' agents has taken him. Focus on your mission. I will send a recovery team to retrieve him."
The woman stands and hooks her impaler to a leather loop on her belt.
"You must be Farcluun's... how did you put it? 'agents'," she says. "I have been similarly roped into his agenda."
Her eyes flicker over Ekee, looking over her wounds and injuries, then over toward Ko and the others.
"It seems we've been pressed into service together. You've suffered some nasty injuries there. May I help?"
Farcluun's narrows his dark eyes, squinting for a moment. "Fascinating." As he leans in there is a flash of some sort. A cone of light emits out of the sphere, bathing Farcluun's in a soft green light. It cuts across his abdomen and for a moment his skin appears black and scaled, sinewy and glistening. Then, just as quickly the glow ceases and the brief change in Farcluun's appearance returns to that of a middle-aged man.
He smiles.
"Good, the practioner of The Way died in pursuit of my goals. Ludi? Correct? I will remember his name after all, half-elf," he says to Ekee. "I am fairly certain this is the Eye of the Earth, one of the two artifacts required to reveal the palace. The only record I could find of it was difficult to understand. The scroll had sustained damage, but it made reference to having the power to see things as they were, are, or could be."
"I aim to stop more deaths," snaps the woman.
"Your wounds are extensive," she says more softly to Ekee. "Please, I would like to help, but I will not do so without your consent."
Dropping her chin and closing her eyes for a moment, Ekee takes a deep breath. Then looking up and at the Human woman.
"Yes, please. Thank you." She slowly follows her to a shady spot where she sits down. Giving the woman a slight smile.
"Oh! Dis can you check on Derlan's animal and wagon?" She asks the Elf.