The flow and ebbing of power filled Imedren. Uncertainty and a strange after imaging putline to his movements filled his mind as possibilities came forth.
"Uruuna!" Imedren shouted. "Get your filthy claws off of my wife!"
As Uruuna hits the warg, it snaps at her with its jaws! Fortunately, its teeth just graze her.
Imedren's spear impales the wounded warg, and it falls with a whimper, blood pouring from the wound. Acting quickly, Reinhold rushes over to stabilize the beastman and keep it from dying. The priest then calls upon his magic to heal you.
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Imedren was fighting the rush of power and anger that was vying for control within him as he looked back at Dramm. "Question it? What in the name of the Gods do you expect to learn from it Dramm? The things are beasts and don't know any language other than their own dark tongues."
Dramm motions for the others to bind the creature and disarm it. He keeps a respectful distance from the beasts fangs.
"I've been working on that. Translation of the manuscript called for possible creativity in the future. Had trouble with one language of magic and thought there might be more. This thing has allies, and I want it to help me kill them."
The ritual knife carves a spell that touches each fingertip and leaves behind a soft orange glow. He pushes the glowing fingers to the Warg's throat and speaks.
"Talk creature. Where are the remaining beastmen? We know there are more Wargs and Fomor within the woods."
The warg snarls angrily. "Why should I tell you anything? You are nothing more than prey waiting to be eaten!"
"Wrong, corrupted dog." Dramm's right hand squeezes the throat tightly while his left gestures to the bloody remains of the other Wargs. "Hunters? Maybe your kind. But not you. Weak and dying. Have you ever seen a New God inquisitor's torture chambers? They'll carve you up in way the old gods couldn't imagine until there aren't any secrets left."
Dramm moves back in front of the beast, squaring himself with the red eyes. "If you refuse, I'll let them loosen your tongue. Tell me where the others are, and I will give you a head start to try and escape us. The more you tell, the longer that head start will be."
The warg's eyes bulge as the beastman chokes and sputters. It coughs for air as Dramm loosens his grip. "Hrr! Hrr! Our camp is two miles south of here... You were lucky only three of us happened upon you. Had all of our tribe been here, we would be feasting on your flesh!"
"Five seconds." Dramm replies calmly. "How many Wargs remain? What drew a tribe south?"
"Two more of us, plus many fomors. We are preparing to take your little town by force and sacrifice your people to our master. All glory to the Demon Lord!"
"Interesting. 15 seconds for good information." His eyes are icy as he glares angrily, "A little more and you might actually have a chance. Last question: How many total in the tribe? 'Many fomors' is too vague to be worth any more precious seconds."
"Good." Dramm drives his knife into the Warg's throat. "Corrupted filth, howling for his gods. Should have stood on his own."
He turns to the group. "He knew enough. Ten Fomor, seven Wargs in the tribe. Five of the Fomor are dead, three of the Wargs." Dramm does some quick counting.
"If he's telling the truth, two Wargs are left alive and five Fomor. The camp is two miles south of here. They were going to slaughter the village as sacrifices. ... I didn't think to ask about the Bloody Bones. Sorry." He cleans his knife and sheaths it.
Speaking of the Bloody Bones, Anophth says, turning to the new girl, Where did you say they were released from?
"The shrine's about 8 or 9 miles west of here," Delia says. "Once we take out these beastmen, I'll lead you to it."
You continue on through the woods, and after 2 more miles, you come across the beastmen's camp. It seems to be little more than a collection of ratty bedrolls arranged around a central fire pit, with a few sacks and barrels scattered around. A post has been driven into the ground near the fire pit, and a terribly wounded man is bound to it by ropes.
As the warg reported, five fomors and two wargs loiter around the camp. They do not seem to be concerned with security at all--it would be a simple matter to sneak up to the camp and surprise them.
Anophth sneaks around the top of the cliff to assault the blue Fomor.
Imedren saw his opportunity to take out multiple enemies at once. Seeing that at least two were off guard he grimaced.
"I'll start things off. You'll know when to begin, you won't miss this signal."
He waited, giving the others some time to get into position and then he went running in.
"Let's see how you like this, Scorching air." he raised his hands and a circular rush of orange flames rushed out, catching two of the Fomor.
Dramm readies himself behind Imedren, waiting for the first Warg to enter range of his spells. As Imedren incinerates two of the Fomor, Dramm steps forward to Rend his the nearest wolf head!
The energies tear at the force field as the magic runs wildly powerful. Dramm's face is an excited grin as the spell rends the Warg more violently than expected.
Anophth's staff clatters against the fomor's armor. Imedren incinerates the pair of fomors, and as their charred corpses hit the ground, Dramm strides past him and tears apart the nearest warg with rending magic!
From the ridge, Tabog, Joy, and Reinhold fire upon the distant warg, but only the young girl scores a hit.
Uruuna and Delia move to support Anophth. The halfling scores a powerful blow with her club, but the other woman narrowly misses landing a good strike with her spear.
The other two fomors move to support their ally, stabbing at Uruuna. One grazes her with its spear.
The warg howls and rushes at Dramm, chopping into him with its battleaxe! The powerful blow shatters his force field!
The shield-shattering blow forces the wind out of Dramm's chest. He coughs painfully and draws his long knife to stab the beast.
The choking gasps leave Dramm unsteady, and his thrust misses!
Anophth continues to press he attack.
Seeing Dramm take a hard hit Tabog wanted to put the dog down!
Tabog turns to his other companions, specifically his new found lady friend, and halves the distance he is away from them. He sends out another stone at the closest fomor!
Reinhold says a prayer to guide Tabog's aim.
The rogue's sling bullet knocks the warg off-balance, but it recovers before falling prone. His second shot cracks the skull of the fomor Uruuna hit, dropping it!
Though the fomor dodges Anophth's attack, Uruuna uses the distraction the goblin provides and clobbers the beastman, cracking bones.
Seeing the Warg rush up and strike at Dramm with the battleaxe, Imedren takes the opportunity as the Creature's distracted and comes in swinging as waves of destructive energy flow around his weapon.
"Dramm, get back! Aaaagh!"
Joy whips another sling bullet at the fomor Uruuna struck, delivering a glancing blow.
The warg snarls and chops at Dramm again, its axe slicing into the magician's side!
The fomors stab at Uruuna again, and the halfling receives another light wound.
Imedren steps up and crushes the warg's skull with a mighty blow!
Delia moves in and stabs the wounded fomor, and it wavers but does not fall. Reinhold moves closer and hurls another acorn, but his aim is off.
Delia quickly thrusts her spear again, finishing off the wounded fomor.
Uruuna bashes the last beastman, then Reinhold hits it with a magic acorn. It screeches in terror as its body transforms into another sapling! The enemies have been vanquished!
The beastmen are similarly equipped to the ones you fought earlier. In addition, the camp contains a few weeks worth of rations, a barrel of sour wine, an old sword, a longbow, a quiver of 30 arrows, and a sack filled with 15 silver shillings, 76 copper pennies, and silverware and other valuables worth 3 silver shillings.
Delia hurries to the man tied to the post. It seems like the tender parts of his body have been carved away, likely eaten by the beastmen. He whimpers and moans, his mind fractured. "Franz! This is one of my fellow treasure hunters. He deserved a better fate than this..."
Reinhold moves to Dramm's side and casts several spells of healing.
The priest then shakes his head sadly when he sees Franz. "Poor man. With your permission, I'd like to take him back to civilization. He may have lost his sanity, but he still has his life. I will do what I can to make him comfortable at least."
Tabog quickly catches up to Delia and slowly stops adjacent to her.
"I'm so sorry Delia... No one should ever have to experience something like this... These beasts are truly evil."
He takes his leave as the druid starts to speak to her and checks on Dramm and Uruuna.
"How are you guys doing? You both took some pretty serious hits. Dramm, you looked terrified down here getting hacked at by a dogman!"
Moments later...
"Oh my good golly gosh! Look at this bow! Fine craftsmanship, perfect draw weight, and arrows too!.. I'm uh, if no one else wants a bid on this I think I can put it to much better use then this sling... Objections? No? Great! Thanks everyone, good work team, we'll have these beastmen quelled in no time!"
Uruuna rubs at her wounds. "Took a few nicks, but nothing serious. I'm made of tough stuff!" She grins and flexes her muscles.
Imedren looks at Dramm as he smashed the Wargs head in.
"Dramm, you alright?" he asks, then winces seeing the wounds the Fomor had given him. "No, dumb question. Let's get you over to Reinhold."
As they searched the camp, Imedren found the sword. He hefted it with a frown. "A bit too heavy. Dramm, you've got some muscle on you. Why don't you take this. Should be better than that dagger you were trying to use."
When they rescued Delia's companion in his horrible state, Imedren couldn't get the image of Father Gregory out of his mind.
"This isn't good. Franz is his name? It's not the worst I've seen but it's unlikely he'll make any sort of mental recovery soon. A few weeks or maybe months of bed rest and he might come around but it would take a strong mind to overcome something like this. We can probably bring him back to Hamlet for a while but they don't really have facilities there that can take care of something like this.
You say there was at least one more of your group out here somewhere? The good news is it doesn't look like they were captured by these Fomor."
Delia nods grimly. "Gerald might still be alive somewhere. I hope he made it out."
"Thank you, Imedren. Good hit." Dramm breathes a sigh of relief as Reinhold's magic knits the axe wound closed. "You are talented. I have some notes on healing magic. Help me to refine them later? You are more skilled, and instruction is valuable."
"It's a good knife..." Dramm gives the sword an experimental swing anyway. He grimaces at the balance. "It's good. Too good for me. I lack the skill."
He hands the sword to Uruuna. "Better fighter. Tougher too. I think you should have it." Reaching down, he hefts the battleaxe that just took a bite out of his force field and side. Once he has a feel, he raises it above his head and gives a hard chop at the neck of one of the dead Fomor.
"Overwhelming force. Nothing fancy." Dramm's face is wild and hungry for a moment. "Suits me. Will be useful." He pulls a sack and places the Fomor's head inside.
"Ezekia will be interested. The Inquisitors too. If the guard can't spare the men, maybe the New God can if they're not too busy giving prayers."
When Reinhold trades with Tabog, Dramm gives an affirmative grunt in response to the thespian's recounting. "Almost killed by a dog. Story is more embarrassing when you tell it. Aren't you supposed to be talented?" He gives Tabog a grin as the Ferran makes off with the bow and arrows.
After some time to rest, Dramm begins searching the area for signs of Delia's missing companion.
"He might have passed through or made an escape. Could be tracks."
Anophth brushes himself off, surprised he didn't get hurt that fight. While everyone else is occupied with the attention of the gear, the guy they found, and other random crap, he checks out the barrel of wine, cracking it open to take a cup.
Not bad, he says. Dramm, I think this is your vintage.
Dramm raises an eyebrow and stands from the patch of forest floor he's looking over.
"Vintage?" Out of curiosity, he dips a cup of his own and takes a taste. Shock is quickly followed by sputtering and a spraying of wine. He hacks and sputters desperately trying to clear his mouth with water.
"Very funny, Anophth." he chokes out with watery eyes. "Wine's soured, everyone."
The only tracks Dramm finds belong to the beastmen. It doesn't seem like Gerald came this way.
"I don't see any other distinct prints." Dramm wipes his mouth. "Gerald didn't come through here. He may still be alive. Might be able to find him if we start at the shrine."
Tabog chuckles at Dramm.
"The talent is making me look good and everyone else look not-so-good!"
Dramm's sip of wine amused Tabog and he reached for the cup, feigning a swig and swooshing it around his mouth.
"I think your palette might just be too simple for such a delicate wine, good sir. This tastes like a 300 year old Hamworg wine, matured in a.... goatwood barrel and..... harvested in the autumn months.
Don't you think so as well, Anothph?"
He grins wide and moves to cheers his goblin friend.
Anophth laughs at Dramm's reaction, and then fills up his waterskin with the soured wine.
So. Where to next? Are there any more beastmen out there? Hunt down the bloody Bones?
"The shrine is a few miles west of here. Perhaps we should camp here overnight and head there tomorrow," Delia suggests.
Not a bad idea. Any beastmen show that are out there may return, and we can dispatch them as they come in.
Dramm checks his wounds as Delia speaks. "It's a risk. The longer your friend is unaccounted for, the more likely he's dead. I still have some spells. Imedren too, if I'm right. We should leave quickly... unless there's more to the shrine than the Bones? Or more of them?"
"We never actually went inside the shrine. The monsters rushed out as soon as we blew the door. I don't know what might be waiting inside. Best to be fully rested and prepared before venturing further. Besides, it's already getting late, and I'd rather not wander these woods in the dark."
Dramm nods as Delia explains further.
"Right. Sleep is better. Should set a watch, douse the fire."
A few seconds later, Anophth can hear Dramm mumbling "Hamworg?"
As you rest overnight, those on watch can hear the howling of wolves from the woods around you. The sound keeps you on edge, but the beasts never emerge into the campsite.
The next morning, Reinhold heals any lingering injuries you might have. He bids you farewell as he departs to escort Franz out of the forest. "May the gods watch over you, friends. Until next our paths intertwine."
Gray clouds have gathered in the sky, and it rains steadily as you push on deeper into the Sentinel Wood. After half a day's march, you come upon the abandoned camp the treasure hunters set up. Bedrolls lay strewn around a ring of firestones, along with a shovel and a pick, 20 yards of rope, a lantern, and two flasks of oil.
Within sight of the camp, the shrine stands in a clearing. It resembles a turret with a domed roof, and is covered in ivy that conceals the flowing runes etched across its surface. Anyone who reads Elvish discerns that the writing is a warning to not disturb the site. A stone plug once barred entry, but the treasure hunters used a bomb to shatter it. Its blackened fragments are now spread around the open doorway, whose edges are marred by scratch marks and bloody handprints.
"This is it," Delia confirms, voice filled with trepidation.
Inside the shattered entrance, a ledge wraps around the walls and looks down into a pit 10 yards deep. The bottom of the pit is a pool of dark water. A staircase 2 yards wide descends from the ledge, following the wall until it disappears under the water’s surface.
Anophth accepts the mental cure from Dramm.
At the site, Anophth says, You said you weren't prepared for the blood Bones; didn't you read the warning sign on the side of the wall? He points out the elvish lettering as he asks.
Delia scratches her head. "Only Lara knew how to read Elvish. She assured us it was safe. Now she's dead."
Tabog comforts Delia in this stressful time. As they approach he puts a hand on her shoulder.
"Be strong friend..."
They press forward at the party's discretion.
Hold on, guys. I'll take a look.
Anophth jumps into the water, then, once settled to the temperature, he goes under to scout ahead.
As Anophth enters the water, it churns as two rotting corpses lurch to the surface! They groan and reach for the goblin! A few yards away, a massive monstrosity rises up. A bloated humanoid with decaying flesh, bound in rusty chains, the thing shudders and moans!
Anophth reels at the stench; it reminds him of home and it's not necessarily the most pleasant of memories.
He quickly gets out of his reverie and smacks a rotting corpse with his cane.
He then backs away to get out of the water.
I don't know if I'll ever get used to this shit.
Tabog, though silent, moves to use his new found bow. He skillfully notches an arrow, aims at the grotesque flesh blob, adjusts for the water refracting light and looses.
"Oh... That wasn't right at all. Perhaps I needed to adjust in the opposite direction. Hmmmmmm."
Dramm is looking at the stone fragments and broken doorway from the blast as the group searches the entrance. Anophth's offhand warning is received by a quizzical look.
"Anophth speaks Elvish?
The splash makes Dramm start and he peers over the edge.
When the bodies burst from the water around his friend, Dramm begins to shake. Memories of the Imedren falling to rending claws fills him with dread.
"He's too close. Too close to those things!" Dramm begins to hurriedly rifle through his pack. A moment later, a rope splashes in the water next to Anophth. "Grab on, Anophth! I'll pull you up! Delia, give me a hand!"
"Tabog, Joy, we can use the high ground!"
Imedren recoiled at the sight of the creature, but somehow managed to remain firm in his resolve.
Calling upon dark powers, Imedren lashed out against the terrifying creature.
With the advantage of firing straight down as his target, Tabog manages to hit the bloated monster. The arrow ruptures its body, and three rotting corpses fall out into the water with a splash!
As they flounder around and get their bearings, the original two corpses try to slam Anophth with their fists! One hits, bloodying the goblin.
Dramm digs out a coil of rope and lowers it to Anophth. The goblin bashes one of the corpses before moving to the rope. He drops his guard though and takes another hit, but then Delia tugs on the rope and hauls the goblin out of the water and out of the undead' reach!
Imedren moves down the stairs to get closer to the hulking foe, but his spell falters against its strength. Uruuna moves protectively in front of her husband, raising her shield defensively.
The chainbound creature trudges forward to the base of the stairs. It lashes out with its chains, but Uruuna's defensive stance allows her to dodge its strikes! The thing's stench washes over her and Imedren.
"Ah, that did do the trick! Ha Hah!"
Tabog continues his assaslt on bulbous monster!
"Gotcha again!"
"Hold the line, Delia, get him up. That thing below needs to die."
With Anophth out of immediate danger, Dramm quickly carves 7 points into the air and tosses a stone through the power infused circle. It shatters and 7 darts slam into the bloated corpse!
"Back up, both of you! Burn them all and retreat, Imedren! Draw them up the stairs one at a time."
Anophth tries to climb up the rope the rest of the way, but it's difficult while holding in to his cane.
[Ooc]If there's is a walked dead thingy within reach, he'll whack them with his cane.
Seeing that his spell from earlier was ineffective against the bloated menace, Imedren gritted his teeth.
"Let's see how you like this!" he said, grabbing Uruuna's shoulder to with one hand ensure she was not in the way. His skin began to burn hot as a fire lit in his eyes and a burst of fire shout out of his hands at the menaces.
Through the smoke, the smell was terrible and it sent Imedren into a violent coughing fit.
Gagging from the stench, Uruuna swings wildly, striking only air.