Round 3 (cont'd):
Rashun's blade turns in his hand just enough that the blow glances off the beetle's armor. Sami, I missed your previously-stated action this round; save that 26 roll for next round, but this round you did no noticeable damage to the swarm. Then Xavier charges the remaining giant beetle. His scimitar slices through the place already weakened by Eretria's spell, penetrating deeply into the creature and felling it.
As Sami withdraws from the swarm and tries to burn more of it, the sawrm of beetles follows him.
Initiative order:
Eretria-acted
Rashun-acted
Swarm-acted
Sami-acted
Xavier-acted
Darc/Besmarial
Seeing the large beetle collapse under Xaviers sword, Darc relaxes and is immediately weakened by his exertion. "Even in this land, some creatures appear as in ours. Though their toughness takes all my strength to continue, I must rest a while if I can." His breath is heavy, sweat mats his hair and drips from his forehead, glistening from the end of his tusks, the salty droplets fall. He staggers away from the swarm, watching Sami's dance of death with the beetles, as he tries to disrupt their mind and scatter them.
Xavier's fury continues as the bug falls, delivering a kick to the bug's head as it dies.
He looks at Sami, swatting and flailing at the swarm.
How the hells am I gonna kill that?
Sami steps back again, his torch swinging at the stinging swarm.
Round 4:
Initiative order:
Eretria
Rashun
Swarm
Sami-acted
Xavier
Darc/Besmarial
Actions?
Since the party is in the middle of what's basically an old lumberyard, yes.
Now that all of you are able to light torches and brands, disposing of the swarm becomes an exercise in patience and dodging. That disposal process does not, fortunately, result in the lumberyard catching on fire.
Shortly after you finish up, Luntz comes ambling up to see what's keeping you.
Still sweating from the exertion and trying VERY hard not to gloat for landing the killing blows on both bugs, Xavier calls, Ho, there! Lutz. Surely we have earn't ourselves a fine craft this day, for the lumber had defenders it seems. 2 montrous beetles have fallen before us, this day. I swear the only regret I have from coming to this world is the lack of open taverns in it. Next time, I shall have to buy a skin of endless wine before we depart.
Sami thrusts his torch into some loose earth to snuff it out. Well fought, everyone. I think we uncovered even more dangers in this place; we're lucky that no Akata arrived while we were fighting. We'll need a full time guard here as you work on the boat, Luntz.
Eventually Darc seems to recover his normal self. He walks over and kicks at the dead beetles in front of him, though his face shows no pleasure. If anything, there is regret in his eyes, as though he hadn't met a foe whose death had given glory to Gorrum. This creature, just vermin to be extinguished. He kicks the dead husk once more, uttering a word of disdain, "Vermin."
He smiles at Sami and nods, as he rejoins the group.
Xavier, thinking Darc upset at not actually killing either of the bugs, smiles to himself.
There's still enough wood to make the boat. Luntz whistles as he looks over the giant insect corpses. "Huh...aten't seen anything like that hereabouts before, though I heard tell these things like to eat rotten wood...guess this be a good place for that, hey?"
With your help, the old druid gets the keel laid and part of the framing done. "Looks like another three days work...two, iffin' we're lucky an' find the right pieces."
Xavier looks a little downcast. Three days? Does that include you needing all your spells to shape the wood?
Xavier is merely thinking of the wait on the spell to improve his Hammer.
After the last fight Rashun begins to think that someone with a strong arm like Xavier would be a great person to have fighting under Sarenrae's banner.
"Xavier, what are your goals in life other than women and money?"
Xavier looks very seriously at Rashun.
All in life that matters: Adventure, Laughs, Friends, some play but eventually a beautiful and challenging woman by my side, A good home and many children and a name that will be remembered for a thousand years! Lofty goals, I know, I will face many trials and many evils will fall under my blade before I have all that. I am up to the task however and I care not which comes first! My pilosophy is: Human life is short, so make it a big one!
Xavier seems to be about to speak, perhaps another flippant crack, but stops himself. Of course, Miss Whitethorne. There are some goals which must be sought with time and care.
Obviously now a little uncomfortable, he grunts and moves off, quickly taking up a Varisian song about the joys of the road ahead.
Sami nods at Luntz, his stance one of wariness and readies violence. We'll not be caught unaware again. He assist Luntz as much as he possibly can, but also keeps a vigilant guard against any more assailants. He nods at Xavier's words, but stays politely out of the conversation as he works.
Everyone (even Eretria) can make an untrained Craft roll to aid another. Besmarial moves to a higher elevation to keep a watch.
Arbitrarily, the cumulative Craft checks need to be at least 60; depending on the aid rolls, at the end of day 1 the total remaining is between 42 and 52.
The half-orc grunts at the show Xavier is putting on, his shallowness of being. Rubbing the dirty rags around his permanently injured leg, he exposes it to the air. He moves away from the others as the putrid stench of his rotting wounds acts as an unwelcome aura about his person. Yet with the exposure, the yellowing liquid weeping out is slowed and the smell diminishes. Darc himself is unconcerned, as he gets back to choosing good wood for making the boat. Unfortunately his judgement of wood, is less than that of humanoids, as the wood shatters on impact when dropped on the ground. "sorry, better next bit." is repeated several times as the wrong wood is carried across. Although he does bring many sturdy pieces of wood for Luntz to use in making the boat.
craft check:
Here you go Lutz
Sami claps his sparring partner on the back. Ha! At least someone has some skill with this; well done Xavier, and Eretria. Hopefully, I have gained enough expertise that I may help tomorrow.
Luntz directs you in covering the partially-built boat before you head back to the lighthouse. That evening, for the first time you see no akata wandering the docks.
A storm moves in from the south around 3 AM, and by the time you normally would get up the rain is showing no sign of stopping anytime soon. Getting to the mainland would be difficult, what with the waves coming over the breakwater and all. What do you do?
Darc looks one to the other of his companions. "Too rough, stay here with Luntz." he speaks with a tremor of trepidation in his voice. Wiping the salt water from his face as it sprays up from the angry seas crashing around the lighthouse. "We heal, we rest."
Xavier actually brightens at the weather (obviously the boat wasn't being built today)
And spends his morning waiting for Lutz to wake.
Good morning, Lutz, my friend. Isn't the weather terrible today? I guess we won't be working on the boat today. Say? You wouldn't be able to cast that spell on my weapon would you?
Sami nods his thanks to Darc, and looks to Luntz. Is there any progress we can help make towards the boat in this downpour? Or, is there anything else that you need done?
Luntz chuckles at Xavier's entreaty. "Persistent cuss... Sure, I can do that fer ye." He busies himself preparing to cast the spell.
In response to Sami's offer, he replies, "Oh, there's always some fixing to be done 'round the lighthouse and my cabin here. Easier to see when the wind's blowin' like this."
Not much is going to happen during the day. Luntz casts the spell for Xavier, the rain stops around mid-afternoon, and it's time for Rashun to make another DC 14 Fort save.
Sami will pitch in and help out wherever Luntz desires. Though his craftsmanship is sorely lacking, he's no slouch, and is quite comfortable with heavy, manual labor. He doesn't believe in idle hands, so he will keep busy at nearly all times.
Darc spends his day helping Sami and Luntz with work on the lighthouse.
At the end of the day he uses his powers to heal any remaining wounds from the battles before.
Xavier has a few practice swings of his 'new' masterwork Hammer.
The next day is far more pleasant, the morning fog burning off shortly after sunrise. You make your way back to the shipyard without incident and get to work.
Xavier is in high spirits this day. He provides what aid he can and uses any excuse to use his mew Masterwork warhammer, even giving it a workout smashing through what's left of the Beetles carapice's to see how well it feels in the hand.
Marvellous, Lutz. I cannot thank you enough. That's a damn nice spell you have. Any chance of you teaching it to Eretria perhaps to put in her Grimiore?
Sami feels much better with a full day of work befoe him, and he approaches it with his typical dedication, hoping that would make up for his lack of skill in working with wood.
Darc is silent and a bit sullen, with another day building.
|
"Grimiore?! Do I look like some aged old man who pages through books? I am a sorceress Xavier... my talent comes from my very blood... not pages of a book." Xavier's comment clearly offending Eretria, she'll likely ignore where she can manage the rest of the day while she works.
Craft:
...yet again Eretria is apparently good at this boat thing <_<
Ah...Of course, apologies. I...ah.. Xavier watches her storm off in a huff. Magic may be beyond him, but he DID know you didn't chase an angry woman.
Better just let her cool down. Right now would be a good time for something to attack...
Darc watches Xavier and Eretria part with loud words from a heated exchange. He moves to Xavier looking earnestly at him. "Only one, you destroy oneness, be careful you one not as one. She beauty, not yours." Having said his piece, Darc turns away to sit in sullen silence once more, doing Luntz's bidding.
Sometime during the afternoon of the stormy day, Rashun develops acute nausea and stomach cramps, culminating in vomiting up a small (and quite dead) embryonic akata. He's apparently feeling kind of queasy about that through the following day, as he isn't able to give any significant assistance with boat construction.
The boat is about half done at this point. The next night is likewise uneventful and akata-free, although the next morning is intermittently rainy. Despite the weather, Luntz is able to make a great deal of headway on the boat, his shaping spells refining the final conformations of the craft. Nothing disturbs you at the shipyard while you're working.
Sami, seemingly content with being able to create with his hands and with the manual labor, goes about the work with a smile. His gaze slips to Rashun every now and again, to make certain that he doesn't change into something icky.