Knowing that he has to finish the orc up quickly so he can help his feline friend he swings wildly.
Lysander's claw lands, and the orc looks pale, but still manages to swing his weapon one last time... before falling dead.
for
Sandy moves quickly next to Kruss and casts a cuing spell before surveying the battlefield and sees Merlan....
Eloen urges her horse closer to the sight of the main melee. She starts heading toward where the percussionist vanished, but then turns and moves to where Merlin fell and dismounts to check on the small wizard.
"Leave the dead!" snaps Fiona, face hard. "Finish the battle first!"
"Curses!" exclaims Fiona as the drummer disappears, presumably to quit the field. "Someone stop the wizard!" she calls, "We can't let him get away to warn the others!"
Tje wild man with blood running down his side stands next to Kruss and places a bloody hand upon the felines flank.
Fiona moves toward the direction she last saw the drummer, listening and watching to try to find him.
Eloen keeps her current focus and kneels down to check Merlan, relieved to see that luck is with them and while he is on the precipice of a fatal wound, he is not in danger of bleeding to death immediately. She gently lifts the halfling and places him across the saddle of her horse, then stows her bow and takes the horse's reins in one hand.
"Merlan's alive but badly injured," she calls out. "Anyone have a healing potion?"
Kruss opens his eyes and pulls himself back up onto four paws, growling at the dead orc at before him, before rubbing his head against Sandy's leg.
Sandy rubs his head and moves over to Merlan quickly, grabbing a handful of the grass and crushing it between his elongated fingers. The smell of the earth, soft cloying essence of life runs up and down his digits as he softly incants to the 'Old One'.
Placing a hand upon Merlans side he heals the brave man. Hakkar takes to the air and surveys the scene.
Next round Lysander Perception
Hakkar begins circling, and it takes him less than a minute to locate his prey -- Sandy feels the bird's thrill of the hunt, and a pull to head mostly west.
Sandy looks to Fiona, Eloen & merlan; "Fancy following our prey, before it goes to ground?"
He strokes a bleeding hand on his feline companions flank and the other points in the direction of the hawk. "Not sure how we find him?"
Fiona nods, whistling for her horse, and mounts, ready to follow Lysander's lead despite her gaping wounds.
Sandy puts a hand carefully on Fiona's ankle a she's mounted on the horse, healing her - before he leads the way following Hakkar's lead.
Eloen helps Merlan sit up, assuming that the healing magic is enough to awaken him.
"Now the results of the chase depend upon how long the orc's magic lasts."
Lysander gets a predatory sense from Hakaar, not unlike the feeling when the hawk is following a rabbit or large vole in the grass.
Fiona rushes back to her horse and mounts up, ready to head off in the direction Sandy indicates.
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Squeaks flaps down top land unceremoniously on top of the comatose wizard-wannbe, right before Sandy works his mojo on the hapless halfling.
While the wound starts to close under the effects of the druids influence, there is no immediate reaction from Merlan.
Squeaks rears back his serpentine neck, and lets loose a squeaking-dino-honk-roar directly in Merlan's face, entirely louder than should be possible from the pint-sized prehistoric-pest.
Merlan screams, bolting more or less upright in the saddle. He is saved from toppling over and probably adding a new head injury to his current collection by the alert Eloen.
"Whoah. What a rush."
The halfling suddenly pats his body where the near-mortal wound was, and examines it, sniffing at scent of grass and earth mixed with coppery blood.
"Well. THAT'S gonna leave a mark. Thanks Sandy, I owe you one."
Merlan looks around at the others, and the bodies on the ground.
"Sooooo,... What'd I miss?" He asks with wide-eyed innocence.
"We're trying to run down one of the orcs who fled invisibly. Feel free to remain on the saddle if you wish, or I can help you back onto your feet if you prefer. Sandy's hawk, whose name I don't think I've learned yet, seems to be on to something. To be expected with the vision of a predatory bird that can see mice moving through the tall grass."
Sandy says with a warm smile to Eleon; "Sorry about that, it's Hakkar! Like the sound he makes when he sees a small field rodent. And this is Kruss the Cat."
He pats the flank of his injured feline companion.
"I'm good. I'm good,..." Merlan insists as he slides from the saddle to the ground, and flashes a grateful grin to Eloen as she prevents him from toppling over once he does so.
"Or I will be soon enough. Thanks. Invisible huh? I doubt it will last long. He can't be THAT powerful. He wasn't exactly throwing lightning bolts around. Probably a bard. What are you moping around for you prehistoric vulture? You can help me search the bodies for shinies later. Go give Hakkar a hand, er, wing, tracking that Orc! Let's see how the Lil' Drummer Orc likes a face full of Glitterdust! Oh, wait, I cast that one already, didn't I?"
Squeaks gives his master a hiss that sounds suspiciously like a raspberry, and flaps upwards to join the hawk in running their prey to ground.
Fiona follows the circling hawk, and notes a figure trying to rush away about 400 feet ahead.
Fiona motions to the others and continues the pursuit!
Eloen nods to Merlan and says, "Want a lift?" as she hoists herself back into the saddle for pursuit.
Merlan grins a charming smile at the elf.
"I'd love one. But I'd probably get a nosebleed riding so high up!"
The wizard chortles, then turns, puts two fingers to his lips, and lets loose a piercing whistle.
"Thank you milady, but I have my own steed!" Merlan says, and doffs his ginormously brimmed hat and bows as his faithful furry pooch comes chuffing up beside him, answering his masters whistle.
The halfling mounts his steed, a little wobbly for a moment, but quickly recovers.
"The hunt is on! Follow that Hawk and Pterosaur!" Merlan cries gleefully. He urges his mount to suit actions to words.
The three of you start to rush the figure who stops trying to shift through the grass and instead begins to run ... before looking over his shoulder and stopping with a sigh. He turns and shouts in common, "Parley. Surrender."
Hakkar circles overhead, showing the group where the orc is, whilst Sandy hangs back a bit with his feline friend. He looks around trying to ensure the area is secure from further conflict.
Merlan blinks, and glances at the others.
"Well. THAT'S a switch. Judging by our previous encounters, I wasn't sure that the Orcs knew the meaning of the word 'surrender'."
Eloen says, "I'm going to circle the perimeter and check for further hostiles, just in case he somehow managed to get a message to friends before surrendering." She rises in the saddle and guides the horse to circle the group at a range of about 150'.
Eloen circles and the Orc starts to turn to try to keep her in sight -- at least as long as he can, before sighing. "Surrender? Parley?" he repeats, then tries again, "Onderhandelen? Overgeven?" He keeps his hands raised, "Look, if you're going to kill me instead, just say so and I'll do my best to take someone with me. But I don't think any of us want that."
Merlan Blinks as the Orc speaks in the halfling's 'native' tongue. The wizard seems to be trying to decide whether to be impressed, or upset at that tidbit.
"Well, I guess that depends on who you ask." The diminutive spell-slinger pipes up from under his hat's broad brim.
"You didn't seem to mind that option so much a few moments ago." He adds wryly, plucking at his blood-stained shirt for emphasis.
"But, NOW you want to talk? That's Great! Put down your weapons, and your drum, and let's talk."
Sandy staslks out of the darkness towards the captive; dripping in blood.
He growls in a low voice; "We found you, ambushed you....We both have traitors - spies amongst our forces."
"Tell us whom in the village you got information from..." His words are deep and gravelly.
The Orc -- well, half-orc, now that you're closer, says, "I'm doing as the Halfling asks. This is not a threat.", then slides his bow off his shoulder, throwing it ahead of him. He does the same with a greataxe from his back, a rapier on from his belt, and four daggers. He's much more careful as he gently draws and sets down the drum, then nods, "There."
He looks at Sandy, then shrugs, "I don't get information from the village. Looking for a mine entrance. Or, looking for something that'll lead us to it, more accurately."
Merlan's shoulders relax, a little, as the weapons are discarded.
He doesn't relax however.
"Interesting. I have questions about this mine. But first, as my friend noted, Your folk seem VERY well-informed for random raiders. Always a step ahead, as it were."
"Where DO you get your information from, if not the town?"
After circling the area, Eloen rejoins the group.
The orc shrugs, "I got everything from Haar, lying dead there with his bow. Haar had orders from drops, he said."
While everything he said seems true, it also seems he's not said everything.
"Haar huh? He was a Good shot." The wizard rubs absently at the blood stain on his chest.
;)
Merlan suddenly peers intently at the half-orc.
"I believe you. At least, I believe that your telling us the truth. From a certain point of view. I just don't think you're telling us ALL the truth."
Merlan gestures around the group and the recent field of battle.
"Come now! We're all being friendly here! Or,... at least not currently trying to kill each other. Orcs may have a different worldview from other races, but they have honor. So I'm told. We met, we fought. We matched our wits and strengths against each other, and this day we were the stronger. There is no dishonor in losing to a superior foe. And that which does not kill us, makes us stronger. And wiser. Come now, To the victor goes the spoils. Tell us what we wish to know. ALL of it, and I will convince my comrades here to allow you to leave. Unmolested. If the Fates desire it, perhaps we will meet again one day, and test each others strength once more."
Sandy nods along with Merlan, happy that he seems to have planted the seed about the traitor in the orc camp. "It's as my friend says, I trust ONLY him. There's too many traitors and enemies about here. You'll probably want to change the drop location you get from yours now." He smiles revealing teeth.
The half-orc shrugs, "Speak with Dead is a clerical spell, and I'm sure Haar's spirit can give you the details of what he knows... Er, knew, I guess. Still, I'll make you a deal. Let me take his hand and my gear, and I'll tell you what I know, rather than just answering the specific questions I'm being asked."
He holds up a hand, "And, before you worry about such things, I can promise that neither Haar nor I have been raiding the farms or whatever it is that the Bloodies have been up to that's got the townies all riled up.... and I could even say more about that, if we have a deal."
Merlan looks at the half-orc with a raised eyebrow. A look more of curiosity than suspicion. The halfling glances upwards towards his familiar, then around at his companions.
"Have a seat. Make yourself comfortable."[b] Merlan invites the half-orc politely, dismounting 'Tiny' as he does so.
[b]"I'm betting that your tale will be very interesting. And I have a lot of questions."
'Like, 'WHO are the 'Bloodies'?' And 'WHAT is up with the HANDS?!?!' and,...' Merlan, who was only thinking to himself, still has to bite his tongue to keep from peppering the suddenly curiously cooperative half-orc with a barrage of questions.
The halfling sits across from the half-orc, bright-eyed and listening eagerly. Joined shortly by his dino-familiar landing atop his hat. Squeaks also stares at the half-orc, his lizard eyes whirling curiously.
The skald looks to the others for a moment, "Does he speak for you all?"
"I haven't shot you yet, so that should be a hint," says Eloen.
Sandy pauses; "His hand will allow you to open the other drop-points." He states softly.
"But if you haven't been raiding other places... I'm down for this agreement." He looks to the others; "We have a consensus?"