Zordt cast gravity bow on himself and then began a slow, driving hymn .
Gitana had her crossbow loaded. She could do nothing else with spells until a target was within 15 to 30 feet.
Norde moved to place himself between Gitana and the oncoming enemies. He also checked to make sure Will wasn't about to run off.
The group turned and halted, ready to face these new adversaries. "Perhaps I should flee," said Will, a strange tone in his voice. Norde kept him from leaving, but the boy looked afraid. Too many more encounters with these foes might push him over the edge.
The group that was chasing you looked similar to the second group you had encountered yesterday. There were four walkers and one with wings, perhaps the same one that had spied you on the river. Like the one you had seen yesterday, it was more muscular and thickly built than the others, and unlike the ones you had encountered that could use magic, its wings were not dark and shadowy. They gave a shout when they saw you, and Will nearly started. After a moment, however, it seemed clear that he would hold still.
Zordt shoots two arrows at one of the frontmost enemies. One arrow goes wide, the other passing through the creature's torso and leaving a bloody hole behind it.
They charged, splitting in two directions and taking cover behind large, sheer sided rocks. You could walk right up to the top of those rocks, and that would leave you ten feet in the air directly above them. The flying one took off, spraying powder in all directions, and landed on the branch of a nearby tree. You could just barely see it peeping out at you, and it would be difficult to hit with any ranged attacks.
"Let's move and attack those to our left," Gitana suggested. "Make the others come to us."
Zordt nodded to Gitana's plan, ready to move, but also making sure he did not leave Will open to a sudden charge.
Hedrak cast a protective spell, and moved to their left flank - "I have got this side, Norde cover our right"
----------
The two greyskins on the northern rock moved forward to engage Norde, the second landing a blow to his head.
One of the two from the south, the one that had been shot by Zordt, moved forward to attack Hedrak, but the warrior was able to weave away. The other one snuck his way through an opening in the rock face, clambered up the hill, and prepared to charge Gitana from behind.
There was a heavy thump as something huge and heavy slammed into Zordt. You saw blood flying in every direction, a long streak leading back to the tree the flying greyskin had been in a moment ago. Had you heard the sound of a bowstring twang? That creature was now savaging Zordt, ripping and tearing at his face and arms. After landing a couple of solid blows, it got a grip around his torso, flapping its wings as though it might try to take off.
Vs Norde
---
Vs Hedrak
---
Vs Zordt
Norde went into a battle rage and attacked the enemy to his SW, and then took a 5' step due south.
x3
Gitana stepped a little south, faced the two greyskins, one of whom appeared to be trying to steal away with Zordt, held out her hands, said, "Flăcări din degetele mele", and watched as a warm glow filled her hands. A moment later, flames shot out fanning past Zordt and Hedrak but covering the enemy with fire.
"Faier, welks w' ay!" she said sternly, speaking old common.
DC 15 Reflex Save for half damage
Gitana roasted the two injured greyskins in a fiery conflagration. Norde's stroke fell within a hair's breadth of its target, but the greyskins were fast and they had good footwork. The one he had been targeting hissed, ready to lash out in retaliation.
Zordt gasped and threw off the smoldering corpse. "Well done Gitana!" He dropped to a knee and slid behind the horse, then fired off two arrows at the greyskin to the east.
Hedrak circled around the south side, and engaged the one approaching from that direction.
----------
Zordt and Hedrak were able to take out the greyskin to the east before it could do any damage.
While everyone's attention was focused elsewhere, however, Norde was being surrounded and picked apart. He was able to keep one at bay, but every time he lost track of the second, it struck him.
Norde struck at the enemy to his south...
x3
...but failed to connect. Rather than drag the enemy closer to Will, he decided to stand his ground.
With Will's safety secured Zordt turned his attention to helping Norde!
Gitana's eyes glow red with magical energy. She directs her gaze at the greyskin nearest her and tries to burn it.
DC 16 Fortitude save negates. If the fortitude save fails, must make a DC 16 Reflex save or catch fire.
Hedrak reverted his movement to go back toward the left flank, and pin their opponent between himself and Norde.
----------
Gitana glared at the creature Zordt had shot with fiery indignation, but for some reason it didn't catch on fire. A moment later, Hedrak finished it off. The final one, determined to sell its life dearly, lashed out at Norde with all its strength, landing blow after blow.
The arrows continued, and endless stream of precise death.
Norde kept up his assault on his foe...
x3
The last foe fell, bleeding out on the cold winter snows. Will trembled. "I am glad we have defeated these foes, but I hope we shall not have to face more today." He seemed shaken.
Norde's chest deflated as he came out of his rage.
"I highly doubt we are done with them."
"Maybe if we turned back and went to go see Anna again, then we wouldn't have to face them!" It was difficult to get Will to see reason.
The group found a fancy ring, set with a deep crimson ruby, on the finger of the greyskin that could fly. There were a few more coins in the pack of one of the others, but nothing else of value.
Having dispatched these two groups, you were able to continue on unmolested for most of the remainder of your journey. The sun rose high, and the heavy cloud that had covered the sky began to thin out. Soon, you could see the village of Orford, scarcely a mile from Burkesville. The village was big, but many of its inhabitants spent the winter in Burkesville, only living in Orford during the summer shipping season.
By the time you reached the edge of town, it was clear you had been spotted coming along the river. A large group of well organized villagers was waiting for you. They were clearly better disciplined than those you had seen at Amble. "Halt!" Called out the most well armored among them, a short woman with a scar on her left cheek. "At the moment, we are not offering any assistance to strangers or travelers, nor can we allow you to enter our town. Be on your way at once!" She seemed stern, almost hostile. Will nearly began to cry, but kept himself together for the moment.
While this woman was determined to turn you away, there were some in the crowd who clearly felt bad about this decision.
Zordt smiled, and took to the front of the group. "Friends, countrymen! These are trying times, fraught with danger and peril to be sure. But if we turn a blind eye to those most in need of our help..." Zordt indicated Will, sniveling and on the verge of tears. "...then have we not let the monsters win? Once they have us not only fighting them, but fighting each other? Surely an exception could be made for the sake of giving the grace and comfort of a warm bed to a weary child, if even for one night? Of course your conscience would not be the only reward in such a decision..." Zordt rattled his coin purse loudly, letting the gold coins clink together.
Zordt gave a smile at the short scarred woman, borderline smug. This woman was clearly a fighter and had likely earned respect through her actions, but if they were to lash at each other with tongues instead of blades...why it would be akin to an ant fighting a dragon.
GItana gave Will a hug after the fight. "We must keep going. We'll see if we can find a warm bed tonight one of the towns along this river."
Gitana stood near enough to Zordt to speak softly and still be heard. "The day is young and there is a larger city near enough. Let them have their peace of mind. I know some in the group could be persuaded to help, but do we need to stop so soon?"
"Maybe if we turned back and went to go see Anna again, then we wouldn't have to face them!" It was difficult to get Will to see reason.
The group found a fancy ring, set with a deep crimson ruby, on the finger of the greyskin that could fly. There were a few more coins in the pack of one of the others, but nothing else of value.
Hedrak used some magic to scan for residual auras as they went through the possessions of their defeated foes.
He turned the ring over in his hands, looking for any distinctive markings or heraldry that could give them a clue as to where it may have come from.
----------
As Raziel peers sleepily through the flap on his backpack, the half-orc patted Dog calmly - he was used to being turned away many times before, just due to his orcish ancestry. If they had to continue, he would just shrug it away.
"I think we've earned a longer rest today. We're making good time and are weary from our fights, breaks are important for morale."
"I am ok sleeping not in the village."
Some of the members of the crowd seemed to warm at Zordt's word. "Alright, you could come inside at my farm, out of town on the other side, just long enough to have lunch. How would anyone know, if you were only here an hour?" Said a stout looking man
"No," said the scarred woman harshly, turning to the man. "Geofrey, Ellen, go and take one of this man's chickens," she said, gazing unblinking at the man, "we can have it for dinner tonight." The stout man's face fell, and he frowned heavily. The woman raised her voice "Does anyone else want to offer aid to these strangers? If we make it through this alive, you all will thank me in the end."
Will looked sadly at the man whose chicken was to be taken. "I'm sorry," he called out, though his voice faltered, and the man didn't quite hear him correctly.
Though you had clearly broken through to some, this woman and enough of the other villagers were deadly serious about not letting you in. They must have a good reason, beyond mere distrust of strangers or hatred of those with orcish blood. Perhaps you could find another way into town, if you were desperate.
----
Hedrak did not detect any magical auras.
He turned the ring over in his hands, looking for any distinctive markings or heraldry that could give them a clue as to where it may have come from.
Norde tried to determine the mood of the crowd, and were there enough there to defend the poor chicken man if he was to intervene...
but alas, his ignorance in the ways of people didn't tell him anything.
Zordt's own face fell. Evidentally she held a grip of fear over the locals. "I hope you do not live through these times only to lose your own humanity. The trade may be worse than you think." Zordt tied a few coins together and tosses them in the general direction of the stout man. "For the chicken. May your generosity not go punished."
"Have you even looked at us?" - Hedrak grunted at the group of gathered villagers, purposefully ignoring the woman - "Have you even considered how much we could bolster your defenses against whatever it is you are afraid of?" - he shakes his head.
"It matters not Zordt" - the half-orc placed a hand on his companion's shoulder - "They are under the boot of the scarred one who takes food from others. Let us get out of here" - the half-orc scoffed, turned his back and began pulling the Will's horse away - "Do not worry, we will be just fine" - he chuckled to the boy.
After hugging Will, Gitana attended to the wounded, first with healing hexes.
Gitana understood how the woman probably felt, having been abused by evil. She felt no ill will toward the woman and merely shrugged. "Evil leaves many scars," Gitana said. "We will go around your village and leave you in peace."
To her companions, she said, "Shall we make our way around this place and go into Burkesville? I expect we and our gold will be more welcome there. We ought to be able to find a place to stay and wash the dust of travel off, have a warm meal, and sleep without fear of attack by bandits and foul beasts of the night."
To her companions, she said, "Shall we make our way around this place and go into Burkesville? I expect we and our gold will be more welcome there. We ought to be able to find a place to stay and wash the dust of travel off, have a warm meal, and sleep without fear of attack by bandits and foul beasts of the night."
"Agreed. Burkesville it is Gitana. Lets go"
Gitana used her wand to heal Norde so he can travel close to full health.
Zordt tied a few coins together and tosses them in the general direction of the stout man. "For the chicken. May your generosity not go punished."
"It's not his generosity that's being punished, it's his disregard for the safety of others." While some in the crowd showed sympathy for the man, most seemed to agree with the woman. "And if he knows what's good for him, he'll put that money in the town fund." The man nodded, he seemed to agree with that last point, at least, though he was dismayed by the shrinking of his flock.
"Have you even considered how much we could bolster your defenses against whatever it is you are afraid of?"
"Aye, and we would be safe, perhaps, while you were here. But what about after you leave, and we've helped you?" She spread her hands. "We will come to no harm, so long as we remain neutral."
----
Will seemed to perk up once he realized how close you were to Burkesville. Just a little way down the road, you hoped, and the town would emerge from the woods. There were close to two thousand people living there, surely they would not turn you away for fear of a few dozen wild creatures, terrifying though they might be.
But you hadn't reached the safety of the walls yet. As you were walking up the road, you suddenly heard shouts and sounds of running from the woods beside you. Before you could react, they were on top of you, some leaping onto the road in front, others pressing through the woods by the side of the road. One among them looked like the spellcaster you had seen earlier, with great shadowy wings. It had a recent scar on its breast from an arrow, and it shrieked. The sound was like a thorn bush being raked through the inside of your ears. Will shrank back for a moment, clutching at the side of his head. But then he sat up tall, holding his ground, at least for the moment.
Norde's body had shaken with the fear that had hit him, but it didn't stop him from telling the others, "I'll hold the left!" He turned and rushed towards the nearest ambusher as his bloodlust overcame him...
x3
"They just don't learn."
Gitana recoiled as the horrid sound raked over her. But she endured it and shakily advanced to put herself between Will and danger.
Not wanting to enter a fight without her armor, Gitana used her wand to apply mage armor to herself. "Let's hope we're depleting their numbers enough to matter," she said.