The Nurian's eyes flutter open as his lungs suddenly expand and he just stifles a scream. After a few moments of looking around and realizing he hadn't been sent to the darkest reaches of the deep Hells, he let's out a heavy sigh of relief.
"M..m...many thanks." He says in a think accent that matches N'Dateh's. "I thought I was a dead man for certain. For the second time I am indebted to you and your companions." He says to Toki before slowly getting to his feet. "Be certain I will not forget your great generosity." He adds hobbling forward down the steps.
With rope, diligence, and caution, all are able to make their way to the solid shore. Those among your charges who slip are easily able to grab the line, or have the nearby hand from you or one of your companions to catch and guide them back to safety. By the time all have passed through the passage, everyone is soaked to the bone from the constant spray and heads pound from the roar of the mighty cascade of water.
But winding out and around to the shore you each spot the twin hulled ship that carried you upriver.
"That is a sight for soar eyes." Turgon says the minotaur walking over to check the stowed sails and gear. "All seems to be here and still in fine shape. Apparently the ghosts haven't bothered venturing down here so far. I was worried they'd have taken any craft long before we could arrive."
With the sun starting to dip lower in the sky once again, the decision must be made. Camp here at the base of the falls to rest and get dry or begin the journey down river and risk the pitfalls of navigating the wide river at night.
Beordt looks about, "Are we better on the water to rest or here? In a land were even the flowers try to eat you. How do you wisely pick, safe . . . well safer?"
"How I see it the choice is to be pounced upon by them ghosts or be on a boat getting to safety. We will have to watch out for that serpent. But I would rather put this shore line in me wake and spend a night on the water. Then we can look for a safe harbor to rest the night if need be." Dacknar comments.
Being more at home on the water, Dacknar takes a turn with the sailing.
"I prefer the land. Not only because I sink, but because predators on the water can drag us down. Predators on land, we can fight on our own two feet. In this miniature abyss, I have yet to find any place that is devoid of creatures that want to eat us." Rilkus intoned. "Though I will, of course, defer to the group's consensus."
|
Once over he went to slap the man on the shoulder, but awkwardly stopped when he remembered that his hand was steel and the weight behind it. He completed the action, gently touching Gauis and quietly intoning a thanks.
Gauis couldn't help but notice the Warforged's hesitation. It was an occupational hazard. He'd been witness to so many collisions and near-misses of experiments gone astray that his eyes naturally caught the integral of any delta-v.
He decided it was time to make sure his suit was every-day ready and gear it up for a better test.
"Ha! That was sure a trial to test a man's mettle, eh Rilkus?" Gauis answers, raising his own powered hand and slapping it palpably on the paladin's thick steel back. A mighty clang resonates out into the verdant green and the artificer share an honest smile.
At the river he allows his mind to digest the pitfalls and risks, listening to the others' opinion and letting his intellect build the solution. At last he looks to the boat and shakes his head.
"My friends, we had such a trial on the river, and we were only at the shore crossing stones then! If this place has taught us anything, it is that everything will try to kill us. Monsters heretofore almost unknown to scholarly books are as commonplace here as ants to a picnic. Think you if the walking-death that came upon us at the path were to attack while at night, and we in motion at that! Even if we did fight them off, could we say that they would not have harmed anyone here?
Nay, if we hope to get everyone here away and alive I would not take the risk on the water at night. Even if we just ran aground from not seeing treacherous rocks ahead, we might spend a we t night trying to fix a grounded boat.
But all is not lost. We know that the ghosts are a cowardly race--this has been known for sometime--and like to shoot at a distance with their inferior bows. I say that between myself and the young studs Rilkus and Beordt, we should be able to move trees and wood enough to make a fine enough makeshift fortress. With a stout wall of fallen trees encircling us, we should be able to spend a quite enough night within.
And if any climb our wall to entreat with us, it is they that can do the worrying!"
A debate ensues with each arguing the merits of staying on land and risking another encounter with the trollkin or another of the many predators lurking in this cursed jungle. Or setting out upon the river with its treacherous currents, serpents or another of the many predators lurking within its cursed waters, not to mention the risk from sudden storms.
Toki and the pirate Dacknar prefer the river and its dangers while Gauis and Rilkus enjoy the feel of solid ground beneath their feet. The decision comes down to a somewhat befuddled bearkin who sees only danger ready to leap upon him regardless of land, sea, or if he had wings, in the air. And yet, decide he must as all eyes of both refugees and companions turn to look at Beordt.
Beordt looks to the refugees and those from these jungles, "I do not know these waters. Are they rough, full of rapids, or calm. I do know they have monsters. The jungle around us also has monsters. Its really a matter of where we think we have an advantage."
|
|
"Precisely, well said, Beordt," Gauis says, taking up his point. "We do -not- know these waters. I suspect no one among can know them so intimately that traveling them at night can be seen as a good idea.
Were we to attempt a night-time rafting and we grounded on an unseen rock, or tumpled over rough waters, any attempt at speed would be turned into a nightmare. A nightmare from which, I fear, we would not all survive.
Here, if among the three of us, we could just rip trees from the ground and make a barricade around us, we could get good, uneventful rest, and take the water more safely, with the sun smiling down upon us, where dangers both living and unliving, can be seen with plenty of time to react.
The only reason not so sleep the night is for fear of ambush, but a stout wall around us, unseen and unknowable to these savages, would be proof against their mightiest efforts."
Dacknar looks over to the minotaur that sailed these water to get here. "Turgon, how well do you know these waters? Since we are strangers to these lands do you have any advice? To stay on land or make for the water?"
He then looks over to the rest of the survivors "Yer lives are at risk, like ours. Any of you have some ideas for a safe area to hold up at till morning?"
The minotaur gazes out over the waters of the river, then to the boat, and then to the gathered group of refugees and adventurers. A hand rubs his chin. "I've navigated these waters more than a few times. There are always dangers. Serpents, flying hunters, river sirens, sandbars, sudden whirlpools." He shrugs as if such things are simply the way of life in this lost land of constant danger. "The bigger concern is the boat. We will be pushing its limits. She'll be sitting low in the water. Slower to respond and there'll be more danger of capsizing if we aren't careful."
He sighs and shakes his head. "Although I would most dearly love to get back to the comforts of my uncles, I would suggest we delay until morning. The light will give us more time to react to dangers on the river or hopefully avoid them all together. To travel and night would be a great risk with so many on board."
Beordt nods and helps Gauis ready the sight.
Toki nods, not happy about the lack of progress out of their current location, but satisfied with the wisdom of the decision, Gaius, you need help with setting up the defenses?
Dacknar shakes his head "I still think stealth is better than raising our flag and saying, here we are!"
But he lends a hand to help with the defenses. Remembering that the ghosts like to use the trees to move in.
He also looks for branches that can be used as spears or clubs to arm the refugees with.
With everyone chipping in the group is able to fashion a reasonable defensive perimeter that even provides a bit of shelter from the ever-present mist and the usual night rains, which do arrive on schedule to drop their deluge of water while rattling the skies. It is during one of these storms, with the wind cutting through the jungle like harsh words from an ex-lover, that Dacknar and Gauis both look up to see a woman struggling in the swirling waters of the river just twenty feet from the stern of the sailboat.
Dark hair swirls around in the water as her pale skin reflects in the flashing illumination of the storm. Rain pours in sheets soaking everything as her struggling cries barely echo over the cacophony of storm, river, and falls.
|
|
"Yes, good Toki, I could never hope to do this alone. If everyone helps, this is a thing that can be done."
As the night wears on, he turns to address Dacknar as they both take a break and gaze out into the swirling river waters.
"Alas, my friend, I have ever thought stealth was a game for a lone man, alone and skilled," Gauis muses. "For a band such as ours," he pauses and sweeps an arm across the camp, taking in all the former prisoners, "what hope have we to make ourselves invisible and hide in the shadow of leaves? Many can not walk properly, and as for I and my brother of STEEL Rilkus, you have a better chance of drinking from a broken cup then hiding us in anything less than a well-used barn.
Perhaps you and Toki could move about unseen, but methinks that as soon as the band reaches three, the fickle finger of fate likes...you....not...."
Gauis dropped off as he spied the woman struggling in the wet maelstrom. "Well this night won't pass uneventful," he mutters, jogging out toward the shore.
He takes out his rope as he runs. "Knot," he orders it, shortening its length to 40 feet, but it ties itself into easy-to-hold knots. As he reaches the closest point to the girl, "Extend," he calmly commands, tossing it toward the woman.
"Fasten," he says to the rope, ordering it to wind about any part of the woman it can.
"Grab on to my rope!" he yells to the struggling form. Between his creation and the woman's own aid, this should lead to a happy ending.
Beordt looks about remembering flowers and monsters that.
Toki, remembering the encounter with the water witch, is ready with a spell in case this proves to be one of them!
Dacknar calls for the refugees to assist Gauis to pull on the rope. Then he nocks an arrow just incase the woman turns out to be something else. And with all the refugees holding the rope, it should be near impossible to drag Gauis into the water.
The experience and forethought of his companions, it is latter agreed upon, is what kept Gauis from being dragged into the depths of the river. For no sooner had the rope kissed the surface of the river than the long black tresses of the woman's hair began to wrap and weave themselves around the lifeline and attempting to pull the artificer into the water with a strength much more potent than that of a struggling swimmer.
As Gauis lurches forward, the half dozen refugees stain backward and manage to only let the artificer's boots get wet before he is drug back up the shore. The drowned maiden unleashes and unholy screech as her victim is pulled away. This also calls forth a half dozen lurching undead bodies from the muddy, tangled depths of the river. The rotting, water sodden corpses come ashore into the face of Toki's magic and Dacknar's arrows.
Dacknar was watching the maiden that the undead swarm startled him and it threw off his aim.
"Back, everyone back. We are under attack! Lets repel these undead dogs!"
”I might not be the most stealthy amongst us, but against such abominations there is no need to hide.” Rilkus intoned as he strode forward. As he moved his hammer began to glow with a soft light.
thunder damage, knocked back 10 feet if failed. Half damage on a miss.
Beordt roars in furry and unloads on the nearest foe.
Beordt drops a solid hit on his first strike and moves again to repeat the process landing an even greater hit.
|
|
Rage without peer sweeps through the shocked and stunned Artificer.
"Oh CONFOUND!" he cries in rage and despair. "Is there NOTHING sacred in these thrice-cursed lands? Can not even the solemn act of saving one in the throes of danger be left untouched by these conniving beasts?!?!"
Getting no answer, perhaps ever, Gauis delivers his own answer by activating his helmet up and channeling power to his heavy battle-fists.
"IF SAVAGERY IS ALL YOU UNDERSTAND THEN IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU!" his hulking armored form shouts at the approaching line as he LEAPS into the chaos now swirling in full measure.
Not understanding Gauis' rant Beordt roars his approval of savagery.
The drowned maiden's horde of river zombies is sorely tested by the onslaught that is Toki, Beordt, and Gauis. The bard's wave of thunder rolls over half of the undead creatures as they wade ashore. The first holds its ground, but two others are temporarily tossed back into the river. Beordt charges the first one and deftly plucks its head from its shoulders with a quick stroke the bursts with divine radiance. The bearkin then pivots, snapping its jaws at another beast that closes. His teeth sink into rotting, filthy flesh while his sword removes the dead thing's shoulder while shattering its ribs and sternum.
It clings on just long enough for Gauis to deliver the killing blow with his arcane enhanced fists. The artificer spins and punches another creature striding ashore. Several rotted teeth pop free and plunk into the shallow waters as the fist connects but the drooling, stinking zombie continues its mindless assault.
The two closest zombie each assault Gauis and Beordt. The artificer manages to simply take the blows on his armor with no damage to his person. A single muck riddled claw opens a long gash upon Beordt's side.
Meanwhile, six more of the creatures emerge from the depths as the drowned maiden begins to voice a soul ripping tune that calls up her grim allies.
Zombie 1: 0/40
Zombie 2: 18/40
Zombie 3: 18/40
Zombie 4: 0/40
Zombie 5: 33/40
Zombie 6: 40/40
Drowned Maiden: 150/150
"Get that b!tch to the shore so we can kill it."
Beordt lays into zombies.
Rilkus came thundering in, crashing into the nearest zombie. With sheer size and weight he knocked it to the ground, and then raising a steel foot, brought it down upon it’s head. There was a *crunch* as steel and bone fought to see which was stronger.
|
|
Breathing heavily from his own savagery, Gauis looked about the battlefield, letting his mind take in the tactics.
The low-born coward was lolling in the river, of course. It would be hard work chopping her down, for all of Beordt's ardor.
For his own part it seemed his suit was proof against their attacks. However, shaking his head he had to admit that he had precious few tricks for this situation. Perhaps if one could walk across the water? Hm. Such energy might be stored in a ring or something.
For now he had to settle in for a good fight. Calling on his ancestry which always carried a touch of magicks, he enhanced the abilities of the three men fighting in the front ranks.
Dacknar ducks out of site of the "helpless" maiden.
"I may not be able to drag it up on the beach, But maybe I can get it mad enough to come after me herself."
Popping out from the chaos, Dacknar fires and arrow at this river witch.
Toki moves up and swings with his stone hammer!
EDIT:
Swing hard, Beordt, Magni watches!
Beordt looks about noting the many targets. He lumbers in bear like fashion greatsword leading toward the nearest zombie.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Beordt looks about noting the many targets. He lumbers in bear like fashion greatsword leading toward the nearest zombie.
GWM Greatsword 1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
GWM Greatsword 1 Reckless: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
GWM Greatsword 2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Not sure what hit but hopefully Zombies have really low AC
GWM Greatsword 1 Damage Divine Fury: 2d6 + 15 + 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 6) + 15 + (3) + 3 = 28
GWM Greatsword 2 Damage: 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (2, 6) + 15 = 23
Bite Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Beordt unleashes a wild roar and proceeds to maul the nearest river zombie as it trundles ashore. Teeth and steel rend the creature in devastating slashes ripping rotted flesh and rending bone. The undead beast falls into the shallows, but proceeds to snap teeth and rot infused claws at the bearkin.
Rilkus engages another of the shambling undead. The paladin's silver hammer glitters in the moonlight as it smashes into the creature's head pulverizing skull and rotted brain matter into a sickening mush. The unliving thing simply drops into the water and starts to slowly drift downstream with the current.
Dacknar steps out from behind the cover of the makeshift barrier and sinks and arrow into the witch's shoulder. The attack elicit's a piercing screech from the horror in the water and her dark eyes drift toward the offending pirate.
Gauis calls upon the glory and fortitude of his ancestors to bless himself as well as paladin and barbarian bearfolk.
Toki offers the bearkin inspiring words as he steps up to the squirming zombie attempting to gnaw at Beordt's legs and crushes it beneath the heavy head of his stone warhammer. Within a heartbeat, the creature's struggles cease.
Turgon and the other refugees manage to pummel one of the other zombies into pulp even as others continue to rush ashore. One of the undead slams into Gauis, it's clawed hand acting as a dagger as it finds a weak point and slips its rotting fingertips into the artificer's flesh.
Another catches Beordt flatfooted in the shallows and manages to rake the bearkin's side with a claw while also leaning in to snap its jaws upon the living forearm.
A third zombie bounces its first blow off the hard surface of metal surface of Rilkus' body. But then a light flares in the zombies eye for just a moment and with quick reflexes it steps forward and grabs at a seam in the gearforged's outer flesh. There is a loud grind and popping of metallic screws and seals as the zombies pries the plate open.
Still another of the beasts swipes at Toki, but the nimble bard manages to avoid tooth and claw coming away from the assault no worse for wear.
The witch, her eyes ablaze with dark hatred of all living things, opens her mouth wide, wide, wider than any mortal jaw could open. Seconds later a swarm of buzzing, humming, thrumming insects pours forth from the black cavity and races out toward Dacknar. The elf finds himself suddenly engulfed in the biting, stinging swarm as they attempt to crawl and fly into every opening they can find.
Zombie 1: 0/40
Zombie 2: 0/40
Zombie 3: 0/40
Zombie 4: 0/40
Zombie 5: 0/40
Zombie 6: 40/40
Zombie 7: 40/40
Zombie 8: 40/40
Zombie 9: 40/40
Zombie 10: 40/40
Zombie 11: 40/40
Zombie 12: 40/40
Drowned Maiden: 132/150
"Ahh there going after me eyes!" He yells out as he tries to swipe at the bugs.
He then brings his own spell power to bare and casts Prestidigitation to try and clean the bugs off him.
He tries to drop out of the river witch's sight thinking that the bugs are being controlled by her and she needs to see him to keep control.
The gearforge didn't feel pain in the traditional sense, but he knew that some serious damage had been done to him and that he needed the zombie away from his internal workings. Using his shield he shoved the zombie backwards and then followed through with a brutal blow of his hammer, hitting it in the jaw. It was a fight between two opponents who were not going to back down due to anything as mundane as "excruciating pain." So what it came down to was which one was more durable.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Just as the clawed hand succeeds in finding a weak joint in the arcanely powered armor, the suit's intrinsic flows of mana detect the intruder and capacitors kept charged for just such an occasion flare to life. The moment of enhanced defence is all Gauis needs to gain some space from the aberation and end the threat.
For all his enhanced abilities, he felt trapped and powerless against the witch. For the moment she was free to throw expendable minions and harassing attacks against them with all but impunity. He dare not take the time to assault her at range, for fear that her land forces would converge and overrun the defenses they were making on the beach.
For the moment he had to admit that she carried the whip hand and they were dancing to her tune.
He thought this even as he waded into the swirling melee and let his heavy battle-fists fly at the intruding foe.