...Awalè shoots twice at the Goat!...
...nearly striking it in the rear as it charges Ria!
◆◆) Powerful Charge
◆) Push (10 feet)
...A powerful blow knocking her back 10 feet towards the Cliff's edge!...
...
...
Pink Goat (-1 shot)
Ulfgar w/ Axe & Dagger @ 19/23 @ Hunting Purple!
Purple Goat (-14 axe, -1 fire) @ Ulfgar's Prey!
Dorgen w/ worn Climb Kit @ 18/18
Ria w/ nothing (Enchanted spear worn) @ 14/21
Awalè w/ longbow @ 15/19
...
Ulfgar's axe misses, but dagger strikes true, felling the Goat!
He swings his ancestral weapon at the other now , then raises it in defense!
...
The dwarven woman laughs out loud, her hand on her belly. She pulls the donkey along, coming out from hiding amid the snowy trees below.
"Help" pointing now to the rope rigging. You can tell that climbing gives her some joint pain, far as it is from the automatic motion of walking for hours (which is something she is actually good at). But not in just that does our grumpy (especially after being hoisted) guide lay her skills: Too, in delegation!
she smiles here a wink...
"We rest here tonight! Half a day's journey to the village tomorrow" and with that she begins setting up camp and a cooking fire, seemingly uncaring that the party is completely exhausted and ready to finally get some rest now - perhaps she is eager to make the best of making up for lost time!
In either case, she awaits each of "You" to report to her while she holds the campsite down - and you figure the food will be ready right about time you are finished attempting your tasks!
She hums while she cooks here - this is a new sound!
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After the last goat drops, Dorgen immediately grabs the healer's tools and examines his wounded party members. "Well, looks like we got lucky for once. No one fell of a cliff this time." With a dry chuckle, he starts dressing everyone's wounds.
After that, Dorgen lies down for a celebratory nap, but Everly probably kicks him awake after she sees him. With a grumble, he goes off to do what Everly tells him to do.
I'll go look around for some herbs, if they're not all chewed up by these stupid goats..."
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Ulfgar only waits a few moments after the last goat falls, panting to catch his breath before slinging his axe and kneeling down to begin field dressing the goat. Some fresh (though likely tough) meat will be a nice change to their nightly dinners.
He hauls on the rope to help her and the donkey up and squints as she barks out orders.
Then he nods, spits and heads off to obey one of them, going to search for water that isn't frozen.
Kicking Dorgen literally and proverbally, she discovers the motivation to be fruitless.
"You: Chart the map!" giving the dwarf a perhaps more suited task.
To Ulfgar "Good" and she fills her pot with the fresh water and gets started on the heating, and in the meantime, another command "Identify overhang spot!
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Ria pulls her spear out of the fallen goat's side and tries to clean a bit of the blood off in the snow. She then takes a few minutes to try to put some ice on her bruises:
But it doesn't help much.
Ria goes over to the cliff wall and thinks back to her climb. She starts taking some notes on where the best Climbing Spots on the wall were.
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Awale sits down exhausted and grateful that he didn't get pushed of the cliff again. Just as he's letting out an exhausted sigh he hears the dwarven woman's loud laugh and nearly jumps out of his robes in surprise. Hearing her commands he quickly begins looking for the foot prints of grazing animals to locate a good grazing spot.
Seeing the outline of hooves he whistles the signal at Bala to find him as he begins the search for the grazing spot.
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Worried for Awalè but still needing to get in his daily nap, Bala almost drift off to sleep until he hears Awalè's whistle. Happy to hear his companion is still alive he begins his cliffside climb to join him.
Making the climb fairly easily he joins Awalé, who is already in tracking mode. Purring and rubbing up against his legs he has momentarily forgiven him for the cold weather as he is just happy that he's still alive.
To Awalè "Good" and she hands him the reigns of her donkey, and with a head motion, indicates to him to return to the very spot for that purpose, meanwhile...
...To Ria "Good" and as Awalè returns having fed the donkey, she says to both of them:
"Medicinal Herbs" smiling again here, she hands her pipe to Ria...
...By this time, her pot is boiling, some roots and vegetables are cut and prepared, and the smell is - unfortunately - utterly divine!
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With his first task done, Ulfgar's lips move but no sound comes out. It seems he's silently going through her list of items to be done and checking them off.
His brows lift when he gets to one that hasn't been done that he can do.
He starts wandering around the plateau with a piece of parchment and charcoal, sketching.
His cartography skills are above average, but not by much.
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After a big meal, Dorgen goes back to his assigned tasks with renewed vigor. With a shovel, he starts digging a ditch to redirect meltwater away from the camp. He might not be strong, but his Dwarven constitution ensures he doesn't tire quickly.
Back at the camp, he strikes up a conversation with Ria.
"So, erm, I'm not sure how to say this, but you obviously have a big thing against undead. As I said, I'm capable of summoning them, or, something like that. It's technically not 'creating', as they have a very short shelf life, and I don't need a dead body for it. But if you don't want to be near them, that's okay, I have other spells. But just to get things clear: say we're in terrible danger, is it okay to summon one then, or would you rather die than be helped by an undead? Just so I know where we stand on this."
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Ria is silent a moment, gathering her thoughts while taking a long deep breath.
"Let me say this, Dorgen. I have yet to ever see anything involving undead being a 'good thing' in the end. You may not need a specific corpse to animate or summon with, but those bones your magic gathers are coming from somewhere. Do you have permission from the person's family to use them?"
Ria's voice is getting louder, not quite yelling, but definitely louder than she usually speaks. She points a finger towards the Ghostlands.
"As we speak, the mortal remains of people I loved dearly are likely being used by the Whispering Tyrant to commit atrocities. Those bodies should have been on a funeral pyre, or be resting in crypts where their families can light a candle in remembrance, where I can at least be at peace knowing he's not wandering the Ghostlands enslaved to a monster."
Ria realizes her reply has become much more personal and much louder than she had intended. She stops to take another deep breath, calming herself.
"Maybe animals," She says finally. "I might be ok with undead animals being summoned. One of those damn goats? Ok, just make sure we've gotten the good meat off them first. But people?" Ria shakes her head. "I don't know that I can fight effectively along side an even temporarily reanimated humanoid. I've fought too many for too long to easily switch my instincts in this. Expect me to be uncomfortable and distracted. I'm sorry."
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Dorgen begins to speak, then catches himself. He seems lost in thoughts for a while, then, without speaking, dives into his collection of books he's brought with him. After several hours of furious perusal, he comes back to Ria.
"You know, none of my sources tell me where the bodies actually come from. I always presumed they're just created out of magic. It never occurred to me they might be actual corpses. Once I'm back, I'll do further research on this, but rest assured, I'll refrain from casting the spell as long as we're together. Does that sound like a deal?"
With a smile, he sticks out his hand and clearly hopes he's made a friend by now.
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"Deal" Ria shakes Dorgen's hand.
"That's how it worked in Lastwall, at least." Ria shrugs. "If you didn't quickly burn or have a ritual performed on your fallen soldiers, within a few days you'd be fighting against them. Reanimated by the Tyrant's necromancers."
Ria gazes off into the distance.
"But that was my husband's specialty, really." Ria says quietly. "Studying magic, learning ways to protect us from the Tyrant's necromancers." She shrugs again. "I just know how to kill things and sew people up when they get cut open."
Ria and Dorgen converse into the evening as everyone else - including Everly - pass out shortly after dinner. The party rotates a watch and - sleeping in a little here - wake up not to a warm temperature, but at least not to freezing temperatures, as the Snow Line visibly recedes back into a think green Mountain Forest, with the Orc Settlement perhaps half a day's hike down.
Rising now, the party discuss their plan of approach.
...
Ria and Dorgen
...
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Ulfgar wakes up, stretches, yawns silently and then begins his morning preparations. That largely consists of splashing some (cold) water on his face and armpits, and chewing on a stick to clean his teeth. Then, he dons his armor and weapons.
When they're ready to go, he takes the lead, Scouting out ahead.
When they get close to the orc settlement, he approaches slowly with weapons sheathed and hands away from them but still available.
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After waking up refreshed, Dorgen starts leafing through his spellbook and preparing his spells for the day.
0: Mage Hand, Detect Magic, Shield, Electric Arc, Prestidigitation, Chill Touch
1: Befuddle, Magic Weapon
Dorgen still feels nervous about the Orc settlement. He still thinks there's a very likely hostile Orc clan there.
"Er, we're about to meet up with some big bad Orcs soon. Should we try to appease them, or avoid them altogether? I vote for the latter, but in case it's unavoidable: what do Orcs like? Meat? Should we kill a lot of animals and bring them with us so they don't eat us? I don't really have anything of value on me otherwise..."
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"Well, we didn't eat 3 goats worth of meat last night, we could offer some of it, or the pelts, as a gift. This was supposed to be the nicer of the tribes.
If we can get through to the end of this route and establish it, their village could benefit a lot from traders stopping to rest or resupply here on their way through. The village could trade for nicer weapons, luxury items, etc. So I think we need to be upfront with them about what we're doing, but explain how it will benefit them."
Ria looks around at the group. "Anyone speak Orcish? It might help negotiations. If not, well, I hope they have people who speak common."
Ria Scouts around while they travel. When they approach the village it will be with shield ready, but spear stowed.
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"Don't speak Orc, I'm afraid. Also, there's... history between our ancestries, I don't think I make a good spokesperson. But yeah, I hope they're too full of goat and whatever else we can find them that they let us go."
Dorgen is clearly not looking forward to meeting this Orc tribe.
While they're packing up camp, Dorgen looks around for an "overhang spot," something he interprets as a place where people can shelter against the elements.
While the PCs discuss what an appropriate "gift" will be once they reach the "friendly" orc encampment, trekking along in good time having fully rested , the Mountain Forest thickens - some shade from the trees renders the light eerie, the sun cutting through erratically - and the sound of crickets can be heard by the throng...
...
Something Southeast of you - by the Log - lurks!
Three creatures - clustered together Southeast of you - by the Log - lurk!
Why is everyone suddenly freezing - what is going on?
Something Southeast of you - by the Log - lurks!
...
Awale w/ ?? @ Search
Bala
Dorgen w/ ?? @ Investigate
Ria w/ ?? @ Scout
Ulfgar w/ ?? @ Search
...
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Ulfgar knows what it means when animals get quiet. There's something nearby that wants to eat them.
The only question is: is it something just big enough to eat the smaller creatures of the forest like a snake or badger, or is it something big enough to eat a group of Pathfinders?
He holds up his hand to stop the group then points toward the log to the southeast that is partially hidden by the trees and underbrush with the javelin he's carrying.
"Danger," he warns.
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Ria stopped walking as she noticed everyone around her halt. She looked around to see what the problem might be, and saw Ulfgar pointing to a log and actually speaking aloud. Something was definitely wrong.
Ria cautiously approaches the log, retreiving her spear as she goes. Her buckler, as always, ready on her arm.
?? @ 21
?? @ 25
?? @ 14
...
Awale w/ Both Shortswords @ 14
Bala
Dorgen w/ ?? @ ??
Ria w/ Spear @ 23
Ulfgar w/ Javelin @ 20
Everyone else hears the voice, but Ria is the first to see the creature, stepping out nimbly from some tree cover, it's smooth - almost sensual - barotone welcoming the party to this neck of the woods. Not quite a Wolf - it's keen intellect evident in it's command of the subtleties in tonality of the Taldan tongue, and the emotionally complex expression it it's eyes: it seems pleased to be making the acquaintance, but also, there is a dark note, like it has a secret, or is aware of something you are not...
the "we" seeming to indicate the two seemingly-ordinary wolves flanking the impressive creature, bowing their heads to their alpha, snarling - but mutedly - at the party, no doubt waiting obediently for the opportunity to rush forward - which it is plain the speaking creature need merely nod to allow!
!!!
...
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Ria blinks in surprise and straightens up a bit from her cautious crouch. She raises the point of her spear and rests the spear-butt on the ground. No longer directly threatening the wolves, or their Alpha, but still at hand if the situation changes.
"Hello." Ria says, in what she hopes is a friendly 'we don't want any trouble here' voice. "I'm Ria. I apologize if we are trespassing on your land. We are trying to explore this area, and you could definitely be of service to us. We need information about who or what lives around here, so that we can talk with the friendlier beings, and avoid bothering the less-friendly ones."
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Ulfgar lays his javelin on his shoulder from where he was ready to cast it when the wolves appeared. His eyebrows raise in obvious surprise as one of them talks.
They furrow as Ria speaks back, fairly sure that this being is in the former category and not the latter, but not willing to start a fight without proof.
It declares, it eyes running from her spear and back to Ulfgar's javelin - sizing up the dwarf visually first, followed by the human in front of it - "I am enchanted to finally be of your acquaintance!"
immensely proud to be declaring it's own name, it broadens it's chest as if to claim more space between itself and the fighter "These are my subordinates - I haven't bothered to give them names" Odvar smiles here "Perhaps like those with whom you travel in your company?" seeking perhaps to elevate the ego of it's conversant at the expense of her colleagues!
"Please tell me: the Not Quite Wolf looks into whoever speaks next with keen eyes of discernment, as if trying to decide if it's question will be answered honestly, dishonestly, or evaded altogether!
...
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Dorgen steps forward, nothing in his hands. "Well, my name is Dorgen, that's my own given name, Ria doesn't have any say in the matter. And as Ria said, we're here to explore, have a look around, and see if this path is safe to travel. You see, there's a bounty on this place. Well, not this exact place, but a passage through the mountains, so trade will be easier between nations. There's this roundabout route that's easy to traverse, but takes a long time, and when time is of the essence..."
Dorgen keeps babbling, talking truthfully but taking long to get to the point. Hopefully the bumbling speech lasts long enough to defuse the situation.
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At a pause in Dorgen's ramble, Ria gently cuts in.
"The other two in our party prefer carefully considered action to speaking. They are Ulfgar and Awalè." She gestures to each of them as she says their names. "Neither of them is my minion either, we are working together as a team. I just happen to be the one who is more willing to talk to strangers, so they're leaving me to it."
"As Dorgen said, we are trying to chart a path through this area for a possible trade route. We are hoping to find a path that will disrupt the local residents as little as possible. Unless of course they want to take advantage of the goods the merchants will be transporting. We were told there were some orc tribes in this area. The merchants would consider a waystop around here to be very helpful, and would bring useful items to trade for food, furs, or local guides, if a tribe was willing to work with them."
Odvar tracks each speaker as they talk.
His eyebrows lift at mention of the words "Bounty" a first time and at "Local Residents" a second time.
Adressing Ria, he willfully seems to ignore her insistence to the otherwise in saying "You and your minions" looking down at the two wolves to either of his sides "stand to Profit Greatly from this "Bounty" - do you not?" a rhetorical question; he continues "And Over and Through the "Local Residents" of The Jungle!" he waves his head here as if to indicate the entire surroundings.
His eyes turn now to Awalè and Bala here, and Odvar licks his lips thirstily!
...
This Not Quite Wolf is really difficult to read.
You are unable to glean anything about his intentions behind his words!
This Not Quite Wolf is really difficult to read.
However, you suspect he would certainly go back on any deal he tries to cut here!
This Not Quite Wolf is really difficult to read.
However, you suspect he would not go back on any deal he tries to cut here!
That said, that looks he gave Awalè and Bala seems to mean he expects to be payed in lives!!
You opted not to Sense Motive.
If you would like to immediately take a different single action (◆) here instead, you are welcome to do so!
...
...
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Unnerved by Odvar and his thirsty licking, Awalè, speaks up, “Speak plainly Odvar. It is hard to trust those wishing to make deals outside the market. The drool around you seems to suggest you want something from us badly.” He places his hand on the hilt of his short sword and keeps steady eye contact with the not wolf.
Bala’s arches his back and his fur stands up as he feels the tension in Awalè voice.
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Dorgen takes a few steps back, glad to not be the focus of the conversation.
"With 'safe passage,' do you mean you'll guide us through here, or will you attack us if we don't give you anything to eat?"
If at all possible, he'll whisper to the group:
"I don't trust this guy one bit. I think we're better off alone."
Odvar looks almost surprised as Awalè speaks and Bala arches, and momentarily ignores Dorgen.
And in his continuing arrogance speaks to Awalè by addressing Ria "I'm sure your minions here wouldn't mind putting a Down Payment on my future Services as a Guide with their Lives?"
He continues licking his lips, and looks now towards Dorgen and Ulfgar "Or two dwarves - Yes! - meat's a little tough, but good for Lasting through a Cruel Winter in The Jungle!"
...
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"We have large portions of three mountain goats we killed recently, if you are interested in food." Ria shakes her head at Odvar. "But I cannot give you the lives of any of these people, or their animal companions, they are not mine to give. Accept the goats, come up with something else, or we are done negotiating."
Ria will watch him carefully. If any of them charges her, she will set her spear against the charge.
Indeed, the negotiations are over.
Odvar nods, and his beasts unhinge! He looks to make a lunge right for Ria, but restrains himself with a cunning smile.
...
While we wait for your turn...
I noticed last combat that you seemed unfamiliar with how Multiple Attack Penalty worked, but eventually learned to apply it.
My question then is: Are you Familiar with how the Hunt Prey ability interacts with your "Flurry" Hunter's Edge as towards lowering that Multiple Attack Penalty?
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask in the discussion thread!
You believe Odvar to be descended of Dragons, an Intelligent Wolf Barbarian, capable of breathing a Cone of Fire, as well as corresponding Resistance to Fire!
...
Ria w/ Spear @ 21/21
Odvar
Green Wolf
Ulfgar w/ Javelin and Clan Dagger @ 23/23
Purple Wolf
Awale w/ Both Shortswords @ 19/19
& Bala
Dorgen w/ nothing @ 18/18
...
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Ria, realizing how far ahead she is and not wanting to leave herself open to being surrounded, backs up so that she is closer to her companions. She stands where she can block the wolves from charging Durgen, the least-armored of the party, and readies to attack the first enemy that comes within melee range.
◆ Stride
◆◆ Ready to Attack
Odvar watches Ria strategically retreat.
The Not Quite Wolf's smile curls into a frown here...
Again he prepares to lunge, but instead, looks down at his other wolf guardian - the slower of the two - and bides his time again.
The smaller wolves are not so cunning - the wolf runs through the grasses and chases Ria, and reaching her, lashes out with slobbering teeth!
piercing
piercing
The second bite is right on target - - and several small insects jump across this dirty wolf's fur and onto Ria's skin!
...