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Both Mialee and Mindartis both miss the slightly larger beast. Arvax rushes in, his warhammer pulses as small jets of air increase its momentum, crashing into the creatures snout.
The jets of air cause the blunt hammer to go way off course as the beast strikes back.
Zelphari takes another small bite as Mialee is violently ripped from the sky, battered into a bloody heap against a rock in front of the hungry land shark.
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BOLD: GO!:
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Beast (Red)
➤ Mindartis
⠀⠀➤ (Mindartis) Mialee │
➤ Hornietelle
➤ Mimi │
➤ Zelphari
➤ Arvax
➤ Evindal
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Mimi releases her held breath in a sigh of relief as Zelphari finally cuts the creature down. With her wounds, she was expecting that very soon, she would once again wake up and find herself flat on her back wondering how she'd ended up that way. Not seeing many options, she continues with her so-far successful tactics.
She charges directly at the creature and tries to do her patented leg dodging acrobatics, but this creature is larger and her timing is thrown off. She bounces off the beast's flank, but stays on her feet. Feeling a little deflated by her failure, she jabs at the land shark with less enthusiasm than usual.
Expecting the next attack by this creature to finally send her on her way to the Boneyard, Mimi decides to use a more defensive position to prepare herself for it.
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Mindartis feels an anger unlike anything he has felt before as he sinks an arrow into the side of the beast's neck. Hornietelle heals Avax's injuries as Evindal draws another healing potion and rushes to the birds side.
Mimi tries to tumble past but the land shark is ready this time as it snaps at her, keeping her from getting past. She is abe to jab it just below the eye as she raises her guard up defensively.
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BOLD: GO!:
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Beast (Red)
Mindartis
⠀⠀(Mindartis) Mialee │
Hornietelle
Mimi │
➤ Zelphari
➤ Arvax
Evindal
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Zelphari gives himself a little more breathing room as his spell reinvigorates him. With a bit of renewed strength Zelphari slashes his guisarme into the beast trying to burrow back into the ground.
The blade slices deep as Arvax tries to strike the same wound to finish it off.
Though Arvax manages to take out a large dirt clump as it slings mud into the air. Completely surrounded the land shark leaps up and lashes out at everyone around it.
Zelphari quickly drops as the land shark nearly swallows the man whole. It jerks its head back and forth with Zelphari in its mount before unceremoniously dumping him a few feet away.
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BOLD: GO!:
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Beast (Red)
➤ Mindartis
⠀⠀➤ (Mindartis) Mialee │
➤ Hornietelle
➤ Mimi │
➤ Arvax
➤ Evindal
➤ Zelphari │
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Mimi's stomach drops when she sees her flanking buddy unceremoniously chewed up and spat out. She knows just how easily that could have been her. She's pleased to see Evindal revive Zelphari and put him back in the fight. Dodging a couple of half-hearted attacks from the beast , she tries again to confuse the creature by running through it's legs.
Apparently Mimi still hasn't gotten the hang of it yet as she bounces off the beast's flank again. "Zut alors!" A little irritated, she gives the land shark another jab, but her heart isn't in it.
Expecting that she will be the main target of the creature's next attack, Mimi positions herself as best she can to meet her doom.
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Mindartis' arrow goes through the beasts eye, partially blinding it as Hornietelle tries to disable the creature.
The land shark slumps over unconscious as Evindal feeds Zelphari a small healing elixir.
Stomped into the ground during the battle Mimi finds a small crumpled up note. Picking it up it looks to be a message that is written in code similar to the book that was taken from Master Sergeant Morgroar's hut. Though it will take a moment to decode the message.
Patience, Morgroar.
Eloqi will agree to the Aspis’ terms. This gold is but a small taste of the fortune that awaits us!
If Eloqi does not, his authority will be undermined and I will see you take his place!
Raike
The hobgoblins finish off the remaining landsharks as it appears most of the camp is quite injured. When the last of the bulettes falls, Eloqi surveys the scene. He notes that the attack left many of his warriors dead or wounded. "The talks will be formally suspended until tomorrow morning while damage is assessed, funeral pyres erected, and field promotions are completed.
Eloqi is visibly pleased by the capabilities displayed by Raike and the Aspis during the battle, voicing commendations of the Aspis’ fighting prowess as they quickly took down 3 or even possibly more Bulettes. Eloqi then looks to the Pathfinders and seems equally impressed. [b]"You both have earned some gemstones for your prowess. This saved my clan several injuries."
In the aftermath of the battle, the hobgoblins go about their grim tasks. Many collect the remains of fallen comrades on carts as others prepare the funeral pyres. Still others begin dragging the corpses of the dead bulettes out of the center of camp and towards a location where the beast's remains can be later harvested for their hides and their plates for use as armor.
Lieutenant Eloqi retires to his quarters in the meeting hall. Morgroar, too, returns to his hut.
As the hobgoblins disperse, Raike momentarily surveys the scene. There is a brief look of satisfaction on her face, before one of her bodyguards speaks to her. She and her entourage then begin circulating the camp, as if conducting some sort of search.
Passing the massive hole that looms not far from where the beasts fell, marking where the bulk of the beasts emerged from the earth, Drussem approaches the party.
"I am en route to survey the camp's defensive perimeter I have been tasked with inspecting our defenses and ensuring that they have not been further compromised." she confides. "With so many of our troops lost in the bulette attack, the camp is now quite vulnerable, particularly if the forces of the Whispering Tyrant should choose now to attack. At least, the pyres will ensure that none of our own will rise to join their ranks."
The hobgoblin releases a low growl, "I do not think this bulette attack to be a natural occurrence and, I suspect, neither do you."
"The Aspis' response to the attack was quite impressive. No doubt, Lieutenant Eloqi is likely to side with the Aspis due to their part in defending the camp." Drussem continues. "I smell treachery. However, Lieutenant Eloqi is not one to entertain bold accusations that are unaccompanied by competent evidence. If you are plan to cast doubt on the Aspis' actions once the talks resume, then you will need competent, tangible evidence of their misdeeds."
"If I may be of assistance to you, let me know." she offers as she prepares to depart. "For now, I have defenses to attend to."
Raike circulates the camp with her entourage. they appear to be looking for Greeleep, who remains unseen.
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Mimi wipes off her rapier and puts it back in its sheath. She is satisfied with her performance and a little surprised to have remained upright during the whole encounter with the bulettes; she is routinely knocked unconscious at least once in such clashes and wonders if perhaps some curse had been lifted.
When she spots the coded message on the ground, she quickly recognizes it for what it is and moving into one of the Pathfinder huts, decodes it. Realizing what she's discovered, she exits the hut and tracks down Hornietelle. "Eet ees as I suspected Madame 'ornietelle. Morgroar and Raike are in cahoots. Dees coded note I found after de battel proves eet. Morgroar must 'ave dropped eet in all de excitation. Take eet and present eet to Eloqi vhen you feel de time ees right."
Mimi nods when Drussem mentions the suspicious nature of the bulette attack. "I agree. Eet ees veree suspicious; much like Raike's leetel performence vith de spilleeng of de strange liquide vas suspicious. I suspect dat de two events are not unrelated, but I do not 'ave de skills to prove such a connection."
As Mimi is unable to help with the scientific aspect of showing a connection between Raike's spilled liquid and the appearance of the bulettes, she decides to pick at another loose end and goes in search of Greelep. There is clearly something very odd about the fellow, what with the funny hat and reddish scales that Evindal discovered in his hut. She's convinced that if she could get a few minutes alone with halfling, much of this strangeness will be explained.
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Looking around Mindartis notices Raike's pendant is now empty and it contains the image of a four legged beast similar in design to a bulette imprinted upon the glass.
Mimi looks around for the little halfling but he is nowhere to be found. Though small clawed footprints seem to be leading into the tunnel from which the Bulettes came from.
With Raike's entourage following her around it only seems one guard was left behind to guard all of Raike's Hut, Greeleep's Hut and the Aspis Lodgings.
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As the last of the Landsharks fall to the tribe of hobgoblins, Hornietelle gives praise to Calistria and proffers a seductive kiss to Mimi. "You fought bravely my leetle laideee." Running her hand over Mimi's wounds and cuts, before licking Mimi's blood off her own fingers. "Tasty..an offering to the Savoured Sting." she smiles.
Then when Mimi gives Hornietelle the information regarding Raike and Morgroar, she listens intently, "Calistria will have her revenge on those that deceive and lay traps. Their day will come. But this is not proof enough, but it might be enough to scare Morgroar. I think we should find Greelep before they do."
She inquires amongst the warrior and others in the hobgoblin tribe to find the location of Greelep.
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Mimi stands still while Hornietelle treats her wounds. "Bah. Eet vas notheeng Madame 'ornitelle, juste another day on de job. I vould not 'ave don 'alf as vell 'ad you not 'ealed me as you deed." She then smiles at the voluptuous elf. "I noticed dat you vere not exactlee, 'ow do you say, a shrinkeeng violet yourself dureeng de battel. I am glad dat ve are on de same team."
When she can't find Greeleep and instead finds some strange footprints leading into the bulette tunnel, Mimi looks about to see if any of her colleagues wish to join her in tracking down whatever left those tracks.
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At Mimi's compliment, Hornietelle replies, "I don't intend to travel to the boneyard just yet, and keeping you all alive is my best chance of that." she winks at Mimi.
Then she starts to attend the rest of the companions, using her supply of bandage and herbal pastes to speed their recovery from the nasty bites left by the Landsharks. As she visits each one of her companions she adds quietly into their ears, "You fought bravely standing up to that creature, I will not let you drop if I can help it." She also asks if anyone would benefit from having a magical weapon, she can help if they are near her to bless it so it will provide Calistria's vengeance on their foes.
Hornietelle will make her way to Greelep's hut, looking for clues as to his whereabouts and anything else that might be 'useful'. "Finding Greelep might aid us, I'll go and see what I can."
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Mindartis takes a look over the Bulette corpses. The remains of the bulettes have been dragged over for later harvesting of their hides and plates for armor, which possess a pungent, musky odor.
The creatures are bulettes, fearsome predators that roam just beneath the surface of the desolate wilderness areas. They are also called “land sharks” due to their sleek appearance, voracious appetites, and iconic dorsal fins. A single bulette patrols a vast territory spanning hundreds of miles and preys freely on anything within it. Bulettes are often solitary creatures and avoid other bulettes in most cases.
Mindartis also knows some creatures force bulettes to work together aid in tunneling and mining operations. These bulettes are often raised from eggs and sometimes controlled through magic.
Pheromones cause the musky odor emanating from the bodies and are a clear sign that they’ve been that have been alchemically enhanced. Male bulettes
exposed to the scent would have grown more aggressive and be attracted to the scent. Some of the creatures also show signs of having ingested a time-released, alchemical poison containing hunting spider venom, which would have made the creatures eventually grow clumsy and sluggish as they fought.
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The entrance to each of these huts faces westward towards the meeting hall and is within view of one of Raike’s bodyguards, who keeps an eye on the two huts. Mindartis easily sneaks past the guard as he enters the hut.
Each hut is sparsely furnished beyond a few bedrolls, a few personal effects, and a wooden chest.
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Arvax suddenly comes to and realizes what exactly they've missed. Puffing out their chest, Arvax nods the the others. "Does anyone want to join me in distracting these guards?"
If no one else decides to join Arvax, they'll slowly stumble in, acting like a lost/confused hobgoblin. "Oh me, oh my. Where am I?" Arvax says before 'fainting' about 20 feet away from the guard.
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Just about head towards the guard to strike up a conversation, he sees Arvax collapse on the floor and quickly improvise.
"Arvax!" He crouches beside the hobgoblin to "check" on him, and mumbles in a whisper loud enough for the guard to hear, "The head wound he took fighting those land sharks must have been more serious that he let on." Looking around, he seems to notice the guard, and calls out to him in a voice full of worry.
"Please, can you help?" he pleads.
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Furs lie stretched over the dirt next to a stewpot. A cloth hat lies draped over a smattering of rocks dusted with sloughed, reddish scales.
Mindartis also has little idea what the scales origins are, though Mindartis notices the outline of a trapdoor through the furs. The cloth hat lying to the side appears to be a greater hat of disguise.
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When Mindartis notes the alchemical signs among the bulette corpses, Evindal does his best to gather up evidence and take notes that could be later presented to Eloqi.
When Mimi begins to follow the tracks into the tunnel, he urges her to wait. "I'll come with you but let's help the others first - if there are more bulettes down there you don't want to face them alone!"
While the others distract the guards, Evindal attempts to slip into Raike's hut.
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Hornietelle takes the opportunity to sneak into Greelep's hut, as Zelphari distracts the guard. She seems interested in the rocks dusted with sloughed, reddish scales and studies them closely.
Sneaking back out, she notices that Zelphari Caryarus is still distracting the guard, but he can't keep that up forever. She wanders slowly over to the guard, "Aren't you that brave guard that killed all those Landsharks, how many was it, two, three?" she says in awe, as she touches his shoulder. As she does, her fingers have a yellow and black aura about them, that seems to melt into the guards body, as though a beautiful perfume has been released.
"You showed your prowess, come let me reward you." she moves her hand down his cheek.
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Mimi wonders where everyone has got to. When Evindal suggests that she wait for the rest of the group before tackling the bulette tunnel, she decides that maybe that isn't such a bad idea. She follows Evindal and watches him sneak in. After a few moments, Mimi gets impatient and decides to follow him in while the guard is still distracted with Zephari and now Hornietelle.
Once inside the tent, she sees Evindal fiddling with the footlocker, but for some reason he seems to be patting his pockets and cursing under his breath. Popping out her Thieves' Tools, she crouches down beside him. "I vill make de first attempt as I 'ave a certain affineeté for dees type of vork. If I fail, den you may make an attempt vith my tools."
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Hornietelle quickly sneaks past and takes a look inside Greeleep's hut. She notices the same scales. These are kobold scales. Kobolds are small, reptilian humanoids that lurk in dark spaces, usually tunnels and mines beneath the earth. Far more pragmatic than courageous, kobolds often rely on traps to protect their lairs. Most kobolds would rather concede to servitude than risk being killed. Kobolds tend to scheme against those that seek to control them through fear or subjugation. Hornietelle also notices the outline of a trapdoor through the furs.
Leaving the hut she tries to give Zelphari a bit of a break as she speaks to the guard, helping him to his feet. "It was three!" He offers her a wry smile as he flushes with embarrassment.
The guard no longer seems to mind as Mimi goes into Raike's tent and helps Evindal pick the lock, though she notices an invisible rune imprinted on a chest’s lock that is set to release a powerful electrical discharge!
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Mimi uses her thieve's tool and scratches the rune out off of the lock. Opening the footlocker, you find it contains a few routine ledgers and maps of the Mindspin Mountains. Mimi notices that the footlocker contains a false bottom holding a journal along with maps and trophies from Raike’s prior expeditions.
4 Abadius –My source in Oprak taunts me with rumors of “Stone Roads” yet refuses me more detail. Could these “Roads” be the key to controlling the hobgoblins’ trade? I’ve mounted an expedition within the caverns of Mindspin Mountains, hoping to uncover the monsters’ methods.
2 Calistril – Encountered a tribe of kobolds, who subsist by mining “blackfire rock” dug out by armored beasts controlled by some manner of magic. Perhaps these are the Stone Roads? Anyways, I shall make these reptilians reveal their secrets!
4 Calistril – Revelation! The kobolds’ crude charms tame the burrowing beasts! I plan to seize both the beasts and the charms and employ them for my purposes.
5 Calistril – The shaman revealed all, though only after I put the rest of his clan to the blade. He will serve me or join his kin.
16 Calistril – A missive from Oprak? What fortunate timing! I shall reach out to my source. I’m told his kind favors strength. Surely, my planned display shall impress those simple brutes!
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Hornietelle kisses the guard and lets him glimpse the sensual parts of her body, keeping him every-so occupied in honour Calistria's lustful aspect. As she is close to him, she asks "So what have you been doing before you arrived here, it must have been an adventure. Protecting Raike must be very difficult for the common guard, but for you, easy. I hope she kept you for the special tasks. Did you do interesting things? And what does she have planned for you now, for the rest of your time here." Her hand strokes his head as she asks the Aspis guard for as much information as she can get without raising suspicion.
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Mary pockets the journal to share with the rest of the group. Turning to Evindal, she says, "Another lock you say? I feel particularlee lucky today. Vhy don't ve go see vhat ees inside dees chest of yours."
Mimi peek out of Raike's Hut and seeing that Hornietelle still has the guard's undivided attention, quickly sneak into the Aspis Lodgings. Finding the chest as described, she checks it for traps, and then gets to work picking the lock.
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The guard blushes as he surely didn't hear much of what Hornietelle said. "Not much really. I have just been on rotation for guard duty mostly then go back to my tent. Raike just calls when she needs us is all."
This gives a few more minutes for Mimi to get into the Aspis Lodgings and open up the locked chest after breaking a few lockpicks. Each contains small fetishes stowed by bodyguards after their battle with the bulettes. Each fetish looks different, but is essentially a small, fetish crudely made from bone, branches, grass, and twine crafted into the shape of a bulette.
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Mimi pockets the small fetishes. "Ve can examine deez later vhen ve are less pressed for time. Let's go see vhat ees under Greeleep's trapdoeur, dough 'ow 'e 'ad de time to put eet in, I do not know."
She makes for Greeleep's Hut, presumably with her growing entourage in tow. Once there she wastes no time; she pulls away the furs and after a cursory check for traps, opens the trapdoor.
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Zelphari grins behind the back of the guard, discretely nodding his head in appreciation at Hornietelle's deftness in charming her poor victim.
He steps back, letting her take over the lead. Instead, while pretending to still tend to Arvax, he keeps a lookout in case any should come back. Otherwise, whenever his teammates reveal themselves from the respective tents, he uses his magic to keep them updated on what he observes each other are doing.