Two hours into sunrise, there was something ahead.
Joshua sees it, but they are too far away for him to identify it
Two hours into sunrise, there was something ahead.
Joshua sees it, but they are too far away for him to identify it
Taking twenty on Perception? Why yes, Borak does see it. It's a triffid, an ambulatory plant.
Elaine is outwardly a quiet and observant rider, and Saurah a steady mount. The journey is calm, and Elaine enjoys the serenity of a sunrise red and gold across the sands. This calm will not last, but that is well. I am here to learn of the wind. The wind is calm and tumultuous by turns. I must watch my companions, and see how they ride the wind if I am to make a home for it in the pools.. Just as she thinks this, she notices her breeze-blessed companions change their flight slightly as they become Alert, and the tell-tail sign of dust.
”That is something, but what is unclear. Be ready friend Zok.”
It's a triffid, an ambulatory plant.
Elaine is outwardly a quiet and observant rider, and Saurah a steady mount. The journey is calm, and Elaine enjoys the serenity of a sunrise red and gold across the sands. This calm will not last, but that is well. I am here to learn of the wind. The wind is calm and tumultuous by turns. I must watch my companions, and see how they ride the wind if I am to make a home for it in the pools.. Just as she thinks this, she notices her breeze-blessed companions change their flight slightly as they become Alert, and the tell-tail sign of dust.
”That is something, but what is unclear. Be ready friend Zok.”
Hmm, okay. My answer to your post came before your post.
Tkk-tkk signals the caravan and circles around the plant to support the fight from the air.
Daqas signalized to the caravan and Tkk-Tkk, then swooped down to the group to describe what he was seeing, without actually landing. He didn't know much about plants, but tried his best to be accurate on what it is.
(...) and anyway, it's a plant, and it's moving. And considering this world, it's danger. - he added up later in conclusion, as a strange feathered bow seemed to form in his hands, out of the pure power of his mind.
There are more triffids that Daqas have seen.
Do you fight the triffids? Or allow them to pass?
Standing in the stirrups of his Crudlu, Børak looks towards the horizon. Turning towards the half giant, he puts his lips together and blows. Whistling two short bursts he points at the walking plant near the horizon.
As Daqas swoops down warning of the Triffids, Børak turns and putting his fingers in his mouth whistles much louder, then holding up a closed fist indicating the caravan should stop. Looking at magnus, he lowers his hand and signing. "Walking plants, we should let them pass if they will. No reason to fight if not necessary." He puts his hand in front of his mouth he makes puppet like movements then point to Elaine, Zok and Daqas.
Odd. What is it doing outside a molt? Are there more, is it lost, or summoned? Elaine ponders the nature of triffids.
”Perhaps, or perhaps not. Trouble avoided one day sometimes simply breeds more trouble in the future. Truthfully, we might need to fight. It’s a triffid migration. A lonely triffid never stays lonely for long. Invasive plants will disrupt the entire balance of the sands as surely as any defiler and we wouldn’t want it to spawn here while we are away. Either way, the caravan should halt.” she agrees with Borak.
cute
They move as fast as a slithering pit viper. Right now they're walking.
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Snapping his fingers to get Zok and Elaine's attention, he points at the scar and Zok's head, then turns the board around showing him the question mark. ?
Seems he's being friendly, this Børak. Perhaps I'll show him a trick. Maybe he'll still be friendly, maybe not. But I don't really have anything to hide. Zok focused his eyes on his traveling companion. His fierce gaze seems to transcend the physical dimension as the distance between their minds vanishes away like water in the sand.
The words the halfling spoke broke upon his companions ear like a whisper in a tomb. "When I was young, I thought myself invincible. This scar taught me different. But it did unlock something in my mind. I've just connected us for a moment. I am not reading your mind right now, but I can hear you, even you, if you whisper back to me.
Zok stands upon the back of the dinosaur, the halfling shades his eyes with his small hand and squints hard into the area the others are concerned about. "If we don't have to fight, I'm all right with that. My only question is about how they might taste."
With that, Zok readies his sling and loads a stone. At this range, he might be able to get off a hit or two. He looks up to Elaine "I'm best at mid to close range, perhaps about six of your steps I'd wager. I can also help others from there if we get into a melee. "
Tkk-tkk will remain in the air, ready to launch an air blast if the plant begins approaching the caravan. Internally, she is revolted by plants hunting.
Watching to see if the halfling would talk about his scar, Børak almost fell out of the saddle looking around for the source of the whispering voice. After a second to recover, he realized it was Zok, using some kind of psychic talent. Smiling at the halflings talent he listened to the story. 'A pity he's not reading my mind it would be easier.'
Not wanting to offend his new companion by not answering, Børak quickly starts to write on his slate, Turning he slate towards the halfling he shrugs. Opening his mouth he tilted his head back showing Zok his tongue had been cut out.
Talked
too much
Once
Being close enough to the giant and halfling mounted on the ankylosaurus to hear her speak about the moving carnivorous plants, Børak raised an eyebrow. Elaine clearly knew more about nature including the flora and fauna, but he wondered what made the plants invasive. He thought these types of creatures were what lived here.
Holding the slate board in the nook of his arm, he quickly wrote a few words then turned the slate showing it to Elaine. Pointing towards the plants, then their location.
Hired
To Guard
He quickly reverses the slat, rubbing the chalk off with the palm of his hand then writing more. Turning it toward the druid.
If Plant
attack we
Fight
He then points back towards the plants, shaking his head 'no' he then touches the kitar on his hip and shakes his head 'no' again.
Hearing Zok's comment while he was standing on the ankylosaurus, Børak rolls his eyes. He had no desire to lean what the plant tasted like. Not that he wouldn't eat it if was all they had.
Daqas just kept a watchful eye on the plants, holding his mind weapon and soaring. He was silently, but eventually exchanged some glances with Tkk-Tkk. The aarakocra was particularly more interested in the caravan in the ground - and curious if they would attack, be attacked, or if things would move a lot more peacefully than he'd anticipate.
The plants start ambling to the caravan. They extend their stingers.
Having decided that he had successfully convinced everyone not to rush in and kill the plants just because they were nearby, Børak Turns to put his slate board away. As he does so he notices the plants turning their direction. Shaking his head, he puts two fingers in his mouth whistling loudly. Waiving his arms to catch the fliers attention he points at the plants. Turning to Magnus, hand signing. "Tell Joshua we will deal with the plants." While he lifts his shield to his arm and draws the lance from its scabbard, he calls up his astral skin, taking a moment to cause it to become invisible.
There are four triffid plants. and they are about 6 feet high, and they are 30 feet away from you.
Tkk-tkk spends a moment to gather the winds around her. She spins them about faster and faster before sending them down on one of the plants.
Elaine guides Saurah at an angle, hoping to draw the plants away, and fires her bow twice.
——
——
”Well, then. Salad seems to be in your future. They taste sweet. Let’s draw them away from the caravan some
He continued speaking psychically into his ear. "So, I see. I bet you're stronger because of it as well." He paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow slightly. "I couldn't do it, but would you fix it if given the opportunity?"
The blonde halfling hops off of Saurah as they move in, but closes his eyes, reaching out to the new familiar minds in his vicinity. Not surprisingly, the plants do not even appear in his mindscape, so this should be easy. Speaking regularly, but in the minds of his allies, it has unusual clarity. "It's not at all weird that they move so slow, they're only plants after all." At once they all have something click, like a brick falling into place, the plants actually seem to slow down as each of them move with surprising alacrity.
Spending the walk alongside the caravan in mostly silence, Magnus enjoyed the peace of a stroll in the desert and allowed everyone to talk things out and settle themselves as he renewed his connection with the sandy expanse of Athas. Spending most of his days underground made him forget the feeling of the grains beneath his feet, and how the grainy medium modified his expanded tremorsense.
Taking the time to acquaint himself with everyone's different kinds of steps and weights, especially for the brief moments when Daqas and Tkk-Tkk would spend on the ground, Magnus trudged along with the party.
Turning to Magnus, hand signing. "Tell Joshua we will deal with the plants."
He nodded, having hung back with Joshua as the rest made sure the way ahead was safe. "Seems like there's danger ahead, my friend. Tell the caravan to wait, we will handle it!" Assured Magnus with a jovial grin, before he quickened his step to join the rest of the guard and to repel the danger that would face them.
As he re-approached the group, they would notice that Magnus' skin, once bearing cracks and rough edges like a stone, would redouble in this unnatural appearance and, more than ever, closely resemble the hardness and roughness of rock. Furthermore, one could swear that with each step, the sand and ground beneath his feet moved with and alongside the mul's momentum, almost as if obeyed his will.
I guess it's a surprise round.
Tkk-tkk spends a moment to gather the winds around her. She spins them about faster and faster before sending them down on one of the plants.
move action to gather power, standard action for empowered air blast
air blast: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
damage: 3d6 + 13 ⇒ (4, 4, 1) + 13 = 22*1.5 = 33 bludgeoning
The bludgeoning damage managed to severely wound one of the triffids. It did not kill it, though. (5 pts left).
Elaine guides Saurah at an angle, hoping to draw the plants away, and fires her bow twice. Saurah moves 20’ with a single move. Fit into initiative as needed
ride, guide with knees, dc5: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9Bow attack#1: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
——damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Bow attack#2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
——damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12”Well, then. Salad seems to be in your future. They taste sweet. Let’s draw them away from the caravan some
The damage from the arrows managed to disable two triffids.
Daqas assumed his defensive fight style, and then started flurrying his mind bow against the plants. Each time he pulled the bow cord, a new arrow seemed to form out of his mind, and then it flew against the enemies.
Daqas assumed his defensive fight style, and then started flurrying his mind bow against the plants. Each time he pulled the bow cord, a new arrow seemed to form out of his mind, and then it flew against the enemies.
Attack: 1d20 + 19 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 19 - 2 - 2 = 32 Fighting defensively, deadly aim
Damage: 1d8 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 4 = 17Attack: 1d20 + 19 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 19 - 2 - 2 = 34 Fighting defensively, deadly aim
Damage: 1d8 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 4 = 15Attack: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 14 - 2 - 2 = 28 Fighting defensively, deadly aim
Damage: 1d8 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 4 = 21Attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 - 2 = 19 Fighting defensively, deadly aim
Damage: 1d8 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 4 = 20
Alright. Those strikes kill the triffids.
Cocking his head at the halfling, Børak shrugs his shoulders at the observation about strength. Questioning himself, he wondered if he was stronger because of it? He lost his temper and argued with the dwarf that trained him. The dwarf that fathered him. Killing his trainer proved he was strong enough for the pits. That argument caused his tongue to be cut out. If he was stronger, it was from the brutality of the gladiator pits not the brutality of his Masters. Not that the two weren't inseparable. Raising an eyebrow when Zok asked if he take the opportunity to speak again. He smiled and quickly nodded his head yes.
As the giant quickly fires her bow, Børak feels psychic power flood over him, he felt quicker. As he touched his heels to the Warmount chest the beast rushed forward, he felt it too. Whistling the two low chirps for attack, Børak steered the Crodlu towards the nearest standing plant. As death rained down from above the Crodlu attacked the still standing plant while Børak thrust with the lance again and again. slowed as Børak, seeing all the carnivorous plants were dead, whistled to slow him down.
Once the beast came to a stop Børak returned his lance and shield to their place on the saddle. Dismounting, he drew his trident and made sure all the plants were dead.
Tkk-tkk continues circling, watching for other predators while they make sure the plants are dead.
Elaine moves closer, keeping an eye out for other hazards.
”Your salad, friend. We might want to clear them from the path.”
Withdrawing his trident from the last plant, Børak nods in agreement with Elaine. Hand-signing "I think your right."
He didn't know if the dead plants would spook the beasts of burden or distract them because they wanted to eat. Not sure he wanted to find out either way, he grabbed the nearest plant and began dragging it off the trail. As they worked, hand-signing to Magnus he asks, "Does anyone know if these things are edible?"
When they are done with the plants, he mounts his Crodlu looking up to Tkk-Tkk and Daqas. Once he gets the signal from one of the fliers that they are 'good to go' he will raise his hand and motion he caravan forward.
Daqas landed heavily near the dead plants, and the bow disappeared from his hands as he walked around.
That's disgusting. These things might even be poisonous. - he finally said - Well, I guess this fact may be useful for someone.
Turning his head around, he flapped the wings and again took the air, letting his trained eyes surround the field before signaling the caravan to keep moving.
Tkk-tkk continues circling, watching for other predators while they make sure the plants are dead.
perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32
The triffids are dead. That's as far as you know.
Daqas landed heavily near the dead plants, and the bow disappeared from his hands as he walked around.
That's disgusting. These things might even be poisonous. - he finally said - Well, I guess this fact may be useful for someone.
Turning his head around, he flapped the wings and again took the air, letting his trained eyes surround the field before signaling the caravan to keep moving.
Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36
You don't find any other threats. The triffids are defeated. And they leak oils.
Battle Summary:
1. The Triffids appear, and they start ambling towards the Caravan.
2. Tkk-Tkk and Elaine fire on the triffids with precise ranged attacks. Both manage to damage and slow down the triffids.
3. Daqas followed up with his mind bow, even though Borak and Magnus Earthshaper have been hasted for further battle. The triffids were defeated by Daqas.
Elaine continues on after Zok is satisfied and remarks once the caravan is past and moving into the sand.
"I'm not sure why those are migrating here, usually ranging predators, even plants such as triffids, have a cyclical path, and we're still quite close to town. They must have gotten pushed off their normal route, be wary. It wouldn't surprise me if something more substantial, that the triffids were avoiding, shows up near sundown."
As Børak rode his Crodlu near Elaine and Zok, he listened to her talk about the unusual plants. He had left Tyr ten years ago, most of the time traveling as a caravan guard. He had spent more of his time learning the cities and roads than the flora and fawna.
He scanned the horizon, then looked up towards Daqas and Tkk-Tkk, The others had fought well. It was rare that the caravan needed protecting and the enemy was dead before he was able to land a blow. Yes, they had done well indeed.
Wondering if Elain's hypothesis was right, he took his slate board out of his pouch and pulled a piece of chalk out of his bandolier. Writing quickly he flipped the board around so she and Zok could see it.
Substantial
?
Elaine shrugs, then gestures at herself, then Zok.
There are creatures in these sands that make me look as tiny as our friend here. Triffids won't stay to wrestle such beasts. If one has wandered into this part of the desert, it would be...interesting
She looks back over her shoulder at the caravan, and considers a moment.
"Some might survive, but our journey would be finished."
The halfling had put a taste of triffid in his mouth before he was spitting it out with gusto. [b]"These taste worse than my aunt's dry foot flakes. I don't care if I could eat this, I'd rather die."[b]
Listening to Elaine talk about plants afterwards, he did pipe up at the idea that these had been driven out by something bigger. [b]"Well, if they did get pushed around, we definitely have something more to worry about. But you guys dispatched them so quickly, I'd be really surprised at whatever might give us trouble. I know there's some big stuff out there, and packs of lesser big things, but I feel like we'll be okay... well most of us anyway."[b]
"We push on," said Joshua. "We'd be lucky if the triffids were the only thing we saw on the road."
"We push on," said Joshua. "We'd be lucky if the triffids were the only thing we saw on the road."
Hearing the command from the caravan master, Børak, nodded and pushed on.
Elaine and Saurah range ahead, their companions occasionally passing by. The desert is truly upon them now, and the regular dry wind blows gusts of sand as they wend their way along the dunes. Occasionally, they stop to consult with Joshua.
"There's an hour or so left of good light, are we going to travel past sundown? The beasts are tired and could use water and shade. I think we might want to make camp."
As they day nears it's close, Tkk-tkk will look to see if there is anyplace well-suited for the caravan to stop for the night.
Looking towards the sun, Børak turns towards Elaine nodding. He knew that Crodlu in the wild hunted at dusk and dawn, so it's vision was better than the humans or his. Pulling out his late board he started to write, in as large of letters as he could print. Flipping over the slate board he held it so the fliers could see it, then turned it towards the caravan.
Daqas kept an eye on the horizon, and as the day progressed, tried to help identify a suitable place to camp. In his mind, Daqas was still searching for prey as well - or where he could go to find it. It was just a natural reflex for the Aarakocra, but also a way to help feed that group.
Joshua said, "We'll stop here and make camp. Don't wander too far off."
He commanded the others to stop and find shade for their animals. They'd also make camp here. Joshua was wondering if there was an alternative. Some spring Oasis further on.
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After spending the afternoon trying to get the taste out of his mouth, Zok spend most of his time brooding. He'd never considered that he'd run into creatures without minds. He was decent enough with his control over insects and even the undead, but plants? He'd have to work harder. Spending most of the ride in meditation, he'd wait until evening to broach any subjects.
Although there was something about this location they were in, it seemed a bit familiar maybe? Had he been here before? Perhaps. Maybe he could try a bit of self hypnosis and see if he could recall the information.
Yes, a small hot spring, close to where everyone camped. Large enough to bathe in.
Survival: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23
Daqas managed to find a small herd of Athasian deer. They are huddled close to the hot spring.
After spending the afternoon trying to get the taste out of his mouth, Zok spend most of his time brooding. He'd never considered that he'd run into creatures without minds. He was decent enough with his control over insects and even the undead, but plants? He'd have to work harder. Spending most of the ride in meditation, he'd wait until evening to broach any subjects.
Although there was something about this location they were in, it seemed a bit familiar maybe? Had he been here before? Perhaps. Maybe he could try a bit of self hypnosis and see if he could recall the information.
survival: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
Zok did not find any sentients at the spring, but he also found the Athasian deer. Not as big as Terran deer, but enough to bring meat and sustenance.
Oh, all those that have seen the deer, make a will save. DC 25. The deer are psionic.
Daqas sees the deers, and immediately shakes his head, feeling an effect psionically attack him. He tries to gesture to prevent the others from looking at the animals, but it may be too late...