Grimacing and grunting loudly in extreme pain as the blood from his left thigh darkens his trousers, Drake is about to return the favor until Baradim puts that one to permanent rest. "NICE ONE!" he exclaims, his tone one of anger due to the pain. Drake will move over to the last one standing and try to bring it down.
Niss is relieved things are going better than with the plants, but still does what she can to protect the others. Which isn't much. But it will have to do.
Once again she unleashes her power in a surge, straining to heal a small amount of Baradim and Drake's hurts. Doing so causes the visual manifestations of her power to amplify, the dread and paranoia she's harnessing appearing as veiny black tendrils all around her.
Fin takes a good look at the last remaining mutant dog.
"Well, that's not going to work. Hopefully these dogs aren't part plant too."
Fin casts ◆◆ Spout on the dog.
Baradim’s strikes easily bring down the wolf. Drake swings his hatches at the remaining wolf, his first strike going wide but the second striking true. Finoan’s Spout forms underneath the wolf and it attempts to evade the strike. It dodges some, but manages to get grazed by the water.
The wolf snaps at Drake, who hit it last, sinking its teeth into the ranger and Tearing at his skin, depositing more acid into the wound. It snaps at Drake one last time, but Drake pulls away in time and dodges the bite.
The injured wolf is taken down by his sword strikes, freeing Drake to engage the remaining beast. Baradim pivots on his feet, setting up a flanking maneuver on the wolf for the creature to strike from.
He strikes hard and fast, two quick slashes powered by his massive frame, to kill the mutant and free this poisoned place to be investigated.
The wolf was prepared though, realizing the danger of letting the orc's blade catch it. Baradim growled in pain again, feeling his shoulder begin to burn.
Roaring in pain as the blood from his right thigh now flows freely, matching the stain with his left pants leg, Drake steps over to set up flanking with Baradim and unloads on the beast.
Fin looks nervously as Drake gets another nasty looking bite. He analyzes how the dog behaves while flanked.
This dog is still a lot more cautious than the other one was.
He throws his water spell at it again and hopes for the best.
"I'm expecting that you don't want me blasting you with that water, Drake. While it might wash the acid off of your wounds it would probably hurt a lot in the process."
Wincing in pain, he nods. "Yep. That's a good idea. The last thing I need is more pain to deal with." He manages through pained breath.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Niss yelps, seeing the state he's in. These DAMNED vines were in the way of flinging anything useful, and she was tapped on healing spells.
If she got closer, the vines wouldn't be a problem.
If this wolf lived, it was surely going to hurt him again...and he was in such a state already, she felt a chill at the grim possibility.
So Niss broke the golden rule of staying behind Baradim. She got right up next to the wolf, with nothing to impede her. And she unleashed everything she had left, and then some. This wolf was going to go down, now...or else one of them would. She rocketed a stone from the floor up into the wolf's skull as hard as she could, shouting with the effort as she poured everything from the past 24 hours into the attack.
The remaining wolf again dodges out of the way of the majority of the water blast, only taking some of the damage.
But then, Niss. The force of her final, killing blow on the creature caves in its skull and sends it careening into the cave wall, splattering blood and acidic gore in a spray at Niss.
----
Three mutated wolf corpses litter the room now; one half-in, half-out of the oily, disgusting pool of water at the center of the den. It is not particularly deep, but it is fed by a natural spring that wells up from deep below the ground. The water gives off an acrid smell and there seems to be an odd, oily sheen on the surface.
She winces as some of it strikes her, but manages to dodge the brunt of the spray.
"Are you okay?!" she reaches for Drake then winces, palms to her forehead, the predicted headache following rapidly on the heels of her over-channeling. She tries to ignore it. "You're bleeding! And we have to get that acid off you. Here, my waterskin, douse the bite."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Fin looks at Niss with a rather strange expression on his face. He quickly shakes it off and goes to investigate the room, quickly finding the source of the water in the area.
Finoan examines the pool carefully and comes to the conclusion that 1) the pool is tainted by something entirely abnormal and 2) this pool may be the source of the taint, given that it is fed from a natural spring.
Finoan also checks out the body of the wolf that was dead when we arrived.
Once Inniska has finished emptying her water skin on Drake and Baradim, he asks her for it. "Can I have that. I want to take a sample of this water back to town. Obviously we won't be drinking from it again, so I'll get you a new water skin when we get back."
Fin eventually leaves and goes to talk to Noala. "Something is coming through the water. Something not natural. Do you have any way of tracking where the water from this spring would be coming from?"
Finoan's examination of the mutated wolf's body finds that most of the damage seems to stem from the wolf's prolonged consumption of this tainted water. There is necrotic erosion around the mouth and esophagus of the creature.
Back outside, Noala is standing over the corpse of another wolf, caught in one of her snares. She glances up as Finoan approaches. "It's fed from a massive spring, but I don't know of any caves nearby with access to any large amounts of water..." She pauses and looks up, her face twisted in thought.
"I could take you to the oldest, largest blight in these woods. It is, however, a long journey...it will take us about a day. Perhaps we should return to Etran's Folly. Today seems to have been...difficult. In the staying alive department."
"Today seems to have been...difficult. In the staying alive department."
"Yeah, I won't argue with that. Let's get ourselves patched up before we leave. I don't fully trust that we won't run into danger in Etran's Folly itself. Then tomorrow perhaps we can check out the ancient blight area."
She winces as some of it strikes her, but manages to dodge the brunt of the spray.
"Are you okay?!" she reaches for Drake then winces, palms to her forehead, the predicted headache following rapidly on the heels of her over-channeling. She tries to ignore it. "You're bleeding! And we have to get that acid off you. Here, my waterskin, douse the bite."
Cringing in pain, "I've been better." Looking up at her, he notices something's not right. "Are you okay? You're looking a little pale." Accepting the waterskin, he pours just enough on his wounds to help remove the acid before handing it back to her. "Thanks, Niss. And if you run out of water, you can have mine. You are definitely a lifesaver. Like, again and again. Is there anything you can't do?" he asks with a smile, giving her a wink.
"Yeah, I won't argue with that. Let's get ourselves patched up before we leave. I don't fully trust that we won't run into danger in Etran's Folly itself. Then tomorrow perhaps we can check out the ancient blight area."
Nodding at the cat, "Thanks, Fin. Many thanks to you my feline ally."
Once Drake is safe, she staggers a step, the last of the power and adrenaline abandoning her. She felt as though she'd run a marathon. On the plus side, all those horrible feelings that had plagued her since last night were gone for the moment – she'd poured them all out, and was far too tired to care about the danger at the moment. She slumped against his chest in a hug, indulging herself with his warmth for a moment but careful not to hurt him. "I need a few…but I'll heal you more. Just let me collect myself." she murmured with a bit of a tired slurring to her words.
She gives Fin her waterskin, nodding at the suggestion of rest.
Once Drake is safe, she staggers a step, the last of the power and adrenaline abandoning her. She felt as though she'd run a marathon. On the plus side, all those horrible feelings that had plagued her since last night were gone for the moment – she'd poured them all out, and was far too tired to care about the danger at the moment. She slumped against his chest in a hug, indulging herself with his warmth for a moment but careful not to hurt him. "I need a few…but I'll heal you more. Just let me collect myself." she murmured with a bit of a tired slurring to her words.
She gives Fin her waterskin, nodding at the suggestion of rest.
Caught a bit by surprise as she practically falls into his arms, he holds her gently, yet, firmly to keep her from collapsing. I knew something was wrong. "Hey, take all the time you need, sweetheart. I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. We've got the cat that's pretty good at bandaging us up, so, you just rest. Here, come sit with me while Fin fixes me up." Drake then finds a good place for them to sit and lean against as Fin works on his wounds.
Niss is happy to follow his lead, and spends a solid ten minutes resting her head on his shoulder as she recuperates somewhat, her headache and exhaustion fading with time, his close proximity a comfort. She smooths her skirt over her lap, the garment much shorter than she was used to wearing now that she'd turned the lower portion into bandages. The hem ended above the knee.
"So...where are we staying tonight?" she asked quietly.
As Fin is patching up Drake with Niss sitting there, he mentions to her, "I don't entirely know who all is coming after you. But it almost feels unfair to let them catch up to you without at least warning them of what they are getting themselves into. It probably is only hired thugs. But I suppose the world will be a better place with a few less hired thugs around."
"As for where you are staying, I would actually think that the Feedmill would be a good place. We will see if we can sneak you in there through the back or something. It will probably be the last place anyone will be looking for you."
She smiles tiredly at his first point. "That was pretty amazing, wasn't it?" she jokingly touted her prowess. "Feels like I wrung my brain out like a wet towel, but it was worth it."
She frowned at his mention of the Feedmill. "I trust your judgement. And, about last night... I wanted to apologize to you all. I fell apart and let my fear take hold and I'm not proud of it. Now that my head is on right I'm a bit embarrassed, truth be told. But even saying that, I can't be certain it won't happen again, until we deal with whoever broke into the room."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The wolf had survived it all and Baradim was ready for another moment of sharp pain and acidic burning when he had caught movement to his left. The soft yet powerful psychic had moved beside him, putting herself at terrible risk. Yet when she cried out, the air seemed to bend around her and the wolf was hit by a devastating force. It slammed into the wall, parts of it rupturing at the sheer force of it all. It was dead before it left the wall, hitting the ground with a solid thunk.
Niss goes to protect Drake, concerned over his well-being, and Finoan and Baradim share a glance between one another. The orc warrior nods softly, his usually stoic face moved to show how impressed he was. He opened his waterskin quietly, pouring it over the acidic bite that hisses as the water washes it away. Another scar, another story.
"If you muster power like that once more, I pity the fools who come for you." Baradim says with a dry chuckle, looking back at the acrid, spoiled water. This was just a symptom of the greater problem; mutant beasts and plants that could kill anyone if they were caught off-guard. The situation was far worse than he imagined.
"We rest and then we prepare to head out. I will stay at the Feedmill, if you wish it. Perhaps Tamli will join me and enjoy a softer bed." He leaned his head down and took a sniff, grunting softly. A bath would be good as well.
"Anywhere within 200 miles of here is going to have a bit of risk. We can make a better decision after talking to the people in town that we mostly trust."
Fin nods knowingly at the mention of fears. "Everyone has their fears. And everyone has difficulty facing them at times."
Nodding, "I agree with Fin. He has a point. The Feedmill would be the last place they would look for you."
"Well I certainly won't complain about having a bed tonight."
She looked around at them all. "Thank you. All of you. Truly."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Noala busies herself getting rid of the bodies and setting up more snares as the team bandages wounds and then leads everyone back to Etran's Folly when The Princess Guard is ready.
Baradim diverts from the others, finding Tamli and explaining the situation and new scars to her. The woman flicks him in the head when he mentions fighting the wolf, advising him that it is always better tactics to take out one foe at a time, destroy their numbers while they're preoccupied. Eventually, she agrees and Baradim would arrive shortly after the other with the battered shield on his back, sword in its sheath, and Tamli's hand in his.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
At the edge of town, Fin finally comes up with an idea. "How about the two of you," he gestures to Niss and Drake, "just walk into the Feedmill through the front door. Later Baradim, Tamli, myself, Gregor, either Ulf or Olf, and Greta will come in too. Then we disguise Gregor and whichever of the twins it is as the two of you. So when Gregor, the twin, Greta, and I leave it will look like it is Baradim, Tamli, Gregor and Ulf that are staying here for the night while Inniska, Drake, Greta, and I are leaving. With the crowd of people, it will be hard to get good identifications without being obvious about it."
"I need to do some business with Gregor anyway, I'll go talk to him."
Fin heads towards the caravan campground and goes to Gregor's wagon.
"Hey, Gregor. You have those handwraps ready? Also, how would you like to have a bit of excitement this evening?" He relays the plan to Gregor to see if he is on board and if they have anything to help with the disguise.
"Also, I have a water sample that I could really use your help with. Well, it isn't so much the water that I am interested in. There is something in it. Something rather nasty. It's been killing things and maybe even mutating them." He pulls out the waterskin that he collected earlier. "I can help you out with checking into it later if you want."
Niss nods her approval. "Seems sound to me...so long as none of them are secretly in cahoots with Palina. But I'll willing to bet they are not."
"Sounds good, Fin. Let's do it."
Fin heads towards the caravan campground and goes to Gregor's wagon.
"Hey, Gregor. You have those handwraps ready? Also, how would you like to have a bit of excitement this evening?" He relays the plan to Gregor to see if he is on board and if they have anything to help with the disguise.
"Also, I have a water sample that I could really use your help with. Well, it isn't so much the water that I am interested in. There is something in it. Something rather nasty. It's been killing things and maybe even mutating them." He pulls out the waterskin that he collected earlier. "I can help you out with checking into it later if you want."
"I do indeed, Finoan." Gregor presents the handwraps to Finoan with pride, then listens to the plan.
"Hmmm...sounds interesting. I need more interesting in my life right now. Count me in." Gregor's slim, elvish face breaks into a devious grin. "As for the water sample, of course. We can take a look at it later or whenever."
"Hmmm...sounds interesting. I need more interesting in my life right now. Count me in." Gregor's slim, elvish face breaks into a devious grin. "As for the water sample, of course. We can take a look at it later or whenever."
"Excellent." Fin accepts and pays for the handwraps. "And yes, let's take a look at this water this evening after the fun."
Fin gets a bit of a gleam in his eyes. "Now then, let's go collect the twins and anyone else who wants to join in."
The two go around the campsite and collect anyone else wanting to participate, then head over to the Feedmill.
Fin walks into the Feedmill with the rest of the people from the caravan that he could collect together. He goes up to the counter and talks to Delma. "Hey, Delma. How are things? Some of us from the caravan are looking to have baths and to spend a night in an actual bed. You can handle that, yes?" He hands her a couple coins for the rooms. "We also have some things to discuss as well, so can we use the rooms immediately, or do they need to be prepared first?"
Fin waves over to Drake, Inniska, Tamli, and Baradim.
The Feedmill is moderately busy as everyone trickles in--the turnipy scent of dinner is wafting from the kitchen, along with Amora's loud, off-key singing. Many townsfolk are in, drinking and gambling off to one side. Flonk the Bard's mediocre playing sounds a tad worse than usual this night, but most people are too drunk or too used to his bad playing to care.
Delma takes the coins and pockets them, nodding at Finoan. "Your friends are the only ones staying with us anyway. How many rooms do you need?" She frowns slightly as she looks at the group. "I only have three rooms extra rooms, not including your friends' space. They're all ready. May just need a moment for hot water. Will that be enough?" Delma leans across the counter, her voice dropping low. "We've kept an eye on things since the other night. Nobody strange has been in or out that we could see. Same with the stables."
"Hmm... Well, that is both good and bad. Good that there is no one still snooping around, bad that we have no new information."
"Probably just two will be fine. Thanks Delma."
~~~~~
After dinner, Fin gathers everyone into one of the upstairs rooms. "OK, So which of you guys wants to dress up as Niss and which is dressing up as Drake? And I would appreciate some help in making these disguises. It has been quite a while since I have tried this."
"Niss, you have one of your dresses with a hood, yes? Preferably one that people have seen you wearing before. Drake we will need to borrow some of your clothes too."
Gregor, arm around Ulf, glances at the twins with a mischievous grin. "Ulf as Niss, Olf as Drake. Ulf is clean shaven and so pretty." The elf squeezes Ulf against him briefly before taking a step back and watching Finoan and Niss work.
Fin waves over to Drake, Inniska, Tamli, and Baradim.
Drake smiles, giving a two-fingered salute back at the cat. Shaking his head, "You know, I'm glad that cat is on our side. He's a good egg."
"Niss, you have one of your dresses with a hood, yes? Preferably one that people have seen you wearing before. Drake we will need to borrow some of your clothes too."
Nodding, he looks to Niss. "I'll get it for you, Niss, when I grab mine. I saw where you left them." Cutting his attention to Fin, "I'll be right back." Drake heads to their room and does more of a quick check than a thorough one just to be on the safe side. Grabbing the hooded dress talked about, and also one of his own outfits, he returns to the others. "Here you go, Fin. Two outfits as requested."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Finoan takes the clothing and starts dressing Ulf and Olf. He also runs back to the caravan campsite a few times, sends Gregor, or even Drake and Niss at one point in order to get additional supplies. With the intent that it becomes commonplace for the people in the tavern to see people going back and forth from the upstairs rooms out to the caravan.
"Hmm... The biggest problem is that you are the same height, but they aren't. It would look odd if you were stooped down. So maybe if we put you in shoes with blocks under them to make you higher..."
"I think this hair color will work fine since it will be under the hood."
"Yes, Drake that is what your eyebrows do actually look like. If you don't like it, maybe you should do something about that - tomorrow. But for now, that is what everyone is expecting you to look like."
~~~~~~
Eventually the process is done and Ulf and Olf are dressed and ready. "OK. All set. He turns to the actual Niss and Drake. You two stay here and stay in the room until morning. Baradim and Tamli will be in the next room over, and I will be running around outside keeping an eye on things."
He heads downstairs with the rest of the people in tow. "Thanks again Delma. See you in the morning."
Back at the caravan with Gregor: "Heh, that was actually quite a bit of fun."
"Anyway, you still have those alchemy tools, yes? Let's see what we can find out about this water."
Baradim was happy to watch the operation go on, the twins arguing over which of them was the prettier one to be Inniska. The orc would comment here and there, usually whispering something to Tamli that would have the two of them chuckling deeply. As the night drew on and the news of a hot bath grew, the warrior would push from the wall and nod at each of them.
"I will not waste clean water. Goodnight, all of you. In the morning, Finoan, look at my shield again? It is battered but still good." Eager to be away from them all in the crowded room, the two go to their room and the metal tub that was far from prepared to deal with the broadness of two infatuated orcs.
Gregor chuckles in response to the comment. "Yes, quite a bit of fun. I imagine Drake will be obsessing over his eyebrows for weeks."
With Gregor's help, Finoan finds out that the water has been polluted by mutagenic chemicals that cause those who drink it to change, often at quite a terrible price. Finoan recalls the myriad mutated creatures they've encountered so far: the wolves, the electric snake, the plants... Perhaps the next day's visit to the oldest and largest blighted area will shed some light on things?
The night passes without any incidents or oddities.
The scent of bacon, maple syrup, and waffles wafts through The Feedmill's common area and stirs most of The Princess Guard awake (as Finoan is likely not sleeping and all). Amora cooking such a meal is a rare occasion; she's in a good mood this morning.
Whenever The Princess Guard makes their way down, they see Noala strolling into The Feedmill around the same time. The elven woman grins at them and waves, setting her things down in anticipation of breakfast and then leaving. "Make whatever preparations you need. It's going to take us most of the day to make it to the blight, and that's only if we aren't slowing down for some reason."
After figuring out the contamination in the water, Fin spends a couple hours relaxing and resting with Gregor and the others. Then he begins his nightly rounds. Making sure to keep watch over the Feedmill grounds specifically, but also checking into the area of the caravan campsite as time allows.
After a rather uneventful night, he goes into the Feedmill and talks with Noala. "Sounds good Noala. I'll get ready here and be ready to go shortly."
He spends a few minutes putting on his new handwraps and getting his spells set up properly. "Remembering to get a fire spell to use this time..."
▸ Woodland Blight
▸
Cantrips
◆◆ Shield
◆◆ Produce Flame
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Baradim, in the morning, comes back down the stairs with dressed for war. His armor is cleaned of wear and tear, his hair washed, and his skin looking cleaner than it had for days. He sits at the table, grabbing a mug with a small scowl.
"I am not a child. I can clean my armor and weapons fine enough." The orc sulks. The fact that the woman had been worried about becoming the caravan leader? The thought was laughable now as he grabbed bread and cheese, biting into each with a bit of good fruit that was there.
"I am prepared. We have potions, weapons, and spell. We are well-off as we can be." Baradim says as he takes out the whetstone and begins sharpening the blade of the magical weapon. Even enchanted, there was nothing like good maintenance. As he does, he takes out his shield. "Finoan, you are quite skilled with your tools. Fix my shield, please. I know I will have need for it today if yesterday was only a symptom of the problem."
[ooc]Using the whetstone, I get +1 Damage to the first attack that hits today.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Finoan, you are quite skilled with your tools. Fix my shield, please. I know I will have need for it today if yesterday was only a symptom of the problem."
"Certainly. And unfortunately you are probably right. Anything I can do to help keep you upright between me an enemies is time worth taking."
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Yes, Drake that is what your eyebrows do actually look like. If you don't like it, maybe you should do something about that - tomorrow. But for now, that is what everyone is expecting you to look like."
His arms crossed, his lips pursed as he taps them with a sole finger while studying the eyebrows intently. "No they don't." He looks over at the automaton crossly and says, "No they don't." He mindlessly reaches up and starts to fiddle with an eyebrow as he walks away muttering, "No they don't. Cat needs his eyes checked."
"Right you are. My tribe..." Baradim stops for a moment. He had not really spoken of his past and with the danger surrounding Inniska and the looming threat over this unsuspecting town growing greater, there had been even less time for that. "In my tribe, scars were our stories. I bear marks of growing older, of not becoming a child, of my first battle. The ones we earn in combat are the most precious to us." A smirk begins to spread across his face, his tusks lifting as he did. [b]"Tamli says I must protect myself more. Too many scars and I'll be an old man."
"I like your eyebrows." Niss reassured him.