Tharskh releases arrow after arrow at the one approaching them.
Second Wave - Round 1 - continued
Bless in effect +1 to attacks
26 Green Hunter
24 Kheyji
23 Tharskh
23 Burning Mammoth Longshield
22 Blue Burnbearer
8 Orange Hunter
7 Hurik
4 Miriani
Kheyji recasts a protective shield on herself, then she moves closer to the others, and concentrates to expand her blessing to cover both Tharskh and Miriani.
Tharskh determines Green Hunter as his hunted target and with his heavier than usual arrows, he fires two shots at that foe. The first flies true and seriously wounds the target, but the second flies wide of the mark, embedding in the grassy earth harmlessly.
Across the way, the leader of the assault points at your bunched up group and strides towards you, his large wooden shield, with a brass shield boss affixed, slowing things down a bit. He advances then raises his shield, banging his spear but on it to urge the others forward.
The invader holding a lit torch also rushes forward, trying to close the distance as best he can. He gets adjacent to Hurik, but cannot attack once in that position.
The last foe, Orange Hunter, scurries across the space, avoiding fleeing Broken Tusks, and posts up next to Hurik as well. No attack is forthcoming this round.
Ah, they were overconfident. Running up too quickly to be prepared. She figures that she'll take the one while he's focusing on Hurik.
She then steps up just a bit.
Hurik sees not one, but two foes swarm him. Good.Every foe on him is one the elders and children of the tribe need not face.
"You like fire? You'll die by frost." And he embraces the rage of the White Dragon.
He lashes out with his maul, which now seems to glimmer with a chilling aura.
+4 more in Cold Damage.
The next blow goes to the other on him...
+4 more in Cold Damage
Should his blows land, the icing of their flesh will amuse him in his frozenhearted rage, "Like I said, you'll die by frost, but it won't be a gentle winter."
Second Wave - Round 1 - concluded
Miriani sees the Burning Mammoths falling right into her trap strategically. She blasts the nearest with a gust of wind that slams and buffets the enemy, damaging him moderately.
Hurik just stops restraining the dragon inside him. He lets it out with a forcefulness that makes those nearby stop and stare for a second. The white-hot (or cold) raging barbarian then turns his maul on those near him, seeking not to understand, but to destroy. His first swing crushes the head of the already buffeted Orange Hunter who crumples dead on first contact. The flame wielding marauder is even more lightly armored, and when the raging hammer strikes him it caves in his ribcage ending any chance at life, a rime of frost covering the corpse as it lies in the grass.
Second Wave - Round 2
Bless in effect +1 to attacks
26 Green Hunter (7hp dmg)
24 Kheyji (shield up)
23 Tharskh (gravity bow)
23 Burning Mammoth Longshield
7 Hurik (raging)
4 Miriani
Green Hunter is shot through with one of Tharskh's arrows, but still advances flinging a sling bullet at the half-orc but his shot is wide of the mark, the bullet thumping into the soft earth harmlessly. The hunter then drops his sling, and readies his spear.
Tharskh growls and fires another volley at the approaching foe - "Down!"
To hit: +7 +1 (from Kheyji) on first shot.
Damage: d6 +2 (Gravity Weapon) +1d8 (Hunter's Edge - Precision) on first shot that hits.
To hit: +7 -5 on second shot
Damage: d6 on second shot
To hit: +7 -10 on third shot
Damage: d6 on third shot
Second Wave - Round 2 - continued
Kheyji continues to protect herself with a divine magic shield, and with some concentration is also able to extend the range of Sister Cinder's blessing out another 5', encompassing all but Hurik at this point.
Tharskh uses that blessing, and his gravity weapon and hunter's prowess to target the Burning Mammoth hunter approaching. The ranger fires a trio of arrows -- the first striking true, but the others flying wide. Fortunately, as the arrow pierces the ribcage of the Green Hunter, it proves to be enough, and the branded foe falls face down into the grass.
The shield-bearing leader roars in anger as the scouts single handedly do away with a number of his assault force. The felling of his men seems to stir a quicker step reaction in the leader, who closes the distance to Hurik in the blink of an eye. The hulking foe attacks with spear and smashes his shield at Hurik as well. Due to his raging anger, Hurik does not avoid the spear point, but is able to knock away the shield arm before it can hammer him with the metallic boss.
The leader roars at Hurik, Hurik gives something of a hissing roar back. The spear sinks into Hurik but at least the shield was thwarted. Some part of him realizes his friends are closing , that is well but even with the selfish dragon rage upon him, some part of Hurik wants to make sure the enemy can't charge them without going through him!
then once again the maul goes to work, hammering first high, then low.
(Plus 4 more in Frost Damage)
(Plus 4 more in Frost Dmg)
Miriani stays in the nice warm aura that Kheyji is radiating. But it is a little warm for her so she summons some cold to cool down. But being a cat, she decides that's too cold and throws the cold at the pink ranger.
Second Wave - Round 2 - concluded
Hurik strides to position himself in front of the oncoming leader, but just out of the blessing cast by Kheyji. He swings his foe-destroying maul once again up and overhand. The hammer crashes down on the enemy, hurting him badly. The foe is able to interpose his shield to ward off the second blow however.
From behind the melee, Miriani sends a frosty ray at the lone enemy. Like most of her spells, it is most effective, hitting the tribesman despite his shield. Already weakened by Hurik's heavy blow, the leader of the Burning Mammoth assault staggers from the cold, then slowly collapses in a heap, his life ended.
End of Combat
After the leader of the attack falls, the remaining invaders cut and run leaving the area around Rockloom to the shocked and shattered Broken Tusks once again. With the initial waves of invaders defeated, your groups sits and gathers your breath for a moment. You can see the true threat remains a bit farther off still -- hundreds of tiny fires marching inexorably toward Rockloom. Even with the initial assault force defeated, the main body of Burning Mammoths, the horde clearly outnumbers the Broken Tusks and the threat of annihilation to the following seems very real.
The five Mammoth Lords meet in the open field, one with a bandaged head from a wound suffered in the surprise attack. Wounded, frightened, and even a few dead are tended to during the quiet calm. The main body gathers what they can, and prepares to flee in the face of overwhelming numbers.
Eventually, Letsua, father to your mentor Wipa stands in front of the panicky crowd. He bows his head and raises a hand, waiting for the following to settle and be silent. At last he speaks, "Not in my long memory has such violence befallen us during what is supposed to be a joyful celebration. My heart wilts with grief and anger. Sister Cinder give us strength to take up the fire an find bright righteousness in this dim hour. We must break camp, gather our things, and leave as quickly as possible." As Letsua finishes speaking, the sound of an infant's cry echoes across Rockloom. The cry is followed by another, and then another. During the battle, Wipa has given birth to triplets!
With the threat of the Burning Mammoths no apparent, the Broken Tusks following must flee to the east to escape the encroaching horde. With the best scouts injured or out of commission, its up to the newest scouts to guide the journey. Fortuately, the following knows the way forward well, having traveled it each year for as long as anyone can remember. Familiar waypoints like a wide body of water called Gleaming Sun Lake and a high plain between two mountains known as the Grandparents promise brief moments of respite during the harried retreat. Perhaps once the following reaches the western edge of the Tusk Mountains the leaders can assess the situation and more readily decide what to do next. Until then, all they can do is run.
The first few days on the trail are busy ones for the exhausted, anxious community. Each day, the Broken Tusks cover several miles, walking or riding along the mammoth herd and nudging them forward. Each evening , they erect their sizable tents, arrange the communal cooking and eating area, and pasture the animals. The following isn't used to setting up the entire encampment each day, and everyone is tired from the constant work.
During these days, the group is asked to help with packing or unpacking, caring for wounded, taking care of one of Wipa's three newborns, and keeping a lookout for the approach of the Burning Mammoth horde. However, they spend less time in camp as the following's de facto chief scouts, they're more often examining the terrain ahead and hunting for food.
During one of these forays, Tharskh has an encounter of his own...
Eventually, Letsua, father to your mentor Wipa stands in front of the panicky crowd. He bows his head and raises a hand, waiting for the following to settle and be silent. At last he speaks, "Not in my long memory has such violence befallen us during what is supposed to be a joyful celebration. My heart wilts with grief and anger. Sister Cinder give us strength to take up the fire an find bright righteousness in this dim hour. We must break camp, gather our things, and leave as quickly as possible." As Letsua finishes speaking, the sound of an infant's cry echoes across Rockloom. The cry is followed by another, and then another. During the battle, Wipa has given birth to triplets!
[B]"We lose lives even as we gain. Perhaps we are too well named the Broken Tusks." A frown as he gazes at the enemy in the distance, "But it could have been worse. Much worse. Let us take the seeds of the future to safety."
With the threat of the Burning Mammoths no apparent, the Broken Tusks following must flee to the east to escape the encroaching horde. With the best scouts injured or out of commission, its up to the newest scouts to guide the journey. Fortuately, the following knows the way forward well, having traveled it each year for as long as anyone can remember. Familiar waypoints like a wide body of water called Gleaming Sun Lake and a high plain between two mountains known as the Grandparents promise brief moments of respite during the harried retreat. Perhaps once the following reaches the western edge of the Tusk Mountains the leaders can assess the situation and more readily decide what to do next. Until then, all they can do is run.
The first few days on the trail are busy ones for the exhausted, anxious community. Each day, the Broken Tusks cover several miles, walking or riding along the mammoth herd and nudging them forward. Each evening , they erect their sizable tents, arrange the communal cooking and eating area, and pasture the animals. The following isn't used to setting up the entire encampment each day, and everyone is tired from the constant work.
During these days, the group is asked to help with packing or unpacking, caring for wounded, taking care of one of Wipa's three newborns, and keeping a lookout for the approach of the Burning Mammoth horde. However, they spend less time in camp as the following's de facto chief scouts, they're more often examining the terrain ahead and hunting for food.
During one of these forays, Tharskh has an encounter of his own...
Hurik is happy to scout, and hunt. Yet even when he is with the main part of the exodus, he is of use, often carrying the goods that others cannot carry for long. He is a big man, but he carries past even HIS weight when needed.
His mother and sisters, oddly, are those who often decline his help the most. Others need it more.
Hurik amazes everyone, including himself with Herculean feats of strength and his aid in taking down and setting up the camp everyday is invaluable, especially with a number of the following still injured after the ambush at Rockloom.
During these first days, the following flees at a rapid pace and scouts ride ahead to mark the path or clear the trail or steer the course. On one such scouting expedition, Tharskh and the others are scouting from a low, rocky hilltop when the wind brings a soft crying sound from somewhere in the rocks at the hill's peak.
The rest hear it too, what do you do to investigate?
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Kheyji's dreams are troubled the first night after the battle. She sees the fiery outline of Sister Cinder hovering in front of her.
"You've done well, Little Sister," Kheyji thinks she hears Sister Cinder say. "You are dedicated. But your fire is small. Let us change that."
Sister Cinder's outline holds out a hand, and Kheyji's entire body begins to burn. She can feel the blood flowing through her veins, and it scalds. Her stomach, lungs, heart, all of her insides feel like they have turned to ash. Her skin begins to blister, as it did once when she was young, and the entire world is only pain.
She awakens screaming, waking up the others in her tent. She is drenched in sweat, but not fire.
In the days that follow, though, she finds herself changed. Her inner determination, her anger, burns hotter than before. It's a bit easier to lose control
And she finds the fire comes easier to her, now. Without meaning to, she conjures it, only now she can hold it in her hand without it burning her.
Miriani cannot place the sounds or pick up on their origin, but the wind brings the sound closer to Kheyji's ears and she can tell the mewling is coming from an animal, perhaps a small one. The direction seems to be from a crevice in the rocks atop the knoll.
Approaching the crevice, which is covered on top and probably only narrow enough to get an arm into, you can definitely hear the crying sound coming from inside. Exactly what's making the noise cannot be ascertained easily.
Hurik ponders, and tilts his head and tries to make sense of the noise "We aren't sure what's in there. It sounds upset though"
Then, with certainty, he decides, "A ghostweasel. Ware, less it steal your soul." He has heard stories of ghost weasels... tricky creatures.
Miriani is skeptical about ghostweasels. She'll try to listen and figure out what type of cry it is.
"I... a ghostweasel?"
"Yes, Ghostweasels..." He shudders, "Dreadful things, they are born of times when a warrior's doubts and indecision costs an innocent a life.. all his shames mix with the spiritual gloom of the event, and form a ghostweasel. I've never seen one, but my father told me stories of how horrible they are. They tear at a warrior's soul and sanity, nibbling at him so he is haunted by memories of his failure."
Miriani seems to think its a small mammal based on the sound, not terrible different than a dog or a cat. Whatever it is, it seems trapped in the crevice, or too afraid to come out on its own.
Tharskh rolls his eyes behind Hurik showing his feelings for the chance this ghostweasel actually exists. The ranger puts his hand as far back into the space as he can, but he cannot see or feel anything, its just two far back to reach easily.
As your attention is focused inside the rocky crags, you hear a bone-chilling sound not far behind you. The snarling growl of a full-grown wolf gets all of you to turn around suddenly. The sound emanates from a lone mangy, ill-kempt mother wolf, who snarls viscously at the group, her hackles raised in alarm. Her eyes are red and bulging, and white foam sprays from her dirty muzzle. A large festering wound, not cleaned or cared for in any way, appears on her rear flank as if from a bite of some kind. As she approaches, head lowered, you see her stagger a bit, as if suffering from vertigo or some other balance-affecting condition.
Calmly, softly, she says, "We may need to subdue her to help her."
It's pretty clear that the ravaged wolf means to have a fight, so while you act and move calmly, its only delaying the inevitable.
"She is deathly ill," whispers the half-orc ranger. "It looks like hydrophobia. Rabies. Her bite can spread it, and wihtout an advanced healer, its likely fatal in terrible ways. As you can see. We need to put her down without getting bitten." He slowly reaches back to grab an arrow from his quiver.
Rabid Wolf - Round 1
25 Tharskh
25 Kheyji
23 Miriani
18 Hurik
16 Wolf
While the wolf is the aggressor, her brain affliction slows her reflexes and allows the whole party to act before she can.
Tharskh launches the arrow at her, after pausing for a moment to mark her as his targeted prey. Then fires a pair of arrows at her. The ranger shooting is keen and precise, and he hurts the wolf target badly in just the first few moments of the fight.
Miri shakes her head and at least tries to put the wolf down cleanly. All things die, and this is ending it's pain. She sends cold directly at it's heart, in hopes of numbing it.
A javelin is hurled
Then he draws another javelin.
Rabid Wolf - Round 1 - concluded
As Miriani blasts the diseased wolf with an icy blast, and Hurik hurls a javelin at the poor creature, it falls with a grunt of pain, its suffering ended at last.
End of Combat
As the group ponders the attack of the diseased wolf, the cry of the pup stuck in the rocky crevasse reminds them of how they started this encounter.
Tharskh grimaces at the death of the she-wolf, as if he himself has been the one stricken down. He rushes to her side, wanting to make sure she is not suffering anymore, and ready to deliver the coup de grace. It proved not to be necessary - "Well done brothers" - he commented to his companions - "She is at peace now"
The sounds of the trapped pup shake him out of his reverie, and he reacts instinctively almost like a beast himself, primal memories of when he lived among his own pack reaching to the surface in a haze of ferociousness and protection instinct. He crouches over the crevasse, peering and sniffing inside, producing canine like yips as he attempts to garner the condition of the small creature, and coax it to come to him.
Tharskh sees the diseased wolf-mother off, and then turns his attention to the pup. Making just the right cooing sounds, he negotiates the orphaned little one out from its hiding space. As the ranger grabs the little fellow, it whimpers mournfully, but soon warms to the idea of being held in against his warmth. Soon enough it is licking his fingers with its little pink tongue.
You estimate the pup is about at the age of weaning, and is a bit malnourished, but does not seem to be infected with the hydrophobia that compromised the mother. Besides a little nourishment and some TLC, it should grow up just fine.
Tharskh smiles as the pup seems to become more active - "She seems healthy" - he nods to the others, then looks at the dead parent wolf - "One life is extinguished, but another is given a chance" - he raises the female wolf pup to take a closer look at its features - "You will be taken in as I have been taken in. Your name is Shilah" - then he rejoins his companions, so they can all get acquainted, and the pup can learn to recognize their smells.
Mirani is going to look right in Shilah's eyes, "We aren't going to have any of the usual canine against feline problems are we?"
As it nuzzles against her fur, she laughs, "Good girl!"
Hurik lets the wolf cub sniff him, "Shilah? It is a good name. Shilah, I am sorry I thought you were a GhostWeasel"
"Ah, but Shilah has the heart of a GhostWeasel!" she says with a grin. "The wolf part is just a disguise."