Sariana's sigh is thrilling sound, full of promise and temptation but the vampire doesn't go any further, even though Floare can practically feel the fangs ghosting against her skin.
Floare tenses, but doesn't pull away. Fear or something else holds her in place. It must be fear, she tells herself, she couldn't want this, could she? The beating of her heart and the tingling of her skin where Sariana touches her couldn't be anything else but fear, right?
She closes her eyes and her head tips ever-so-slightly - just enough to expose more of her trembling neck.
"Will it hurt?" she whispers.
~~~~~
Floare wastes no time in kneeling down next to the wounded man and using her strongest healing magic on him.
Tandri rushes over to the wounded man with Floare. She looks over the taller woman's shoulder as she knees and heals, rather impressively. "Good job" Tandri's smiles, her tail unconsciously brushing Floare's arm sending affirmation of her respect shivering up her flesh.
The man's eyes flutter open as Floare's healing magic mends his wounds. The dog barks happily as he groans and quickly jumps to his feet. "Who are you? Identify yourselves!" he demands.
|
"We're the ones saving your arse." Sariana replies over her shoulder. "Now either shut up and stay hidden or get a weapon and help us fight!"
The man scowls as he retrieves his bow, which had been laying nearby. "There's a troll about to attack—we need to kill it! Trolls can regenerate their wounds, but we can use fire or acid to kill them. Stay mobile. It'll rend you to pieces if it gets both claws on you!"
"We know what Trolls are." Tandri muttered, put out at the abruptness of his snapping and scowling. But he did have a dog, which spoke wonders for his characterr.
Quickly the dwarf girl rushes over to Sarina and casts her goddess's blessing on her to invoke painful vengeance on anything that would dare oppose them.
When the rescued man mentions the need for fire, Deregar smiles and lays a reassuring hand on Tyr's flank.
Amiri hides in the brush with Deregar and the man you rescued, while Valerie takes up a position beside Sariana with sword and shield at the ready. The rest of your companions scatter as a hulking troll stomps out of the woods in front of you! The troll bellows in triumph, yelling in Jotun! The giant wears a pair of distinctive blue leather bracers, and he drops a large sack that he was carrying as he charges towards you!
Before you can react, the troll is upon Sariana. It snaps its jaws and swipes its claws, but the monk dodges its attacks!
"We should finish gathering these berries. I wouldn't want to disappoint everyone in the morning," she says, her voice tight with tension.
~~~~~
"Fire?! I can do fire!" Floare cries out, the words to a spell following quickly.
Since Tandri was mistakenly beside Sariana at the start of a battle, she finds herself TOO close to the huge creature that is trying to eat the vampire. Before retreating as far back as possible, her tail stabs at the troll, stinging it with her goddess's displeasure.
You inflict pain upon the target and revel in their anguish. This deals 1d4 mental damage and 1d4 persistent mental damage; the target must attempt a Will save. As long as the target is taking persistent damage from this spell, you gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls and skill checks against the target.
Heightened (+1) The initial damage increases by 1d4 and the persistent damage increases by 1d4.
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target takes half damage and no persistent damage.
Failure The target takes full initial and persistent damage.
Critical Failure The target takes double initial and persistent damage.
"Good!" she exclaims as the flame bursts out of her companion's hand.
|
|
The vampire takes a deep breath before slamming one fist deep ibto a nearby tree with a crack like thunder. Then she bends over and vomits, forcing the undigested food sitting in her stomach out until it rests on the forest floor in a pile of mushy foulness on the floor. Better that it decay there than inside her undead stomach.
Already in stance and prepared for battle Sariana dances around the beast and unleashes a barrage of blows!
Deregar boosts Tyr while the dragon spits a gout of flame at the troll, then moves in and attacks with his claws.
for
for
Floare's fire sails past the troll. Sariana moves around the troll and delivers two powerful strikes. The mighty giant barely flinches, though! Tandri's spell only tickles the troll with a tiny bit of pain. However, Tyr proves quite effective, scorching the giant and ripping at him with a sharp claw!
With Linzi inspiring courage, Amiri charges in to attack from the flank! Valerie slashes at the troll, while the man you rescued fires his bow. The tough troll deflects or avoids all of their attacks.
The troll claws at Tyr, managing to land a hit!
Tandri attacks the trollish brute with her mind, hoping this time it hurt the thundering spittle dripping thing.
Since she is far enough away for also fires her crossbow.
Deregar boosts Tyr, then the dragon blows fire in the troll's face from point-blank range before clawing at the creature.
for
for
for
Sariana lands two punches on the troll. Tandri strikes it with a crossbow bolt, then Tyr scorches the giant and claws at him as well. The flames sear the troll's flesh, ensuring it can't knit itself back together, and finally, the mighty giant hits the ground hard, lying still!
The man you rescued moves to examine the fallen troll. The dog barks happily and stays close to his side. "Thank you for your help." He points to the blue leather bracers the dead giant wears. "Wyvern hide. All of of Gragglebeard’s minions wear bits of armor like this, but Gragglebeard is the only Reaver who’s allowed to wear a full suit of wyvern hide armor." He turns back to you and finally introduces himself. "I am Ekundayo."
"Gragglebeard is a dangerous hill giant," Ekundayo says. "His Reavers are mostly ogres who admire or fear him. The Reavers have been moving through the wilds of the River Kingdoms for years, targeting small isolated settlements for destruction. They leave none alive so that there’s no threat of reprisal. They missed me when they destroyed Bristlehill, and I intend to make them pay for that mistake—and for all the lives they’ve ended!"
|
|
"Vengeance." The vampire nods. "As good a reason as any. You are welcome to travel with us for the time being if you wish. We are carving out a new realm in these lands, pacifying the bandit menace and Gragglebeard certainly seems like a menace."
She offers a gloved hand to shake. "If not you are free to go with no ill will."
"Very well. I will accompany you for now." He kneels down and pets his dog before standing back up, ready to go.
Tandri is only paying a little attention to the conversation since there is a new cute dog. "May I?" she asks the man if she can pet his dog.
Ekundayo nods. "Yes. You may," he says.
The anxious dog shies away from Tandri at first, but after sniffing her hand, he relents and allows her to pet him.
Tandri holds her breath as he shies away, the her smile beams like the sun from behind a cloud. Sinking to her knees in fluffy see, she ruffles his neck reverently. While her eyes and hands stay on the dog, she finally joins the conversation. "Vengeance is a worthy cause, of course we'll help. I'm Tandri, servant of Calistra." she shoots a glance at the dogs owner, giving a brief hesitant nod.
Floare watches Tandri's interaction with the dog with a smile. Feeling a nudge at her calf, she looks down at her familiar. "Yes, you can go say 'Hello'," she responds with a grin at his questioning eyes.
With a yip of excitement, Dante bounds over to the dog, his tail held high.
"This is Dante" Tandri introduces one to the other with joy in her voice. "Dante, this is...Um, What's his name?" she asks Ekundayo.
The dog sniffs curiously at Dante as the smaller familiar dances around him.
When asked about the dog's name, Ekundayo shrugs. "He is Dog. I only just pulled him out of a collapsed wagon a few days ago. We tracked the troll we just defeated from that site and took vengeance for his previous owners."
Well, he is going to get along well with Tandri.
"Can you tell us about Bristlehill? Why would the giants attack it?"
Deregar attempts to be winning toward the new companion. "If it is not comfortable to discuss, just say so."
"vengeance" Tandri whispered to Dog, with a satisfied smile, leaning down to rub her cheek against his, a proper nuzzle. Then as the two dogs get to know each other, she admonishers his 'owner'
"He saved your life, you know? He found us, brought us here so Floare could heal you before that thing came to finish grinding you to Jelly." the power of two snuggly furballs is giving her more confidence than seen before. "All that is to say, he deserves a name." her amber eyes flash as they stare at him.
Ekundayo looks at Deregar with pain in his eyes. "To rampage, slaughter, and steal. These giants need no more reason to attack than that."
He turns back to Tandri and shakes his head. "No names. Once you name something, the loss you feel when it’s inevitably slain makes it not worth naming in the first place. The dog’s a tool, not a friend."
Sense Motive - Success! Tandri can tell that Ekundayo is not actually this cold-blooded and mercenary. He's been hurt deeply before, and it's clear that he is trying to avoid further tragedy.
Tandri's lips form a deep plump frown at calling Dog a tool. She almost forgets all of her timid nature and tears into him for Such insensitivity toward a cuddle puddle like Dog. At the last moment, she finally sees the pain in the man. Calistrians are taught about pain, not to heal like sun goddesses or justice queens, but to understand and Use It.
Using it takes more than Tandri has in her still, and at the moment she doesn't understand how Using it would help Dog, who in her mind is the true victim hear.
All that boils in her amber eyes as she stares at the man. Finally she nods, turning her attention back to the two delights. "I'll get you a name, Dog, Somehow, someway, I promise. Cause Heroes need Names." she whispers as she envelopes both his cheeks in her hands and Wubs him silly.
After resting overnight, you head southeast. In this area, the Thorn River begins to drain into the Tuskwater, one of the largest lakes in the Stolen Lands. The Stag Lord's fort is nearby, meaning his bandits are more active in this area.
You find out that particular fact firsthand as late in the day, a group of six bandits emerges from the undergrowth to confront you! Your companions quickly form up to engage half of the bandits' number, leaving three of them for you to take on directly! The bandits brandish heavy clubs as they move to attack!
Tandri reaches up and wills her goddess's almost amused vengeance into Sariana, then flings a more scornful bit of it at the nearest thug.
With a shake of her head at the bandits' audacity at attacking a group that's so obviously superior to them, Floare summons a viper to engage the rear-most club-wielder.
The two lead bandits move in to flank Sariana, swinging on her with their clubs. One scores a critical hit, his brutality shaking Sariana's confidence!
The third bandit avoids the summoned viper's fangs. He dispatches the snake with a single blow, then moves across the way to threaten the group's back rank in melee.
Floare summons a ball of fire into her hand and flings it at the bandit that so rudely killed her viper.
Deregar strengthens Tyr with his magic, and the dragon slithers around behind the bandit that attacked Sariana, attacking with his fangs and claws.
for
for
Tandri finally has her crossbow ready and fires it at the nearest thug with a mighty Thwack. The mighty Thwack is followed by a THUNK as the bolt thuds into a tree instead of a body.
With a disappointed frown, she concentrates on Sariana instead, healing her with harm.
Tyr and Sariana team up and take out one of the bandits. Floare scorches the ruffian who took out her viper. Both remaining enemies attack, Floare taking a heavy blow.
As Tandri reloads her crossbow, very quietly muttering about it betraying her, she sees the bandit hit Floare hard. "Leave her alone!"
The pink dwarf rushes to the other woman's side and touches her attacker sending pain shooting through his leg.
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target takes half damage and no persistent damage.
Failure The target takes full initial and persistent damage.
Critical Failure The target takes double initial and persistent damage.
Deregar won't stand for Floare getting attacked. He boosts Tyr and the dragon slips around to hamstring the bandit.
for
for
Floare directs another gout of flame towards her attacker while Dante, not content to be idle while his 'Mom' is being attacked, snaps at the bandit's ankles.
|
|
"Mine!" Sariana declares harshly, snapping off a double combination at the one still annoying her before joining the rest in assailing the one who dares to attack her Floare.
If she wasn't busy snapping necks and crushing bones she might have considered that particular thought pattern. But as it is primal instinct alone is in charge.
Tyr moves in to defend Floare. With a powerful bite and a claw rake, the bandit that struck the witch goes down hard. The rest of you focus on the third ruffian, leaving him badly injured. He turns to flee, but he doesn’t get too far before Tandri’s sting causes him to stagger and fall.
Across the way, your companions finish mopping up their own assailants.
"Hmm...I hope none of these fellows is the Varisian merchant that Kesten Garess was looking for. I suppose it can't be helped, when they rush us like that."
Deregar will look for any identifying documents or mementos on the bodies, and take anything that looks useful.
None of the bandits match the description of the Varisian mercenary Falgrim Sneeg. They do not have anything valuable on them, but one has a crudely drawn map of the Tuskwater area. It indicates the location of the Stag Lord's fort, just a few miles to the east of here.
Tandri moves around the bodies nudging them roughly with her foot to make sure they are dead dead dead. Her eyes take in the behavior of her companions. Without reaction.
"Not a great spot to hang around--I'd rather have more intelligence on the Stag Lord before we stumble into his stronghold. We should hide our camp carefully tonight."
Deregar pockets the map to show to people at Oleg's.