Djack's arrow finds its mark on the unaware creature, barely. It lets out a horrid screech like a rooster crying out to the morning at a lower pitch and much higher decibels.
Rest of party may act in surprise round.
Pulling from the plane of Earth, a familiar stone form took shape before silently following her readied commands. It sunk below the ground, swimming through the earth and reappearing near the cliff-face. It was hear it made a loud ruckus to draw it's attention, lunging from a dozen feet up above to slam it's stony fists down near the large terror-bird.
As the elemental launches it's surprise attack, Yoltzin strings an arrow and let's it fly free.
The elemental grazed the giant beast, but did not to any effect (ie missed AC).
Yoltzin's arrow, on the other hand, hits solidly.
Total damage to opponent so far: 8 HP
Rocko will continue making noises in the hope that it will keep the giant beast from noticing Djack or Yoltzin. He'll get his shield ready and shake at the tree nearby to try and lure the beast closer, which will mean he doesn't have his axe out yet.
The creature continues toward the cactus most of the party is hiding near, as if it's almost unaware of the elemental or Djack at all. Evidently, getting "stung" and shaked up a little is not enough to distract it from whatever tasty treat is behind the tree.
The creature comes cautiously down toward the sound, so as not to surprise its "prey." It is, instead, quite when it gets sight of the trio behind the cacti.
At this point, Spizz steps out, and fires a jet of flame at the beast.
The jet of flame burns the beast, and it performs the same horrible screech it did when the first arrow hit.
Total damage to opponent so far: 17 HP
Top of Round 1
Initiative:
Rocko: 16
Dino:
Spizz:
The creature is clearly of animal level intelligence, incapable of making complicated tactical decisions. It doesn't recognize Yoltzin or Rocko as threats. Now Spizz, on the other hand, just caused it a decent amount of pain.
The creature lumbers past Yoltzin and leans forward to bite at the Kobold sorcerer with a mouth that could probably swallow him whole if it was so inclined.
Party may act.
Rocko has dealt with enough large animals to know he has to approach cautiously. He'll pull out his axe as he takes a first cautious step forward, then start banging the flat of his axe against his metal shield loudly as he takes a second cautious step, hopefully close enough to take a swipe soon.
"You may be takin' the bites now, but I reckon you're gonna taste good when we're done with ya!"
The elemental grumbles and tries to latch onto the large beakthing's ankle as it moves away, only resulting in a satisfying crunch as it continued undaunted. Being rather slow itself, the summoned spirit spends a moment to try racing back up yet still falling just short of the beast.
For her part the Elf took a step back, and placed a hand upon he kobold. "Quickly, this ward will only last a few moments. You need to retreat back and let Rocko and Rocky draw it's attention!"
Spizz steps back before Rocko or anyone else is in the way, and, almost without thinking, inhales and, eyes glowing red as a forge, breaths a spout of flame as the dragons of old were known to do.
The elemental grumbles and tries to latch onto the large beakthing's ankle as it moves away, only resulting in a satisfying crunch as it continued undaunted.
Save Vs. Spizz breath weapon spell
17+ 11 (from elemental) + 7 (from spell) = 35 Current damage done.
Rocko and Djack may act (Rocko's move was in question, not sure if he wanted to do more this round or not).
Spizz!
Djack charges the creature, drawing his blade as he moves...
With the shield banging not doing much, Rocko figures a good hard hit might be the best way to draw it's attention. And for once, it's a creature he knows how to hit it where it hurts.
AOO on Rocko:
Rocko's axe swing misses the creature, immediately after which it painfully rake's it's claws across the gnoll's exposed bits.
Distracted thus, Djack sticks it but good.
Damage dealt to opponent so far: 48
Top of Round 2.
The creature is now quite confused as to what is going on. It came running up for lunch, and is suddenly surrounded by other predators of great strength.
It's wounds not withstanding, it is still intent on eating SOMEBODY.
Bite toward Djack:
Claws toward Rocko
All PCs may act.
Finally getting close enough again, the stone elemental rockets forward with raised fists.
The elf meanwhile notices how heavily it seems to be chomping into her companions, and thusly raises her pendant while moving back just enough to exempt the beast.
Spizz casts Infernal Healing on Rocko from a Scroll he found in the swamp witch's cottage. Rocko has Fast Healing 1.
Rocko is not happy with the beating he's taking, but he trusts his companions to help keep him going.
"That's it, NO HOLDIN' BACK!"
After a mighty swing from his axe, he'll follow up with an equally forceful slam with his shield. Due to his recent training, he immediately can ready his shield for defense after the bash.
Rocko, get back! I'll draw its attention!
Total damage against opponent: 92
The creature is now viscerally injured and barely standing. It had considered running, but that, now, is not possible. Instead, it makes one final strike at its opponents.
Bite on Djack:
Claw on Rocko
Claw 2 on Spizz
Djack, Yoltzin, and her summon may act in Round 3.
Djack cries out on pain, nearly dropping his blade. Aargh! Damnit!
YOLTZIN! Finish it! I'll get Spizz...
The elemental it seems to completely miss on captilizing the beast's momentary weakness, leaving the job apparently whole on Yoltzin. Not taking any chances on a failed arrow, the elf reaches out and pulls upon the creature's bones wholly.
The creature only takes 5 HP from the spell, but it is sufficient. A large portion of the dinosaur's innards fall out onto the ground, and it falls over, landing right where Djack had been a moment before he rushed to Spizz's side.
Combat Over.
Djack rushes to the fallen Kobold. Placing his hand upon the diminutive form's chest he whispers something.
Iridescent motes of light come into existence about the Kobold's chest and quickly vanish.
He should be alright... How's Rocko?
Quickly approaching the gnoll, Yoltzin draws upon her divine gifts to mend his wounds. "Fate has yet to call upon his life, this day."
The immediate danger now over, you have the time to take stock of your situation. The temperature is still quite cold, and snow is now falling hard and fast. That's going to slow travel down. It'll take you at least 4 hours, going in a mostly direct line, to get back to the village, which is the closest warm shelter you know.
Upon regaining consciousness, Rocko couldn't help but mutter,
"Did we win? Do we get to eat it? I hope we get to eat it, cuz it looked like it's gonna be delicious."
Well, Rocko is fine with leading everyone back to the village, but only after making a sled out of some branches from the nearby trees. He fully intends to bring a hefty size chunk of meat back with them.
Preferably an entire leg
He's still a bit concerned about Spizz, "How's our little dragon doing? I saw our guy take a pretty nasty swipe or two back there."
The elf could Bute back her exasperated sigh, as she approached the kobold. "I had put a spell of protection upon him to grant safety, and it seems I neglected to inform him of taking no hostile actions afterward. Spizz's time has not come just yet, however."
The little golden Kobold with a heart to match stirs.
"Eh, what...Oh...I had the weirdest dream. Spizz was big dragon, breathing fire down on a chicken farm." He sits up in the snow.
The elf places her hands on the little kobold shoulders, making sure his eyes met her own. Worry and concern was evident and apparent within those dark amethysts as she ensured he understood the seriousness of her words.
"listen to me. You are not a dragon, Spizz. You are not able to go toe to toe with such large and powerful foes as if on equal footing. How often now have you put your own life at risk by charging straight into the fray and casting your spells? As impressive as I find your flames, you need to understand that one day neither I nor Djack will not be there to pick you back up after you fall. We do not wish for you to die, but if you continue to be so reckless, than this will become inevitable."
Rocko grimaces at the harsh words, but he isn't about to argue with them.
"You are very brave, my friend, but courage don't mean huntin' down more danger than one little dragon can handle. I want you good and healthy to have your roast chicken back at that flatface village."
At the thought of the natives, Rocko remembers a trick he saw his old mentors do. He scratches a quick note on some parchment then pulls out some seeds and berries he'd foraged. With a whisper of animal noises and a touch of magic, he calls out to the birds that he still sees flying about despite the snow.
When a curious bird lands nearby, Rocko impresses upon it:
"Take this paper to the village in that direction. Give it to the one of the flatface men with hair of silver like high wispy clouds. Have this meal as my thanks."
The message reads.
"Beast slain. Lots of good meat. Too much to carry. Will return soon."
Djack brushes himself off, looking around and out at the weather.
Could we sleep... in it?
Rocko is able to convey to the Guapichi hunters that meet them the location of the beast's remains, but they decide to wait until the storm stops to go find it.
Djack is wishing he had stayed inside the dinosaur by the time the party reaches the Guapichi village. His face feels like a cold fish, and it's hard to talk. But an hour in front of the fire in the common hall has him feeling like his old self again, mostly.
Native women take to cutting thin slices of meat off of the dinosaur bone to cook on the grill, and anyone who wants it can get a big juicy steak. A fun time is had by everyone.
Morning, Novum 10
The next morning dawns cold once again, though not quite as cold as the day before. The wind blows the snow around the desert landscape, and it drifts against anything solid enough to stop it. Guapichi are going outside and brushing the snow off the sides of the buildings so it doesn't come in the windows.
By late morning, the temperature has risen enough that travel seems possible once again. Would you like to backtrack to the main road and then continue north, or take some other route?
Durring the feasting the previous night, Yoltzin e joys herself by sharing and listening to the stories held by the Guaphici people. While she is devoted to her own diety and the pantheon of her ancestors as a whole, she felt curious about the religious practices of her fellow native peoples. To see where the similarities were and the differences that lay.
The next day, convening with her companions for this past while, she turns to Djack and Rocko both. "I am, admittedly uncertain now of our next step. Before we were tracking the outsider incursion, yet this task now seems impossible."
Rocko nods "Snow over the prints makes tracking tougher than ... well, tougher than anything I can do, that's right sure."
He looks around the village. "Well, if need be, we can go out and back from here, comin' back when a trail goes cold ... colder."
Rocko shrugs, not enjoying the thought of the difficult task awaiting them.
"But I am not gonna call it quits for the winter. The snow might hold all us warm types back, but I ain't countin' on it stopping those chaos guys. I say we try to get to the Keep at least, maybe find that knight and our friend Pious if we can."
"This seems like a reasonable course. DJack?"