Valda rushes over to defend Hakata!
Catamoch surges forward, carving into the incorporeal shadows with great sweeps of his tusks!
Meanwhile, Veshka pulls out a torch, lights it, and brandishes it fiercely, hoping to drive the abomination back!
The goblin tries to inflict its pox on the shadowy creature, but it seems immune to that disease. Afterwards, he quickly retreats from the nearby shadow.
Hakata casts a spell to make his next attacks more powerful.
The remainder of the party collapses on the undead creature attacking Kadosh.
Veshka's intimidation tactics don't quite scare the incorporeal creatures, but the boar god's tusk pierces the undead's form.
Valda only lands one of her strikes, but it's a critical one. Kadosh also lands a strike against the shadow, which causes it to dissipate.
The shadow that previously attacked Strongjaw moves up behind Kadosh and strikes him with another critical strike! Kadosh tries to ring his bell, but the creature seemingly is unaffected.
After the attack, the shadow creature tugs and pulls more at Kadosh's shadow, pulling it further from his body, almost completely out of him.
E1
Valda shifts her immanence and lays into the remaining shadow.
Valda lands two powerful blows and dispatches the second undead creature before it finishes ripping Kadosh's shadow free from his body.
Kadosh collapses, sure he's about to die as his limbs seem to fail to work. He can feel Strongjaw's magic restoring him, but isn't sure it will be enough.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Valda's hands glow with silver light as she lays them on Kadosh, healing his injuries. "Rise, brother. This is not your time to die."
Hakata lets the magic drain out of his bow. He cocks his head, as if listening to the breeze. "Perhaps that dissipated the evil."
With the shadows dispatched, you spend most of the day taking it easy and reconnoitering the hilly terrain before setting up camp. The darkness in this area persists regardless of the time of day, almost as if a permanent magical darkness hangs over the land.
The following morning, you break camp and continue northeast, exploring more of the hilly terrain. Midafternoon, you come across a peculiar scene: a hilltop geyser surrounded by a circle of offal and flanked by two large ivory statuettes that have been toppled and defaced. Examining the statuettes, you identify each as depicting one of Gozreh’s aspects—both land and sea, now desecrated and broken.
As you step into this area, Veshka suddenly stiffens and her eyes glaze over. She experiences a vivid vision: Driven by a desperate need, she reaches for a hide-and-bone lamp upon a stone plinth. A feline snarl reverberates through the cave, and the lamp sears Metuak’s flesh upon contact. Pain. Howling in pain, focus slipping, feeling strange shifting in their chest, and quickly forgetting as the pain intensifies. Clutching the burning lamp, fleeing, and the pendant around their neck darkens from white to black. When Veshka returns to the present, she feels ... different.
As the vision ends, the party's attention is drawn to a terrifying sight: a monstrous figure standing near the geyser. The creature is tall and demonic, with red skin glistening in the dim light and cruel eyes that survey you with a sinister intelligence. It wields a staff adorned with the heads of its victims.
Suddenly, two wolves appear at the edges of the clearing, growling menacingly and attempting to herd the party closer to the geyser where the demonic figure waits. The wolves' eyes glint with a strange, almost unnatural light.
As the party approaches the geyser, Veshka feels a sudden, cold whisper brush against her mind, sending shivers down her spine. The demonic figure stands near the geyser, his eyes locked onto hers. His voice resonates within her thoughts, a dark and sinister whisper that only she can hear:
"Welcome, kindred spirit. I am the Blood Poet, and I sense the darkness within you, the same taint of corruption. Those wolves behind you are my quasits; I'm sure you can sense them. You understand the power that lies in the blood, the strength that comes from embracing our true nature. Join me. Together, we can reshape this world and bend it to our will. Why fight against your own!"
Hakata begins to talk reassuringly to the animals, but stops when he senses something is amiss.
"Back to these Abyss with you, fiend. Your kind are unwelcome in the Realms." He casts a sidelong glance at Veska, anticipating a strong reaction. "And take your foul pets with you."
Strongjaw begins to innocently whistle.
The White Rabbit is seen wearing a ninja outfit.
Tanngrisnir is seen chewing on some grass, although his blue eyes stare at the wolves suspiciously.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Catamoch gurgles and chortles with delight, practically capering behind Veshka until she grabs him fiercely by the ear.
"You are no kin of mine. The taint of corruption within me is not of me; it is not of my god. Your true nature is a stain that I cut from my flesh each morning like rot speckling a wheel of cheese. Where my body betrays me I discipline it.
"Why would you expect more mercy than I?"
"Foolish girl!" the Blood Poet says. "You resist the inevitable, denying the power that could be yours. But no matter. Your defiance will be your undoing."
The red creature turns to the wolves and says "Kill them all!"
"The earth here hungers to unleash its wrath. It strains at the bonds of its unknowing master. Soon the rage will come. Those who do not wish to meet it should remain here until it is spent."
Veshka heeds Catamoch's warning, following the boar into the fray against the false wolves dogging their heels.
Catamoch pounces on his lesser kin, pinning the false-wolf to the earth with all his brutal might!
Catamoch quickly annihilates his target, his tusks ripping the creature apart in a matter of seconds. Afterwards, the pair move back to flank either side of Strongjaw, getting out of range of the geyser.
HP 63/63
AC 22
Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +9
Hero points: 3
Effects:
Kadosh retreats from the geyser, and toward the remaining wolf, axe swinging.
Hakata drops back and takes two shots at the remaining wolf.
for
for
Everyone retreats, but Valda's foot gets stuck in the muck, preventing her from freeing herself before trouble arrives. The geyser erupts with boiling blood, exploding upwards and drenching the surrounding terrain within a forty-foot radius.
Hakata lands a shot against the wolf, but Kadosh misses his swing.
In the chaos of the eruption, the red-skinned demon vanishes, only to reappear silently behind Veshka. She doesn't realize it until the demon's spear plunges through her back and bursts out of her chest. The creature pulls her head back to its mouth and taunts her, whispering, "We could have been great together."
Veshka hacks out a chunk of bloody phlegm as she pulls herself off the spear, the blood sizzling against the ground even as a matching wound to her own opens on the babau's chest.
"Careful fiend, when you taint what you cannot control, the channel flows both ways!"
Veshka limps away on cloven feet to heal as Catamoch rushes forward to drench himself in the demon's blood.
Catamoch relishes the chance to prove his superiority over the other demon trying to taint Veshka and marks his territory violently through the babau's bowels.
Valda manages to avoid the worst of the geyser's blast, but the hot water still scalds her. With gritted teeth, she moves to attack the demon!
HP 63/63
AC 22
Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +9
Hero points: 3
Effects:
Kadosh, alone against the wolf, continues to fight, axe singing through the air.
Hakata divides his attention between the demon and its minion.
for +
for
Strongjaw screams! Tanngrisnir Strides 30' away from the demon! The White Rabbit is seen wearing a diaper that has recently been used....
The Witch then watches what's what and decides to do something about Valda 's burns!
He then points the Staff at her!
Valda lands one of her strikes and emboldens her allies. Catamoch continues his rampage and critically gores the demon, ripping him apart in a bloody mess. Despite this, however, the red-skinned creature still seems to have a lot left in the tank. This demon is a difficult adversary.
Hakata and Kadosh work the wolf down to the ground in a series of well-coordinated attacks. The animist's icicle and arrow blow strike the four-legged creature, slowing it down enough for Kadosh's battlex to bury into it and finish it off.
When Catamoch hits the demon, a gout of acidic, bloodlike slime bursts out from its body into their face.
Critical Success The attacker is unaffected.
Success The attacker takes 1d6 acid damage.
Failure The attacker takes 2d6 acid damage.
Critical Failure As failure, except the weapon used to Strike the babau becomes broken, unless the weapon is made of a material that is immune to acid.
The demon seemingly only has eyes for Veshka. It ignores Valda and Catamoch surrounding it and strides forward to the summoner.
As it closes the distance, it taunts , "There is no running, traitor!" Once more the spear finds its way into Veshka's body, this time though it pierces her left lung, which collapses in her chest as the spear is yanekd free. A sense of fear overtakes Veshka as it snarls and repeats "Traitor!" with murderous intent.
HP 63/63
AC 22
Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +9
Hero points: 3
Effects:
Kadosh turns his attention to the demon, sizing it up and rushing to help Veshka. "You can't have her!" he cries. "She's is part of the following and we will protect her!"
Hakata spontaneously channels the power of the spirits, then unleashes a bowshot at the demon.
for
Valda uses her divinity to intercept the attack in Veshka.
She then moves to attack the demon, flanking if possible.
Kadosh recognizes this creature as a babau and knows that they are weak to cold iron (5) and good iron (5).
Strongjaw waves the Staff at Veshka's battered form while also Hexing the Summoner!
With all the energy coursing through her veins, Veshka is completely healed by the time she flees the babau, allowing Catamoch to take the lead in fileting the fiend!
Kadosh swings his battleaxe at the babau, but the creature's agility is remarkable, and it dodges his swing effortlessly. Hakata heals his fellow scouts before nocking an arrow and firing it into the demon, finding purchase in its right thigh. Valda moves opposite Catamoch, flanking the babau, and delivers a critical strike with her blade. As her blade lands, the babau excretes a gout of acid that bursts toward the exemplar.
The babau excretes a gout of acidic, bloodlike slime against the attacker and its weapon. The attacker must attempt a DC 24 Reflex save.
Critical Success The attacker is unaffected.
Success The attacker takes 1d6 acid damage.
Failure The attacker takes 2d6 acid damage.
Critical Failure As failure, except the weapon used to Strike the babau becomes broken, unless the weapon is made of a material that is immune to acid.
Strongjaw quickly invokes a healing hex, mending Veshka and Valda's wounds. Catamoch strikes the fiend with his tusks once but misses with his second attack. The combined healing efforts of Hakata and Strongjaw seem to irritate the babau. Witnessing the wounds he just inflicted heal, the demon throws his head back and screams in fury.
The demonic babau has eyes only for Veshka and continues its relentless pursuit of her across the battlefield. Slipping around Catamoch, it moves into striking range of Veshka. As it moves, Kadosh's battleaxe finds purchase in the creature's exposed flank, injuring it.
Ignoring the pain, the demon thrusts its spear, once more burying it into Veshka's body with a vicious strike. Kadosh tries to ring his bell to distract the creature, but it's so immersed in its revelry that it ignores the distraction. This time, the babau aims high and pierces Veshka through the throat, ripping it apart with demonic laughter as it revels in the gore it has inflicted upon the summoner.
As Veshka gasps for breath through the new wound, the babau laughs maniacally, taunting Vesha as it chases her around the battlefield. "Scream for me, if you can. Scream, and know that your suffering brings me JOY!"
It licks Veshka's blood off its spear and laughs, ignoring the other scouts and keeping its eyes laser-focused on its prey.
HP 63/63
AC 22
Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +9
Hero points: 3
Effects:
"Cold iron! Or good iron!" Kadosh calls to his friends, pulling out some shavings of the former for his axe. "You won't be causing anymore suffering!" He steps around Catamoch to close on the fiend and swings his axe! The first blow sinks deep into the demon.
Strongjaw ponders the parcarious position that the demon-caller continues to find herself in.Maybees changes yer perfumes?
Tanngrisnir Strides the trio to within 30' of the irate, can't take a hint creepy red dude.
The Witch casts....
.....the Songsinger sings!
Goblin Song/ Loud Singer
Strongjaw then casts Fear at him!
Veshka flees, pleas to her god trapped in the blood flowing down the inside and outside of her chest. "ghk - rngl - st - st- stop burning stabbing me!"
Visibly deaf to Veshka's pleas, Catamoch treats his battle with a murder demon as an opportunity to splash around more than a chance to save her.
Kadosh's battleaxe whirls at the neck of the demon and severs its head from its body, sending it tumbling away from Veshka.
Strongjaw takes back his magnificent performance and his Fear spell with a bit of a satisfying flourish!
The Witch then decides to sit and contemplate life, the universe, and everything for like 10 minutes.
He then decides to sit in a different spot to think about those same things...
"Are you OK, Veshka?" Kadosh asks, rushing to help her. "This place has been so corrupted. We need to do something. I know we already agreed to help, but ... we have to succeed!"
After the encounter, the party determines that the geyser likely needs to be cleansed or purified somehow to remove the demonic taint, but they are exhausted from their travels and decide to regroup with the following and rest before attempting to restore the geyser.
Returning to camp, several following members engage you in conversation:
Valda approaches the campfire where Merthig is tending the flames, his one arm working deftly as he arranges the logs. Merthig looks up and offers her a warm smile, motioning for her to join him by the fire.
"Ah, young Valda, join me by the fire. It has a way of drawing out our thoughts, don't you think?" Merthig begins, his voice a comforting rumble.Tell me, what do you make of all these new companions we've gathered along this journey you lead us upon? The tapirs, the smilodon cubs, and now griffon eggs! Who would have imagined such a thing? It's quite the menagerie we've become."
After the rough encounter with the babau, Veshka is sought out by Nakta, the Healer. The summoner summons Veshka into their tent and finds Nakta meticulously organizing healing herbs and supplies. She looks up as she enters, their calm demeanor instantly soothing.
"Ah! Veshka, I've been asking for you. Come in, sit down. You know the drill." Nakta says, guiding her to a stool and tapping it twice lightly with her hand. "Word is you've had a rather rough day today, hmmm? Tell me about it. How are you feeling? Let me look you over and make sure everything is as it should be. We can't afford something untoward to go overlooked."
She taps 'the seat,' a makeshift stool fashioned out of some wood that still has its bark on it, kept course and rough to make its patients focused on how uncomfortable the seat is than Nakta's efforts. The seat has long since been worn smooth, but no one dares tell Nakta that for fear she will replace it.
Hakata finds Imek brushing one of the woolly mammoths, her small hands moving gently through the mammoth’s thick fur.
“Hakata! Good to see you,” Imek says, looking up with a shy smile. “I’ve been thinking about the Burning Mammoths. They’re still out there, chasing us, I know it! Do you think we can really escape them for good? And what will happen to Pakano?”
Letsua summons Kadosh, who is sharpening his weapons near his tent. The elf Mammoth Lord looks up, his eyes sharp and assessing.
“Kadosh, you’re just the person I wanted to see,” Letsua says, motioning for him to sit. “We’ve faced many dangers together, and I can’t help but think about the challenges ahead. The Sutaki, the necromancers, Venexus the dragon... There are many challenges ahead. How do you think we should deal with them? Should we try to make allies, or is it inevitable that we’ll have to fight? What are you recommendations?"
Strongjaw finds Wipa near the edge of the camp, making worry stones from pretty rocks she’s collected. He sits down beside her, watching her work for a moment.
“Strongjaw, it’s good to have some company, these three keep me so busy!” Wipa says, motioning to her young children. “I’ve been thinking about our journey and all the new members we’ve added to our following. It’s incredible, but also daunting. Do you think we’ll be able to protect everyone? And what do you think about the Sutaki? Should we try to help them against Ashen Swale?”
Strongjaw finds Wipa near the edge of the camp, making worry stones from pretty rocks she’s collected. He sits down beside her, watching her work for a moment.
Peering deeply into the retired Scouts eyes, the Songsinger begins a song of sorrow, of lost and then of joy and of fulfillment.
The Spirits say that everyone is part of the Following. They just haven't been invited yet.
The White Rabbit is seen wearing a loose flowing robe, while wielding a light saber....
Tanngrisnir is seen chewing and winking at her.
Veshka sits gingerly on the stool - never certain it won't have roughened between visits.
Their tunic is already holed enough by the babau's spear that clinging to its modesty seems even more foolish than usual for a healer's visit, and she quickly strips down to skin and bandages.
"The blood demon got me here, here, and... here." She points to areas that are visibly tender and bruised, though whole and unbandaged.
"Scales, hair, extra eye," she labels three bandages on her torso that may have been fresh at the start of the day. "Nothing within a handsbreadth of the hooves grows back right though. I haven't been brave enough to check what would happen with my eyes." She gives a very dry laugh. "At least my blood still makes the flowers bloom. I'm not blighting anything else."
Hakata stops chasing baby porcupines around long enough to chat with Imek.
"We've made some good distance on them, and I hope we are at least going to have a break. The Burning Mammoths and Pakano both seem obsessed with us. I worry that they will not stop unless we deal with them once and for all."
Kadosh sighs miserably.
"I hate fighting, and it seems like that's all we've been doing since that day we went out hunting elk with ..." he trails off as he was about to mention Pakano, which still seems immeasurably sad to him.
Shaking his head, he continues. "But this Ashen Swale and the dragon sound awful, and it sounds like they may have the Flame. I don't think we can avoid fighting with them. Maybe the Sutaki, though."
Valda smirks. "Yes, the following's furry and feathered friends are certainly a welcome boon. They are mighty warriors in their own right, and I think we will need all the help we can get to make it through this valley and stay ahead of the Burning Mammoths."
Merthig listens to Valda's response thoughtfully, nodding as she speaks. "You know, these creatures are more than just additions to our following. They're symbols of hope and resilience, much like us."
Merthig leads Musk Ox house and garners tremendous respect from the Broken Tusks. He single-handedly defeated an ogre and lost his lower arm, becoming the youngest Mammoth Lord in the Broken Tusks. The fearsome dwarf looks up at Valda, his eyes twinkling with the firelight reflecting off them. Dispensing with the pleasantries, he gets straight to the point. "You are the most fearsome warrior among the new scouts. So tell me, what do you make of our current situation? How do you see us handling the threats ahead? The Burning Mammoths, the necromancers, and that dragon, Venexus... Our enemies are growing in number faster than we can deal with them. This is a lot to take on. Do you think we have the strength to overcome these challenges? And what do you think about the Primordial Flame? If we do find it, what then?"
Merthig leans forward, his one arm resting on his knee. He presses further "I’m not just asking for my sake, Valda. The entire following looks up to you. There is something special in you. You are different than the others. They need to know that we have a plan and that we have hope. And I believe you’re the one who can give them that."
"Well, let's not test that now, shall we?" She presses a cloth with her antiseptic of choice, willow bark extract, into the wound. Sure, she could use Chamomile, but no, it was always willow bark. In fact, she is the most powerful wielder of magic in the following, yet she always insists on this form of healing.
Sharp pains radiate from the wound, and she says "Shhh. Hold still. Just a moment longer." she says out of habit rather than necessity. "You know you don't have to act tough in front of me. Ok. Again." And Again. And again. Does she like doing this or is it just efficient?
After cleaning and bandaging the wounds, Nakta looks into Veshka's eyes with curiosity. "This creature you fought, this... babau, was it? I hear it seemed particularly focused on you during the battle. Do you have any idea why that might be? Did it sense something about you? Any thoughts on why it was so intent on causing you harm?"
Nakta doesn't really give Veshka time to answer, though; perhaps it wasn't ever really a question. She presses quickly onto the subject she really wants to discuss. "She's something, isn't she?" The half-orc places a gentle hand on Veshka's shoulder from behind her and adds "I can see it too."
Nakta has been married three times, including briefly to Wipa’s sister, Pathua, but none could satisfy their stunning intellect. She always seems to be observing and taking note of interactions behaviors, following the gossip and providing guidance.
Imek’s expression grows even more troubled. "But what if we can’t find the Primordial Flame? I’ve heard people say it’s our only hope. If we don’t find it, do you think Ivarsa will convert more of the Broken Tusks? Will she... burn us? What will she do if she catches the following?"
Her voice trembles slightly, and the nine-year old herder she wraps her arms around herself as if trying to ward off the chill of her thoughts. The little "I’m scared, Hakata. It feels like we’re running out of time and options. I don’t want to see anyone else hurt or ... worse."
The elven Mammoth Lord watches Kadosh with a keen eye, sensing the pain behind his words.
He's been with the Broken Tusks for over two decades now and has become wise for his years. "It's a heavy burden we carry, Kadosh. This constant fighting, the loss of friends... it's not easy. But sometimes, we must fight to protect those we love to ensure a future for our following. But we need your insight now more than ever."
Letsua's eyes narrow slightly, his impatience surfacing. "We don’t have time to hesitate. We need to adapt quickly to survive. Do you think we should try to make allies among these factions, or is it inevitable that we’ll have to fight our way through?"
He pauses, then adds with a touch of arrogance, "I’ve faced countless dangers in my time, made decisions that others might have questioned. But it's that adaptability that's kept me and our people alive. What’s your take on this? How do we deal with them efficiently?"
Letsua leans back, his gaze unwavering. "You know, Kadosh, sometimes a swift decision, even if it’s not perfect, is better than endless deliberation. I need you to help me make those decisions. Can you do that?"
Wipa smiles softly, her hands never stopping their work. "That's a beautiful thought, Strongjaw. It's comforting to think that everyone has a place with us, even if they don't know it yet. But it's also a heavy responsibility. These triplets, they're my whole world now. I worry about their safety, about the safety of everyone in our following. We've added so many new members, and with each addition, our family grows. But so do our challenges. "
The half-elf of Otter House is a second-generation Broken Tusk. Daughter of Letsua and Argakoa, she and her sister Panuaka are from the same set of triplets.
"Strongjaw, there's something I've been holding onto, something that's been eating away at me," she begins, her voice low and filled with emotion. "I've heard rumors about Pakano and my husband, Weohatan. People say... they say Pakano might have had something to do... with ... his death."
She pauses, her fingers stilling on the smooth stones. "I don't want to believe it. Pakano was part of our following, one of us. But ever since that hunt, when Weohatan didn't come back, I've had this gnawing feeling that something wasn't right."
Wipa looks directly at Strongjaw, her eyes pleading for understanding. "I can't shake the thought that Pakano betrayed us, betrayed him. But if it's true, if Pakano did kill Weohatan, I don't know what to do. How do I face that? How do I find the truth, and what do I do if I find out it's real?"