Valda, Catamoch and Strongjaw continue to whittle away at the equine creature. Kadosh grabs his gear and reclaims his foothing thanks to some healing assistance from his allies.
53
Hakata makes a depper connection to the spirits and tries to scorch the horse-like creature.
for
The waterlogged environment along the shore hampers Hakata's ignition spell, the splashing water proving too much of an obstacle for the fiery success he achieved against the effigy days earlier.
The equine creature, now beleaguered by the sustained assault, visibly struggles to maintain its footing. The cumulative effect of your attacks has weakened it significantly, signaling that it might not withstand much more damage. Recognizing this, you sense it's time to deliver the final blow.
In a desperate attempt to defend itself, the creature redirects its focus toward Catamoch. It lashes out with its hooves, attempting three swift kicks. The first two narrowly miss their mark, but the third connects with devastating force. The mighty hoof of the mysterious equine being slams into Catamoch's head with a sickening impact, delivering a critical blow to the unfortunate boar.
Strongjaw flexes!
Strongjaw then Sustains his Clinging Ice Hex!
The White Rabbit claps!
Tanngrisnir chews!
Thoroughly frustrated with the unruly fire spirits, Hakata reaches a hand down and cups some water from the lake. He tosses it at the horse, and as it flies it solidifies into a spear of ice.
He weave the remaining drops of water into a shield, in case the creature turns on him.
for and
Stronjaw and Hakata seize the moment and bring cold magic against the equine creature, causing it to collapse in the surf and end the combat.
After the fight, while searching around, the party spots several distinctive, umber-colored nettles caught in their seaweed-like hide. A brief scan of the area locates a bush of such nettles. As you move towards the area, you find a low, thorny shrub bearing umber nettles which hang over a nearby part of the shore. Here, the lake is 10 feet deep. Beneath the shrub, an underwater entrance to a small cave is well hidden.
The underwater lair contains several treasures the creature has taken by force or as tribute, including a backpack from which includes a runestone with a ghost touch rune, a bottle of oil of potency, a crying angel pendant, and a lump of amber worth 5 gp.
Strongjaw just sits atop Tanngrisnir while the other procure the underwater treasure.
Wees no likes da wets.
The White Rabbit is seen blow drying his damp fur from even this close proximity.
Once everyone is back together, dried, towered off or fur shaking Expertise happens, Strongjaw claps Hakata on the back (he can sitting on Tanngrisnir).
Nice ice trick! Ken you teach the White Rabbit?
The White Rabbit is seen wearing a school boy outfit while seated at a tiny desk. He looks both expectant and tolerate.
"I learned that one from a snow spirit last winter. Maybe we will run into him when the seasons change." Hakata is used to the White Rabbit, but he's not sure they see the world the same way.
Kadosh collect himself, still feeling out of sorts as the spirit handled him so easily. He had trained for such things, but it seemed as if all his training was for naught. He waited for his fellow scouts to send him back to the following, afraid he was nearly as useless as Pakano. Well, maybe not that unless, but certainly no more useful.
Every word her companions speak is like a spike to Veshka's brain as her mauled consciousness tries to keep her link to Catamoch intact. She sits down, hard. Eyes shut against the light, and drying blood leaking from her ears and nostrils.
Willowbark, ginger, turmeric... she tries to gather her remedies by feel and smell, but her agony leaves her fingers clumsy, and she drops them onto the turf.
hells
Her head is swimming; she can't find them.
Just. Don't. Cry.
Valda is angry at the monster for beguiling her mind. She hacks at it several times with her sword once it is down, chopping its body into pieces. She dives beneath the water to retrieve the treasure, resurfacing and laying it out on the shore.
Once she realizes how badly hurt Veshka is, she moves to the god-caller's side. "You are injured. Do not fear. I will tend to you as you tended to me."
She places her hands on Veshka's shoulders. Unbidden, they begin to glow with the same silvery light as the mark on her belly. Valda's eyes widen in astonishment as the spark of her own divinity flows into Veshka as well, lessening her wounds. "Oh! That is something new!" she says in wonder.
"Good that we were the ones who ran into that creature. It's killed many before, and we could have lost members of the following."
And the following is too small already.
Hakata see's Veshka's pain and silently calls on the spirits to spread healing.
The White Rabbit seems to be pouting....
Strongjaw reassures him that it's not him, it's the other guy...
Tanngrisnir continues to chew on juicy grass.
Walking over to the barely injured Veshka, the Witch begins knitting her wounds up a bit.
The Goblin just smiles.
Veshka tenses against Valda's touch, but can't restrain a strangled sigh as her pain ebbs. By the time Strongjaw's hexes finish the job she's back to her normally snarling self.
Once everyone has been tended to and Valda has kicked the equine corpse a few more times, you set off again. You do not get very far, however before you spot a flat-bottomed barge poled by five ragged figures. A small supply shed is the only enclosed space on the barge; four crates are stacked around it. The five figures hide their faces beneath brown and blue cloaks, the make of which suggests they come from someplace far away.
Catching sight of you, the people on the boat wave to the party. They steer close to a rock overhang and gesture for the scouts to come closer.
Strongjaw peers intently at the flat-bottom barge being piloted by five ragged figures.
There seems to be a f+&~ing shit load of waterways here in the icy Tundra.
The White Rabbit is seen wearing a snorkel, rubber flippers and holding a rubber ducky.
Tanngrisnir is seen enjoying the products provided by the load of waterways here in the fantastic icy Tundra.
All three glance ip at the five ragged hidden faced figures with a shrug of the inevitable.
Valda narrows her eyes as the people wave. "Something is not right here. I do not trust this." She keeps a tight grip on her gleaming blade, letting the others interact with the boaters.
Kadosh nods. "Spirits protect us, I think you're right," he whispers, pulling out her bell to help ward off any danger.
"These are our lands," Veshka calls "Name yourselves."
Upon hearing Veshka's challenge, the figures exchange glances amongst themselves, their cloaked figures hunched and mysterious. Instead of answering directly, they respond with exaggerated gestures, pointing at their mouths and then at the sky, miming a vow of silence. Their performance is theatrical, yet unconvincing, a poorly executed charade that doesn't quite mask their true intentions.
One of them begins to showcase an assortment of trinkets and baubles, all of which appear enticing but are essentially worthless. He holds them up with a flourish, aiming to lure the scouts closer to the barge. As they do this, they edge their vessel towards the mossy rock overhang.
Mimicking the Shady cloaked and cover figures paddling all nonchalantly towards their position on shore, Strongjaw begins yelling at them!
The White Rabbit tugs on the goblin's sleeve.
I know for a fact that at a minimum, three of us will laugh.
Tanngrisnir continues to chew, although the goat does back that ass up and away from the immediate shore....
Valda rolls her eyes. "Ugh, these people are wasting our time. The Burning Mammoths are not far behind us. We need to keep moving!"
"You're right, Valda. Let's just move along," Hakata readies to continue scouting.
Sensing something is amiss and not interested in playing along with these strange people ahead, Valda and Hakata lead the scouts away from this area and head back towards the Following.
You watch over your shoulder as you depart, ensuring no one follows you. After you are confident no one is coming, you lead the Following onward.
Two days pass without incident and on the third day, you begin to move away from the river. You approach a seemingly serene river with the intent to replenish your water supplies. However, something ominous taints the tranquility of the scene. Floating dead fish mar the surface of the water, and a pungent, sickening odor permeates the air, signifying that all is not as it should be. The scouts' instincts are immediately on alert, their senses attuned to the subtle disturbances in nature's harmony.
Following the trail of death and decay, their gaze is drawn upstream, where the source of the contamination becomes apparent. There, a group of Burning Mammoth scouts are engaged in a vile task. They're meticulously slicing chunks from a contained, grotesque ooze and casting them into the river. The noxious protoplasm of the creature, a rime sludge, dissolves into the water, spreading poison with each addition.
”They are poisoning the water! We must stop them!” Valda declares, sword gleaming as she charges!
Veshka and Catamoch hurl themselves forward with a joyous squeal and a wordless roar of rage!
Valda charges at the lomgshield, her mark glowing!
Strongjaw watches the others begin to move away from the riverboat bums. The goblin states at them before joining his companions.
That was weird and probably portends ill.
Frowning at the dead fish floating freely flipping his flatulence, the goblin makes an apologetic face.
The White Rabbit is seen wearing a hazmat suit.
Tanngrisnir is seen eating at the wholesome floating foliage.
When the source of the banquet....disaster manifests, the trio spit at the Burning Mammoth asshats!
HP 28/28
AC 18
Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +6
Hero points: 1
Effects:
"Hey! Leave our waters alone!" Kadosh cries as he rushes forward with Valda. He fumbles for his proper talismans against this shield bearer, stumbling as he goes, while also trying to remember what he knows about the rime slime.
Valda opens the fight with a critical strike against the longshield Mammoth, able to get her blade in before he can raise his shield! Her blow nearly takes him to the ground, but he manages to stay upright.
The first burning mammoth circles behind her, flanking her with the longshield. He drives his spear into her back, critical wounding her. . Before she can recover, he jabs her again with the spear
Just as she turns to see what's going on behind her, the longshield jabs his spear into Valda's left thigh, nearly critically striking her as well.
The two remaining Burning Mammoths turn towards Kadosh as he approaches. They form a line with the other flanking Valda and fire a series of projectiles towards the Thaumaturge. He flourishes his bell as all four projectiles land around him, missing.
Kadosh focuses on the slime and identifies it as a Rime Sludge, remembering they have a weakness to fire.
HP 28/28
AC 18
Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +6
Hero points: 1
Effects:
"Thank you spirits for your protection," Kadosh breathes out, rushing to help Valda.
Hakata moves a bit closer and implores the spirits to mend Valda's wounds.
Veshka and Catamoch draw closer, Veshka's face tightening at Valda's injuries and the foes before them, but it is Catamoch who strikes the first blow between them!
Strongjaw Commands Tanngrisnir to Stride them to within 30' of the Burning Mammoth Band.
Seeing the wounds being tended to by Hakata, the Witch ecides to freeze Ray the longshield guy bothering Valda!
Valda cries out in pain as she is surrounded and stabbed repeatedly. She lashes out at the weaker enemies first, taking a moment afterwards to lay hands on herself.
Kadosh swings his battleaxe with a warrior's precision, striking a critical blow against the Burning Mammoth flanking Valda. While his second strike doesn't find its mark, Catamoch compensates by charging in with ferocity, his momentum bringing the enemy to a thunderous collapse.
Strongjaw, determined to assist Valda, struggles to find a clear shot at the Longshield for his ray of frost, his efforts hindered by the melee's chaos.
Amid the fray, Hakata positions himself within range of Valda. He utters a healing incantation, his spell weaving through the air to mend some of her injuries.
Revitalized by Hakata's healing, Valda turns to face the two remaining, less formidable Burning Mammoths. A fierce resolve ignites within her as she executes a stunning display of martial prowess, dispatching each enemy with a single, decisive blow.
Seeing the tide of battle turn, the Longshield, in a desperate move, leaps onto the wagon. With a swift push, he sends the cage containing the injured sludge creature tumbling towards Valda. The cage shatters upon impact, releasing the ooze. Despite its evident injuries from being harvested by the Burning Mammoths, it still possesses enough life to threaten the scouts. The creature oozes towards Valda, extending a pseudopod that strikes her with a toxic force.
Tanngrisnir pulls up 10' short of Valda's position, the goat splashing a bit as the ooze is thrust in their general direction!
Strongjaw makes a sound at the sudden violence perpetuated by said disgusting ooze!
The White Rabbit is seen wearing a gas mask.
Shaking his hands in the air, one directed at the ooze the other at Valda!
Clinging Ice
Hakata feels battle spirits fill his arms, and he fires off two shots at the remaining Burning Mammoth.
for
for
HP 28/28
AC 18
Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +6
Hero points: 1
Effects:
Kadosh racks his memory for stories and legends of what this thing might be -- and for a change knows! He brings his axe down on it in brutal thrust.
Veshka sends Catamoch racing around to aid Kadosh in his battle while she spits out bolts of wrathful lightning at the Burning Mammoth and his pet.
Valda shifts her immanence into her blade as she slices at the ooze! The divine spark moves back to her mark thereafter.
Hakata, grappling with a sudden cramp in his hand, fires off two arrows. Hindered by the discomfort, his shots veer off course, missing their intended targets entirely.
In the heat of battle, Kadosh experiences a moment of clarity. His mind races, piecing together his knowledge about the sludge's defenses and vulnerabilities, equipping him with valuable insight for the confrontation.
Kadosh and Valda, capitalizing on this newfound understanding, launch vigorous attacks on the sludge. Their strikes, powerful enough to be critical under normal circumstances, meet an unexpected resistance, as the creature demonstrates an innate resilience against their efforts.
Noxious Sublimation The first time each round that the rime sludge takes fire damage, a cloud of sickening decay roils outward, dealing 2d6 poison damage (DC 17 basic Fortitude save) to all creatures in a 10-foot emanation. A creature that fails its saving throw is also sickened 1 (or sickened 3 on a critical failure).
Strongjaw's spellcraft, aimed at weakening the ooze, seems to have no effect; the creature remains unaffected by the icy chill of his magic.
Veshka, harnessing the potency of her electrical abilities, targets both the Burning Mammoth and the ooze. The electricity courses through them, causing the ooze to shudder and then cease its movement, collapsing into a deflated heap.
The Burning Mammoth Longshield, Baraga, thunders with fierce determination, banging his spear against his shield. "I am Baraga, and I will not fall to capture!" he bellows. With a swift movement, he hops off the wagon, his focus shifting towards Kadosh. Charging with a battle-hardened ferocity, Baraga thrusts his spear at Kadosh, his aim true this time. The spear finds its target, wounding Kadosh with a forceful jab. He then raises his shield defensively, bracing himself for the ongoing clash, his stance embodying the grit and resolve of a seasoned warrior.
”I am Valda, and I will be your end!” Valda proclaims. She steps up and attacks Baraga.
Strongjaw tosses a raspberry at the deflated Jelly!
The Witch then smiles wickedly at the lone remaining shield-lover flipping a gold piece!
The Witch then Hexes him!
Hakata frowns at the attacker's bravado and silently looses two arrows at him.
for
for
Veshka snarls out a wordless imprecation, stoking the fires of Catamoch's wrath.
Catamoch slashes his tusks along the back of Baraga's legs, hammering into him with all his porcine mass.
HP 21/28
AC 18
Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +6
Hero points: 1
Effects:
"Ow!" Kadosh mutters in pain as he switches his focus to the remaining foe.
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In the ensuing melee, the party struggles to land their blows on Baraga, each of their attacks failing to connect. Amidst the flurry of missed opportunities, however, Catamoch seizes a moment of vulnerability. The boar, with remarkable precision, targets the Burning Mammoth's legs, unleashing a powerful crush with the sheer force of his hooves. He follows up with a vicious gore from his tusks.
Baraga, quick to react despite the surprise, manages to maneuver his shield to mitigate the impact. His efforts are only partially successful; while he deflects some damage, Catamoch's critical strike still inflicts a significant injury. The Longshield stumbles under the force of the assault, his resilience tested by the boar's formidable attack.
Retaliating, the Longshield slams his shield into Catamoch before raising it again.