"We don't want to die hunting though..."
"Aye, I agree with Violant. We've only just arrived here and aren't familiar with the beasts here. Some medium-sized game like a deer should be our target."
Stom nudges Oppa gently and laughes. "Oppa, just make sure Doxie doesn't have too much of a snake!"
Oppa's eyes light up with excitement at the thought of such a magnificent Waterbuck (And what it might guard).
"Well the deer might be Okay... but we can do that anywhere. Think about it... Fate brought us here for a reason. I'll go along with the group, but would love to be part of a real tale for the ages".
Doxie beats her wings sensing Oppa's excitement.
"If we die, I'm... wait do I know how to do that still? I'll figure out if we ever get in enough danger."
”Yes, good idea a medium sized creature would work great. Let’s go after the water buck. “
Deciding on tackling this menace of a Waterbuck that has caused numerous problems for the tribe, your group sets out, Akosa taking the lead, "What you see is very dangerous prey, my hunters will be positioned to help out, but the Mangrove Swamp this beast resides in makes recovery difficult,"
Indeed he leads you through the Jungle the small band of hunters flitting through the trees around you, Renali pales a bit, "I will allow you the honor of felling this beast, I'll watch from the perimeter though,"
Nketiah follows closely behind with Violant, "you all are very brave, this creature, Thornsoul, is a menace to the village, you'd do a great service defeating it, though our hunters have never been able to bring it down, the Mangrove swamp it inhabits, makes things difficult. The water isn't deep," Looking at Stom and Oppa, "Well, deep for us, they might struggle,"
Indeed, the hunters lead to you deeper into the swamp, the Mangroves has a small rickety wooden bridge-structure for getting deeper in, though it feels like it might break at any moment. The green algae makes looking into the swamp almost impossible.
Lyra leads the way into the swamp. "We will do our best to slay the beast and free the village from its menacing actions."
Lyra pulls her shield from her back and locks it into place on her arm, preparing herself for the waterbuck to spring forth. Once its in place her reaches out and touches Stom on the arm. Giving him a boost of heroic power. "Viilkiths shutlif"
Stom nods at the party and readies himself for battle. "Our best chance is to focus on attacks before the beast has time to react. Everyone ready?"
With a blessing, Stom feels heroic as he leads the group through the rickety, mist enshrouded mangrove swamp, wary of every bird that flies off, or snake that slithers through the water away from your group.
As your group proceeds to the end of the dock, there are a number of broken canoes that look to have been smashed to pieces but there is no sight of the Waterbuck, however it isn't long before the water erupts as a massive, white Waterbuck bursts from below the algae and lilypads.
It raises its head and looks like it would be emitting a long, loud brassy bugle however no sound can be heard though small waves rock the water as if there were phantom sound waves before it lowers its head and looks at you with red, hate-filled eyes with an intelligence far beyond a normal animal.
The Waterbuck seizes the initiative and charges forward lowering its massive, spiked horns as it rams into Stom.
+
As it got closer to everyone, you all were plunged into an unnatural, silence!
Round 1 - What the Waterbuck is that?
Waterbuck(Thornsoul) -
Samael -
Oppa -
Violant -
Lyra -
Stom - 23 damage, 5 bleed
"by her Flame! Look at the beast!"
Lyra calls upon the light of Saranrae and asks for blessing to be bestowed upon her companions. In a loud voice she casts a spell. "Kiggitha bluutiry fullip ahrikkk"
She then throws her hand out towards the Waterbuck and send her trusty needle darts flying towards it.
Violant first tries to recall if this kind of creature is weak to any damage.
Then she sets up an elemental zone, assuming that it's not immune to every element at once.
◆ Samael will run to the end of the dock, and leap onto the northernmost canoe.
◆ He will draw a dagger.
◆
Lyra overpowers the creatures aura of silence through willpower alone before issuing a blessing to her allies.
Violant isn't sure this thing has any weaknesses, she believes its willpower to mind attacks might be its worst save though.
Samael leaps onto the northernmost canoe, flipping gracefully before stabbing it in the flank.
Round 1 - What the Waterbuck is that?
Waterbuck(Thornsoul) - 9 damage
Samael -
Oppa/Doxie -
Violant -
Lyra -
Stom - 23 damage, 5 bleed
◆ Stride for better view
◆◆ CAST: Lightning Bolt (DC18 Basic Reflex Save).
Electricity Damage
"Whoa! That things a lot bigger than I thought it was. Doxie wait up a bit before going in for the kill. Let us soften it up a bit with magic".
Stom steps gingerly to the edge of the dock, careful to keep his feet firmly planted on the wooden planks.
◆ Step
◆◆ Intimidating Strike
Oppa strafes to get a better angle on the creature before letting rip a massive bolt of lightning that causes the air in the swamp to slightly ignite and smell like burnt ozone.
Its able to dodge the brunt of the damage, throwing a malevolent glare Oppa's way.
Stom wary of the end of the dock he is fighting on, not sure how rickety it really is, attempts to swing, putting all his weight behind the blow he loses balance and misses the creature badly.
It shakes violently as a number of blood bone shards rip free of its hide, hovering before it launches them at Oppa.
It then gores Stom and kicks at Samael.
Round 2 - What the Waterbuck is that?
Waterbuck(Thornsoul) - 20 damage
Samael - 11 damage
Oppa/Doxie - 20 damage
Violant -
Lyra -
Stom - 37 damage, 5 bleed,
Lyra continues to cast her bless spell upon her allies and then attempts to throw some needle darts towards the waterbuck.
"NULLISH CRAAALIFK!"
Violant looks more-than-a-bit-nervous, as she's an academic first and foremost and the combat... is really starting to get to her as she's seen visibly shaking. When will this adventure end?
She then hurls her dagger at the creature, hoping to do something other than magic as she casts hand of the apprentice. She then motions for everyone to be careful as she finally casts Fireball, and prepares another one of her newly-prepared spells, still cursing herself for assuming most of what they were going up against would be humans without ungodly reflexes
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Wooden Double:
A wooden double appears out of nowhere and takes the blow in your place. Take a Step action. A wooden block of your size and roughly shaped like you appears in the space you left and absorbs the hit. This block has Hardness 5 and 20 Hit Points. If the wooden block is destroyed, you take any excess damage that the block didn't absorb. After taking the blow, the wooden block collapses into a pile of splinters and dust.
Heightened (+1) The block's Hit Points increase by 10.
"Go hide Doxie. I got this one".
Oppa then bends over grabs a handful of swamp mud and slings it at the creature.
◆ CAST: Lifelink Surge on Doxie (Fast healing 6 for four rounds)
◆◆ CAST: Exploding Earth
Hurl mud ball
Hero Point
Hurl Mud ball (HP)
Bludgeoning Damage
Bludgeoning Splash Damage
"Cover your eyes". Oppa yells at the melee creatures.
"Damn, this thing hits hard!" Stom quickly wraps some strips of cloth around the worst of his wounds. Then, he slashes at the creature, hoping for a better result than his first swing!
◇ Release one hand
◆ Battle Medicine w/ Assurance
◆ Regrip axe
◆ Strike
Lyra maintains her bless and supports Stom and Samael with some needle darts which slam into the rough hide.
Oppa pulls some magic sheninigans to avoid the brunt of the damage from the Bone spike by poofing into a cloud of smoke before revealing a wooden replica of Oppa empaled with the bone spike. He returns the favor by launching an exploding scoop of mud at the Waterbuck.
Violant hurls Voz's old dagger, it slams into the creature and with Saranrae's blessing accompanying just barely manages to punch through and slice the creature. Before the fireball whams into with a sudden explosion of swamp gas.
And the fireball catches it off guard as so many different slices and cuts wears its attention thin.
Sam feints as the fireball clouds the creatures vision just long enough for the young rogue to deliver a blistering slice to one of its legs. Its bellows in rage as the blood starts to pour, mixing into the swampy mangrove water.
Stom applies some quick acting guaze to one of his puncture wounds before following up with a massive battle axe strike to the creature's chest.
It staggers and bellows silently, enraged as it nears death, waves of water radiating away from it, spreading its blood through the swamp before it launches a bone spike at Violant.
It'll then try to gore Samael before kicking Stom.
The bone spike slams into Violant but the creature struggles with the blood loss to land a blow on Samael or Stom!
Round 3 - What the Waterbuck is that?
Waterbuck(Thornsoul) - 123 damage
Samael ☘️ - 11 damage
Oppa/Doxie ☘️ - Fast Healing 6,
Violant ☘️ - 19 damage
Lyra ☘️ -
Stom ☘️ - 25 damage
Lyra again focuses on maintain her bless giving everyone the holy support she can offer. "Quick! its not looking too good!"
"NULLISH CRAAALIFK!" She yells once again as she throws more darts towards the waterbuck.
Violant reacts with cowardice, pausing as she prepares a 2-round long spell to hopefully keep the creature well enough away from her to not gore her. She makes broad motions to shape the cone of elemental energy that will outpour from her hands, and also signalling everyone to get away from it lest they be shredded.
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Hearing Violant's warning, Stom yells out. "Let me get a few swipes in before you fire!"
◆◆ Intimidating Strike
◆ Strike
Lyra tries to launch another wave of needle darts but the action is too intense and she fails to find her mark, needles going well wide into the swamp.
Violant begins to charge up a massive spell, elemental energy gathers around her, swirling and mixing with flower petals and leaves from around the mangrove swamp, green light mixing between the leaves and flowers, her hair starting to float.
Samael and Stom stick to good old fashioned melee, weaving a mix of Axe and Dagger combos, Though the creature good and enraged is just barely able to fend the two of them off, though Samael gets in a good slice on the off guard Waterbuck.
The Waterbuck is not looking good.
Round 3 - What the Waterbuck is that?
Waterbuck(Thornsoul) - 137 damage
Samael ☘️ - 11 damage
Oppa/Doxie ☘️ - Fast Healing 6
Violant ☘️ - 19 damage
Lyra ☘️ -
Stom ☘️ - 25 damage
Oppa confidence high at her earlier attack makes use of the debris she just tossed at the creature and picks it up intending to pelt her with it.
◆◆ CAST: (Scatter Scree) - DC 21 Basic Reflex Save
Bludgeoning
◆ Boost Eidolon
Scatter Scree
Cantrip | Concentrate | Earth | Manipulate
Range 30 feet; Area two contiguous 5-foot cubes
Defense basic Reflex;
Duration 1 minute
A jumble of rocks cascades into the area. the scattering rocks deal 4d4 bludgeoning damage (basic Reflex save). the ground in the area becomes difficult terrain for the duration of the spell. A creature can Interact to clear a square of this scree. If you cast this spell again, any previous scatter scree you've cast ends.
Heightened (+1) the damage increases by 1d4.
"Get ready Girl. Might be time to tap into the scrum soon".
Oppa continues the offensive, launching a scattering of rock, though less explosive this time.
The creature summons what little strength it has to just barely avoid the brunt of the rocks before going through one slew of attacks, its eyes wide with fear of death, white foam as it breaths heavily, lashing out one final time.
With a shuddering, silent cry, Thornsoul’s body violently spasms and detonates a burst of cursed bone shards in all directions.
Blood pours from numerous open wounds, the creature is severely weakened, its what little remains of its hide in tatters as its lost most of its exterior bone armor.
Round 4 - What the Waterbuck is that?
Waterbuck(Thornsoul) - 143 damage
Samael ☘️ - 11 damage
Oppa/Doxie ☘️ - Fast Healing 6
Violant ☘️ - 19 damage
Lyra ☘️ -
Stom ☘️ - 25 damage
Stom attempts to dodge out of the way of the bone shards.
Remembering Violant's words of warning, Stom swings once more at the waterbuck before retreating out of the way of the blast. "To cover!
◆◆ Intimidating Strike
◆ Stride
Reflex: Oppa
"Whoa! I wish that thing would quit doing that".
Violant just stares there... dumbfounded as she gets spattered with blood and bone, effectively killing her concentration.
The creature staggers, blood pouring from many various wounds, as Stom slices into the creature, its eyes roll back into its skulls just as and Violant, blood soaked and stunned releases a blast of energy that vaporizes the rest of the creature.
The elves that were hunting with you come out of the nearby mangrove trees, they had positioned themselves to be able to watch from a health distance. Akosa claps softly, "Better that the creature be killed, wouldn't have been able to eat it anyways, I had the rest of my hunters securing some deer and rabits for tonights meal while you handled Thornsoul. May the creature find some peace in the afterlife, it certainly didn't find in this,"
"everyone gather close, "Klllarkisha Sarenrae brisshhraka liikk" The holy symbol of Sarenrae upon her shield began to glow.
Violant wipess the blood and bone out of her eyes. "Ptah... why does any creature need a defence like that."
Stom nods to Lyra in thanks. "Still have a gash on my neck, but a night's rest will take care of most of that."
He then turns to elves and grunts in appreciation. "Looks like you lot fared better than us on the hunt. Though, as you say, that huge beast likely wasn't edible. Is that Thornsoul creature known in these parts?"
Akosa shrugs, "I'm not sure, the Mwangi Jungle and the blood and remnants of the Great Darkness have left many monstrosities cropping up, even after all this time,"
Nketiah, your elven guide and linguist, jumps in, "And that story of the Great Darkness is one for tonight, after the feast! Come on, we better hurry back, I got a Message and the twin rulers of the Leopard Clan wish to meet you all before the feast takes place,"
"Fantastic! lets go! I love a good story. Did I ever tell you of my favorite story i learned while studying with the Saranrites? It has to do with The Dawnflower and her two lovers.."
Lyra continues telling her story during the walk back. She slips in and out of Orcish and Common while telling the story.
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"The wandering Chamberlain that introduced me to Alseta told me both of the kinds of people become chamberlains -- surprisingly lots of alchemists -- and a few stories of what she's done. But She's nowhere as prolific as Sarenrae, so I don't have a favorite," Violant says as Lyra veers into religious territory.
"See Doxie. You don't always have to jump in an bit whatever threatens me. I've got some... skills".
Oppa walks with Doxie hand on her head. Doxie seems a bit despondent that she didn't get to taste that big, ugly deer.
Being led back to the elven city, you guys rush to clean up from the swamp fight, magic aiding greatly, before meeting the twin rulers. They don't have throne room, rather you all are led to an empty platform made from woven tree branches.
Standing in the center of the platform are two elves, as you arrive, they say as one in Elven with Nketiah translating for those of you that don't speak elven, "We are Ose Panin and Ose Atsu of the Leopard Clan. Our mother is of the Heart Clan," Ose Panin wears a patterned green dress and copper jewelry studded with uncut gems, while Ose Atsu wears a dark blue tunic covered with amulets wrapped in copper and green cloth. Both twins wear black leather sandals decorated with copper amulets and have long hair arranged in thick locks.
Ose Panin steps forward, “You have come through Huntergate—clues of your journey have reached us. Still, we desire to know you, not just your deeds.”
In tandem, Ose Atsu steps up as well, “Tell us about your kin, your livelihoods, what you hold dear. But do not speak only of tales. Tell us why these things matter.”
Lyra steps forward and bows.
"I am Lyra Flamecrest of the Saranrite Clan and my mother was of the Lastwall Clan. I became a devotee of Saranrae at a young age and learned her ways of walking in her Light and that all, no matter their deeds can be redeemed. My blood kin are no longer alive, but the clerics, they took me in and made me into one of their own. And for that and for my Lady FireSword I will be eternally grateful."
"Violant Jetry Turra, originally of Lastwall, alumna of Twilight Academy in Varisia, and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Lepidstadt in Ustalav. My father is from Lastwall, as well as countless generations of his family. And my mother is from Kyonin. They... are no longer with us, suffice to say. I am simultaneously proud and ashamed to say that is all I know of my kin, as I would rather be defined by my own actions and what I bring to the table rather than those of a family that is no longer here."
She then takes a breath, "At the lowest point in my life, upwards of a decade ago, a wandering chamberlain showed me Alseta's faith, and ever since I've been a devoted follower. If different sources of magic were easier to utilize, I would probably be a Cleric myself since the Welcomer has helped me so much. I wish to help you in any way I can, as I feel as if I was meant to go through the aiaduras dedicated to The Welcomer."
"Hi! I'm Oppa and this here is Doxie. She's a real dragon and my best friend".
Doxie puffs forth a small ball of frost onto a nearby leaf.
"Last time I was home I had 11 brothers and sisters, but that changes frequently. We all love each other very much and I miss them all the time, but me and Doxie need to make our own way in life. Fate kind of led us to Breachill and all these new friends".
His smile as he looks at each friend in turn is genuine and gigantic.
"Me and Doxie hate it when big things pick on little things and we like to even up the odds".