Ahhh! I'm so sorry I missed all this discussion! We had a long weekend here and we were away Friday-Monday. I did enjoy the game. Great ideas GM, I was looking forward to seeing what was going to come of it. Best of luck to everyone
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Amara decides to brave the pit and eases her way down.
Upon reaching the bottom she edges away from the diced corpses. She hears Havak's request and searches the ground for any tracks that might indicate survivors.
She advances carefully on, ever wary for another trap. She examines the area for remains of other intruders that may have triggered a hidden trap. Reaching the apparent end of the hallway she also tries to determine if there is any way to move on.
With Sansa's light as an aid Amara also joins the group in peering down the shaft.
Not wanting to split up the group on what might be a long and difficult search, Amara suggests they put off trying to pick up the trail until the cache is explored. She returns with Sansa and Quinn to the others and sees them peering down a hole. She looks through the door but can't see much though the smell does leave some clues as to what lies below. As Havak relates what he sees she asks, Is there any indication as to how old the bodies are or how they died? She tries to judge by the smell of decomposition how old they are.
Amara relates what little she knows about the area to the others then more closely examines the tracks trying to determine if they were just passing through or if they had a particular interest in this spot. She follows them a little ways, trying to judge where they were headed and/or from which way they came.
Amara is a little put off by the brief clouding of her vision but as it comes back quickly she just puts it down to the stress of the past few days. Examining the area around the ruins for signs of tracks or that anything has been recently disturbed, Amara tries to recall if Samel or anyone else told her what used to stand here.
Amara sees that everyone looks like they are ready to go and ensures that the fire is out. Not that it could really do any more damage. She gathers up her meager belongings and asks Havak for the map. I don't think we should have much problem finding this, I recognize the landmarks on this map; it is near the graveyard. Let's go. She shoulders her quiver and bow and heads out.
Amara looks around and realizes that although this has been her home all her life there is nothing left here for any of them. Five people can't rebuild a community. But where will we go? She looks at the others, You are right Sansa, we can't really stay here, but I know no other place, have never traveled beyond this town. Perhaps Elarya or Havak, who have at least lived outside this place, might know of a nearby town. Havak's mention of the treasure brings a quick light of curiosity into her eyes. Perhaps Garrett is right and the treasure is the key.
Seeing that everyone appears to be done eating Amara stands and wipes her hands. We should hide what little we don't want to carry with us as best we can.
Amara heads back to their camp with Sansa and prepares the hares. She spits them over the coals of the fire and attempts to preserve the skins like Samel taught her.
Amara awoke with a start, not sure what had wakened her. The sun was just beginning to brighten the night sky when she noticed the dancing form of, Elarya?! She watched the girl for a moment, admiring the beauty of her movements. She looked around the fire making note of the other figures lying or seated there. Sansa, with her strange new companion, was even more enigmatic and ethereal. Havak did not seem much changed, but with him it was hard to say; he didn't really open up much. Garrett, always very responsible, seemed even more careworn. His words from last night came again to mind, "We can't expect to stay here forever.",he said. But where will we go? Amara decided to focus on one thing at a time and right now that thing was food. She did not need any help finding food but decided to wait for Sansa to join her because she said she wanted to and Amara couldn't deny their overpowering need to do something. Amara pushed all thoughts of those lost away for fear she would start crying again. Seeing Sansa awake she says, "My belly is urging me to be expedient in finding food. Has anyone checked to see if there is any usable fishing gear left? Maybe someone could try for a few fish." Leaving the others with that thought she turns to Sansa, "Shall we be off?" She gathers her bow and quiver and prepares to head into the forest.
Amara smiles at the strange, quiet girl and settles herself near the fire. "The hall is the only structure with even a hint of a roof, but I don't think it's going to rain. I will stay by the fire tonight." Amara stares into the fire, her mind recalling the last encounters she had with her family: her mother's smile, her brothers' teasing, her father's rough hands as he mended a fishing net. Tears again start to fall from her eyes but they are silent, as if she doesn't even notice. Having essentially woken up from a two year sleep Amara is not really tired and stays awake long into the night, refueling the fire as necessary, but eventually the hypnotic flames cause her to drift to sleep. And her dreams are filled with the sight of the town on fire and people screaming.
Amara is not really sure what to say to Elarya but is sympathetic to the girl's distress. "One incident does not make a pattern. You fought bravely against Jerem and what has happened now is no fault of yours."
I think I can find the place indicated easily enough."
Amara guides the morose girl back to the others where she addresses them all. "We are all each of us has left, as far as we know, we will be relying on each other for much in the coming days and weeks and we have many decisions to make. I think it would be wise to learn as much as we can about each other and to keep as few secrets as possible. To this end Elarya would like to share her story with us." Amara sits down with the others and faces the tall, usually imposing, girl with encouragement in her eyes.
"Come back with me and share it with all of us, the only ones any of us have left."
Amara is getting annoyed with Elarya's self pity and snaps at her.
She sees the striken look in Elarya's eyes and softens her tone. "We are all gathered at the town hall. Come with me and at least we and you can do nothing with us instead of here." chooses to go with Amara:
She holds out her hand to the girl and leads her back to the others. chooses to stay behind: She shrugs and says, "You know where to find us if you change your mind, remember, there has been something here whose tracks I can't identify so either way be careful." Amara then heads back towards the others.
"I will see if I can find her. I'm sure she would have headed home first so I will start there."
Amara makes her way way from the others towards the smithy. She listens in the growing dark for any strange sounds and keeps her eyes pealed for the tell-tale glow of eyes.
She at first sees nothing upon entering the smithy but soon finds Elarya huddled on the floor gazing with unseeing eyes. Knowing her volatile nature and seeing her cradling a sword, Amara does not immediately approach her but instead calls, "Elarya, are you all right? Are you injured?" She receives no reply and tries again, "Elarya, the others have gathered by the town hall." She is not sure if Elarya is ignoring her or actually can't hear her but either way she is not getting a response. Not sure what to do but knowing Elarya has a very strong sense of duty she takes a breath and yells, "Elarya! We need you! There are strange tracks in the town! There could be danger!"
Amara realizes the sense Sansa makes and agrees to search the buildings but has a word of warning. "I have noticed both goblin tracks and other tracks I cannot identify. They are humanoid and varied in size. Please be careful and perhaps keep an eye out for anymore and anything else unusual. The track seemed to head for the cliffs near the sea.' She looks at the sky noting the cloud patterns and the smell in the air trying to determine what the weather has in store for them this evening. She then turns slowly and proceeds to go in a different direction than the others in an effort to cover more ground. She also pays attention to the structure of the buildings to see if any might be useful for providing safe shelter.
"I will gladly take the arrows but I have my shortbow if someone else would like the crossbow." GM: I was reading the Campaign info again and noticed the part about the heirloom item. I either missed it the first time or didn't think there was a way to work it into my character that was realistic. If it makes sense perhaps Amara could find something in the ruins. Or Samel liked to camp out a lot maybe he had a special place in the forest Amara knew about where he kept a small cache of items. If it doesn't work out that is fine with me. It was just a thought.
Amara picks up the coat, amazed that it was not destroyed, and fingers the familiar stitching. She puts it on hoping to feel the warmth of her mother around her once again. She carries the small copper box with her from Samel's noting with chagrin that the only thing she has to remember him is the only thing he had to remember his daughter. She makes her way shakily back to the centre of town to the Town Hall where all of this seemed to have started. Once there she falls to the ground and sobs huge, body shuddering tears. After about 10 minutes her eyes are raw, her throat sore and her tears are gone. She lays in the dirt for a few more minutes, What am I going to do? She hears a noise and remembers that she is not alone. There are at least four others who have lost as much as she. She stumbles to her feet and goes in search of them. She notices again the strange tracks seemingly leading to the cliffs and bends down to examine them more closely. She makes a note to bring them to the attention of the others in case there might be danger and is extra alert for foreign sounds or sights.
Yikes! Been dreaming about turning into a tree? lol
After she has gleaned all she can she makes her way with a heavy heart to Samel's to go through the process once again. As she passes through the town she tries to take it all in but there is just so much...wrong.
As Amara heads into the town with the others she begins to get more and more disturbed about what they will, or more importantly won't, find. Where is my family? They wouldn't have left me lying on the grass. Samel is gone and I saw him lying there; he would not have left without me. What if everyone is gone; what if everyone is dead! Usually always sunny and optimistic Amara is unable to imagine any scenario that will not leave her emotionally devastated. Tears start to stream silently down her face as she walks.
It is done :)
Amara is momentarily stunned by the indications she sees in the trees, It's, it's not possible... She hastily makes her way to the huge black tree and the only others she can see. The assumptions that Amara made when she saw the trees is now confirmed when she sees her companions. They all seem so much older! Sansa must have noticed Amara's evaluating looks and Amara is brought back to, the present??, by her question.
She again notices the little fox, seemingly unafraid and unfazed, by Sansa's side and notes the intelligence in its eyes. They reminded her of Rook and she immediately searches the sky and ground nearby looking for signs of the black bird, calling him with both her voice and in her mind.
Amara stood up from tending Samel and then the earth shook, unable to keep her balance she fell back to the ground beside him and everything went black. She wasn't sure what woke her any more than she knew what caused the earth to tremble, but upon regaining her senses Amara paused. Things did not seem...correct. She slowly got to her feet, noting a moment of dizziness, and turned to where Corvina had once stood. She saw now a huge tree with no hint that it had once been the mystical woman although the odd colours intimated some kind of unnatural origin. Like a bolt of lightening the events leading up to her blackout are recalled and after quickly assessing that she is in no immediate danger, she is then hit by the stillness and calm. Where is everyone? she wonders to herself, What happened to everyone? She can see movement near the tree and recognizes some others regaining their senses. Havak is instantly recognizable as is the well built figure of Garrett. She identifies Elarya as she runs past her almost in a blur, blonde hair whipping out behind her and her face a mask of concern. The other figure she is unsure of, until she sees the dark hair floating almost like a halo around the small figure, ahh, Sansa, and what is that near her? A fox! How odd. She then looks to the sky, The clouds don't seem right and the sun is definitely not in the same position. She estimates the time of day.
Happy Easter to you too :)
So excited to level. Is Amara within 100' of the tree? Here is my HP roll
Amara bends down to check Samel for signs of life and to staunch the flow of blood.
Having tended to him as best she can she reluctantly leaves him to head into the fray heedless of what is happening around the tree form of Corvina. Her only thought is,
Whenever a target comes within prime range of her bow she grimly continues her task. She attempts to target those actively attacking the villagers.
Amara continues towards Samel but continues to look for any members of her family. Noticing the flames she strains to see if she can tell if her own home may be ablaze. She fires another arrow at the nearest foe and hoping to rally the townsfolk cries out, "Jerem is dead!"
Seeing the immediate threat contained Amara scans the area for any sign of her family and makes her way to where Samel fell, firing at the nearest foe.
Amara exults to see Jerem finally fall but is dismayed the other horrors haven't disappeared or fled.
The jolt from touching Corvina's hand subsides and though Amara wavers she does not fall. As the tension eases from her she feels a calmness and turns toward Jerem once again, more determined than ever to remove his scourge from the town. Setting another arrow she fires on him with blood in her eyes.
Finally her arrow strikes true at the foul creature called Jerem!
Maybe not worth it then. I will just have to more diligent.
My home game is going to move to paizo soon so that should give me another reminder to check. I can't seem to find how to subscribe to the RSS feed but some more digging should turn it up. May not be helpful if I have to be in a browser to see it though. Thanks for the tip though, I will still try it out.
Amara wipes the sweat from her eyes as she hastily nocks another arrow and aims it at the hated Jerem. She fires at him and retreats to the new form of Corvina, reaching out to her red hand.
I'm still here.
Sorry about my delaying things. I won't let it happen again.
Amara is steels herself as the chaos continues around her. The riddle Corvina put to her must wait as Jerem bears down on her and her friends seem in no position to ponder its meaning. If she means do we want to fight or try our luck in the next life, I choose her and now! "Corvina! Aid us in saving the townsfolf and destroying the attackers!" Amara begs as she once more sets jerem in her sights.
Amara is almost weeping in frustration as her arrow once again misses the learing Jerem. She backs away from him further hoping to avoid his wicked blade.
GM: Amara is accustomed to Corvina's riddle way of speaking but is confused by her words; What is she talking about? The bleeding has already started! Is she saying none of this is real?! and that if I close my eyes I will wake up from this as if it was a bad dream?
She is reminded of her odd recent dream and the strange suddeness in which the attackers appeared, as if from nowhere. What the heck, it is worth a shot. She briefly closes her eyes and imagines the scene as it normally would be.
"Samel!" Amara screams as Jerem's wicked weapon brings Samel to his knees. She can see the malice in his eyes and the sadistic pleasure he is getting from the carnage. Determined not to be another one of his victims she again attempts to skewer him.
Luck is not with Amara her arrow flies past Jerem and he grins mockingly at her. She backs away from him with fear showing in her eyes as she tries to keep out of the reach of his attack.
Losing sight of her family in the chaos, fear and anger course through Amara as she witnesses the horrors befalling the townsfolk. She steps out of range of any attacker and lets her arrow fly toward Jerem, the cause of this day's massacre, hoping to at least make his life a little more miserable.
Wishing she could turn her bow upon Jerem, Amara realizes she needs to defend herself and instead steps back and fires upon the immediate foe. |