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Getting up from a crouch, Ash informs the group that it looks like the soldiers were ambushed, but it's difficult to tell more that that. Accepting the Silversheen, he continues, "Should we continue on to the mine first? Regardless, I agree that we should set up camp and hold position until we figure out a little more about what's going on here. The Pascha sent troops to deal with the undead, and the boats refer to our landing, but what about the raiders we're here to counter?"
Ash gives a look around, trying to find a sign of what might have happened here, hopefully before everyone else contaminates the scene.
"Ugh. Take a look," Ash calls out as he waves the others over.
Ash turns and looks at the group behind him, a bewildered expression on his face. The lack of any movement, other than the birds, puts him somewhat at ease, and he walks toward the sound.
Ash gives Crisk another shrug, as if to say, "Eh," and pitches the stone toward the center of the perceived clearing.
Thinking it might just be an animal, Ash searches the ground for any tracks. While doing so, and sword in hand, he picks up a sizable rock, looks back at the others, and motions to indicate he's going to throw it.
Ash points to a spot about 15' to the west of the trail. Ducking into a crouch, he puts his bow on the ground, and draws his sword.
Ash pulls up short and stops, holding his hand up to silently indicate everyone else should do the same. "Sssst! Raj! Here boy," he calls. DMender:
Spoiler:
Ash catches bits of conversation, but is more occupied with the tracks crossing the trails.
Ash drops back to speak with the group, without keeping his eyes off their surroundings. In a whisper, he says, "There are tracks of other races, mostly from human and common raks travelling across our trail. Stay alert." He then retakes his position on the point, moving carefully down the trail.
Ash takes point, bow drawn and arrow nocked. "All eyes," he says, before embarrassingly remembering that he led the group into an ambush. Just the same, he keeps his own eyes sweeping over the terrain for anything unusual, including out of place tracks.
After things settle down, Ash steps toward Daiwak, almost bumping chest to chest with him. "We're here to assist with the larger problem of raiders that are setting upon numerous villages. Would you have us abandon those people? These decisions are tough, but do not imply that we don't care what happens to this one village." With that said, he turns and backs off.
As Ash listens, he bends over the corpse, and Raj scrambles over and climbs on to his back. Standing, he takes the monkeyin his arms, and pets his head. Listening to the others, he nods attentively, but adds, "Dram is right, I'm afraid, Manhuman. We are equipped to handle such a task, nor do we have time. An army marches behind us, and we need to provide for their needs first. We can send word to our commander, and perhaps they can help you, or free us to do so."
Ash watches with some surprise as the perverted form of what was once a proud Naga warrior drops to the ground. After a moment's pause, he prods the (still?) lifeless corpse with his sword, and then remarks, "We should probably burn the body, just to be safe."
Ash yells, "Somebody get a torch!" as he keeps up the attack, pressing hard with all his strength.
Having moved up on Vik's right, Ash now steps left to catch the undead monstrosity between himself and Dram. Again, the young man swings his sword in a powerful arc, this time horizontally, hoping to end the fight as quickly as possible.
As Raj scampers off the the shadows, Ash draws his sword, and surges into place next to the little halfling. With all his strength he brings his sword down over his head, putting all of his strength into his blow.
Ash ponders the cold body, new moons and mists while he absent-mindedly pets Raj. "Could it have been some sort of spell?" he asks no one in particular.
Ash remains unusually quiet throughout the initial confrontation with the naga, the trip to their village, and their brief time as guests. It's not lost on him that these naga are a good bit different in how they converse & interact, and don't appear nearly as submissive as the others they met in Yaghilla. When the older naga appears with his entourage and chastises Jashdeep, Ash stands up, holding Raj, and ignoring the weapons which he has discarded nearby. "It's true," he says with a bow, "as my friend says, we are part of a mercenary force. We are an forward scout team, and we can help you, and hope you can help us as well."
Ash tries to find a target:
Nodding, Ash looks to each of his companions. "Alright, we keep moving, agreed?" Meant as f a statement ore than a question, the young man draws his bow, nocks an arrow, and takes the lead. "Hey, Raj," he whispers, "Keep an eye out, okay, buddy?"
"Hold on," Ash says, hand raised to the others as he inspects the ground. "Hmmmmmm . . . it actually looks like some snake like creature created the cairn . . . maybe Nagas?" After a moment, he looks up. "Perhaps the skull is meant to scare the monkey demons away, to keep them from plundering the grave?"
"I don't know, it looks to me like his friends were able to bury him, so it would seem there is no urgent threat here. Let's leave it be, and keep moving." While talking, Ash looks over the mound, and searches the ground nearby for any signs of what happened here.
"These . . . monkey-goblins don't seem to be any real danger, and I can't imagine them challenging a larger force. They should really be of no concern to us. I say we push on." As an afterthought, he mumbles something about trying to be careful.
With one eyebrow raised, Ash gives Crisk a look while he wipes his sword clean. "I think it's probably a little late to make friends." Turning to the others, he double checks. "Everyone okay?" And then, looking up at the trees, "Raj? Where are you buddy?"
Pulled from the quicksand, Ash climbs to his feet and draws his sword, holding it out before him and preparing to meet the coming attack (from #10). ;
Trying not to panic, Ash tries to "swim" his way out.
Ash tries to remain calm, as he knows is the key with quicksand, and carefully tries to extricate himself from it while looking for help from his friends.
Ash checks his armor, adjusts his sword belt, stretches, licks a finger and holds it above his head, throws some grass into the air, squints at the sun, looks around . . . and pulls a compass from his backpack.
"I'm happy to take point," Ash volunteers. "I'd feel too blind anywhere else." "Tsch tsch. C'mon, Raj, up you go."
"Waddya think, Raj? Wanna see some monkey demons?"
"Well, I think we can rule out the high road, although that is the way any large force would likely take. The bog shouldn't be a problem, except for the phii, of course, but the coast might be the best route if it doesn't present any delay."
"Sounds good to me," Ash says. "I'll help any way I can."
"Ummm. Not really," Ash says, looking around. "Are horses not an option?"
Ash offers Balam his hand. As his eyes shift back and forth between the tattooed man and the big cat, in a hushed voice, he asks, "He's not going to try and eat my monkey, is he?"
"Wow, are we there already?" Ash asks no one in particular.
"Nice to meet you all. As for Raj," he says to the halfling in particular as he picks the monkey up, "He was sort of a gift from my father." Leaning in a little further, he nods toward the tattooed man making hissing noises, and says "What's with him?"
"Oh, this is Sunraj, or just Raj for short," he says to the halfing girl. "Sorry about that."
"Wanna pet my monkey, little girl?" a young man cheerfully says to the halfling, hoping to inject himself into the conversation. "I mean, um, he'd like to, uh say hi to you." After a slight pause he adds,"he likes halflings izall I meant." With an an embarrassed smile, he holds his hand out to the two rough looking gentlemen. "My name's Ash." Looking over the young man, you see someone who looks genuinely happy, and ready for an adventure. His longish hair is unkempt, and he has a couple days worth of beard on his face, but his clothes look somewhat clean. He has a loose white shirt tucked into well worn pants, which are in turn tucked into even more well worn boots. A sword hands on his hip, and a pack on his back, with a broken-down composite bow strapped on the outside. A monkey happily jumps up & down at his feet, oblivious to the nearby jaguar.
Awesome! What a I great mix of characters. Billzabud here. I was away for the weekend without my laptop AND forgot my phone charger, but I'll get statted up in the next day or so. |