As the low moaning wail of the last zombie dies off the unnatural mist clears and Brynden begins a serious effort to track the invisible halfling. The Ekujae, still wary of the zombie bodies, seem to make some effort to assist him but in the end they are more of a distraction than a help.
Impeded by the chaos of the battleground it takes the ranger some time to pick up what he thinks must be the freshest trail, which he follows back to the small hut near the edge of the clearing. As he approaches he definitely hears muffled noises, which he first takes for the sound of another zombie. This zombie, however, sounds strangely like someone urgently screaming through a gag.
As Brynden follows the signs to the hut, he realizes that he should have some friends nearby. He waves his arms at Loras, who is asking some irrelevant question. He picks up a rock, and throws it. It misses completely, but then Loras turns and sees him. He gestures for him to approach.
If the noises he was hearing were another zombie, it was a zombie in need of killing. And if not... He hoped it would be a pretty lady. He draws his dagger, as his greatsword would be as likely to shear Loras in half than hit an enemy in the close confines.
After the intense combat the group instinctively gathers together and watches the trees surrounding the clearing warily, but no one detects any sign of the crazed halfling adept.
Garruk, however, detects some muffled noises coming from the hut.
Brynden stretches his arms. "Well, I feel stronger already," he says. "You guys all doing alright? Yes? Good. I'm gonna go grab my bow so you can see if you can do something about finding the little critter that disappeared."
Brynden retrieves his bow and tests the string. It seems fine. In fact, it feels so fine that it feels like he'll be able to shoot two arrows at a time in the future. He scans the treeline. I hope they're aren't any more skeletons... Or zombies... I hate zombies he thinks.
He looks around for tracks. Invisible the little halfling devil might be, but he could still track a clear path as well as anyone else. Halflings are tricker than most, weighing less, but still, it was worth a try.
Track1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 If taking 10 only takes one minute to do then he'll take 10 to do a tracking scan for any tracks leading into or out of the clearing and try to see where the halfling went. Total would be 18 for tracking.
Brynden steps sideways to get behind the zombie and attack. "Zombies," he mutters under his breath, "I hate zombies." But seeing his allies flailing helplessly against them, he realizes that he needs to finish the fight himself. He slashes at it in a strike that no doubt looks heroic.
attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 Damage2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 5) + 4 = 11 This is including bardic courage which i assume lasts 4 rounds and ends this round. Otherwise minus 1 to atk and dmg.
The halfling swipes at Jaine as she tries to stand...
attack 1d20+6...Miss!
Then as Jaine opens another nasty wound with her smiting blow the halfling screams in a strident voice"I am not yet worthy to join my master in pure unlife, but my servants will leave that blessing on you!" He utters some arcane words before seeming to disappear into the misty air. ** spoiler omitted **
Round 7: Brynden
Brynden sees Loras look of surprise as the priest disappears. He wishes that Loras would have thought of grappling the tricky little bastard beforehand. Brynden slowly backs up as he watches the results of Loras's attack.
NOt really feeling like he wants to get attacked by an invisible priest, he slashes at the nearest zombie.
attack1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 damage 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 2) + 3 = 10
"Someone who knows something about bloody magic find that priest!" he yells.
No one hits a pretty girl in his sight. No one. Bryden swings his sword to finish the fight.
(if the halfling is still standing, he'll try to take him out, otherwise he'll move 5ft up to flank the zombie and take him out instead)
attack1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 damage 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 5) + 4 = 11
"Your laughable attacks only demonstrate the weakness of your faith, Paladin! You will bow and rise under the will of Walkena, to walk the world and serve his will for all time, just as we all will" Cries the maddened halfling priest as he strikes out with his dagger...
Round 7 Don't forget your bonuses from the bard, everyone.
Brynden hears the annoying halfling priest talking again. SOmeone should really shut him up. Brynden decides that it should be him. He takes a step forward and takes a swing at the figure's back. Not the most honourable thing to do, but raising zombies is hardly honourable either.
He swings his sword, and hopes that Jaine is impressed by the results.
Brynden frowns after the zombie takes a lazy, slow-motion strike at him. It's embarassing fighting such stupid creatures. But this was the one that hit Loras with that blasted arrow, so he was going to send it back to the mud once and for all. The creature feebly raises an arm in defense, too stupid or too slow to dodge. His sword slices the creature in half, the way a sword should slice through a zombie, and Brynden lets out a satisfied yell.
"I'm coming for you next, you thrice-damned necromancer!"
He swings with his greatsword.
attack1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 damage 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2) + 3 = 8
Then he takes a 5 foot step forwards.
He hears the bloody halfling chanting in the mist. Something about a Wakena. He didn't know who or what a Wakena is, but he didn't like it.
Seeing Jaine to his right, he sidesteps the zombie to flank it. Brynden hates running into strange creatures and the forest, and if he had to say it, zombies were probably one of the worst possible choices. It disturbed the natural order of life, so Brynden was quite happy being able to send it back to the grave. He slashes it with a slice that Loras would be proud of, were he somewhere nearby to see.
He'd have to tell him about it afterwards...
He swings his sword at the nearest zombie (above him).
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 With 2 from flanking 1 from garruk's drums.
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 = 9 How many more rounds for garruk's spell? 1?
Loras frowns as Garruk runs forward. He might've used a charge from that wand of his to heal his wounds. As it stands, he breaks off the arrow in his side and walks back to hide behind a tree. He attempts to do some first aid on himself and hopes that he'll be ok. A well trained warrior is not useful is he is dead, so he stays out of battle, although not very willingly.
1d20 + 0
Brynden sees Loras limping backwards, pain evident on his face. He knew his friend was going to be mad after the battle at having been taken unawares by such a terrible shot. Brynden felt bad for not killing the cultist earlier. He guessed it was up to him now. He drops his bow and rushes forward, drawing his sword.
Brynden will walk 30 feet forward into the mist. If he sees the anything once he gets inside, he'll take a swing (especially the halfling). Otherwise, he'll use his standard action to ready an action to strike at the something if it ever comes within 5 feet of Garruk's postion.
Unsure as to what kind of creature the lizard is, Loras decides to attack from cover. As an added bonus, he thinks, it'll provide cover from arrows from the clearly suicidal initiate who has remained to fight them. His legs propel him forward and his heart beats faster at the threat the new challenge poses. He draws a shuriken as he runs. Perhaps it will be a worthy opponent.
Once he achieves his desired position he throws a shuriken.
Brynden raises an eyebrow as Loras runs sideways to launch a shuriken at the lizard creature. If Loras isn't willing to engage it in melee, perhaps he shouldn't either...
He loads another arrow. Perhaps if Loras is more worried about a lizard than half a dozen skeletons and a few cultists, perhaps he should be too.
He runs forward a few steps to get him into optimal range, and fires. Hopefully it hits something important.
Too late, he wonders if perhaps it might have been better killing the last cultist, as he'd already seen the shuriken bounce ineffectively from the creature's scales.
I moved up just enough to (I think) get him into point-blank shot range.
Attack:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Damage:1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
I think I'm taking advantage of trees a bit too much. Maybe it should only be a 1AC bonus. It doesn't seem THAT advantageous seeing as you might trip on a root or something? Maybe some kind of acrobatics check to make sure I don't fall on my face?
Brynden places an arrow expertly into the chest of one cultist, and had his internal organs not been freakishly reversed in a bizarre birth defect he would have been dead. As it is, the man is gravely wounded yet staggers forward with a fervent look in his eyes.
ROUND 2 for Brynden
Brynden smiles as his arrow hits the mark and is so caught up in his success that he is almost hit by a nearby skeleton. Luckily, Jaine rushes to his rescue and smashes them to pieces. A brilliant attack, although he doesn't think he'll make a habit of needing to be saved by her. Or at least not APPEARING to need saving.
He takes a deep breath and fires and arrow at the second cultist. If they want to have an archery contest, it's fine by me, he thinks.
attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
damage 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 This IS including his attack and damage bonuses against humans AND garruk's bonuses. Down to 38 arrows. Note he will attack the cultist straight ahead if the skeletons are downed by loras's attack otherwise the lower one so as to avoid potential cover bonuses.
Not sure if the first cultist I hit is dead, but hopefully he's wounded as s!*& and won't be rushing back into battle
PS. Is the dice thing on this broken? I seem to be rolling an awful lot of maximum damage rolls... Strange. You can do your own rolls if you want.
Once your intentions are made clear to the wild elves they seem willing enough to follow your lead down the trail and your small band makes good time on the more open terrain.
After nearly an hour of cautious but steady travel you crest a hill and immediately recognize the familiar shapes of skeletons wandering through the trees. You aren't fooled by their seemingly aimless movements, however, and your eyes are immediately drawn to a small hut beyond them that they are clearly circling around.
As careful as you all are, however, there is no way to quiet the horse and with Jaine in the lead the skeletons are every bit as aware of your presence as you are of theirs. Their low moans are not the only welcome you receive, however, and with a sharp cry of warning several men pour out of the hut...
Everyone roll initiative and check the combat map in google...
And, um, try to ignore the lizard. It was really annoying to resize and I don't want to remove it.
** spoiler omitted **
Brynden: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Loras: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Brynden grumbles as they crest the hill. "Maybe we shouldn't have let the girl riding the white horse go in front after all." Even though it seemed a good idea at the time...
Loras smiles. "I've trained my entire life for this. I won't let these foul creatures and their demented overlords suffer to live."
Following Jaine's lead, Garruk begins walking as well, but turns to his new companions. "I'll be honest, Sir Loras, I've no idea whatsoever what they're going on about. I suspect we'll find out soon enough. What's life without a little mystery, after all?"
Garruk silently curses himself for not taking Linguistics classes at his local Bard school.
"A little mystery is all well and good, but this mystery is dangerous and disturbing. Undead walking the Mwangi flanked by animal allies and overseers? Something is wrong that may be beyond the capabilities of a few souls such as us to deal with," Loras says. "But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try, at least while we have the Ekujae to back us up."
He follows Jaine with Garruk, stretching his muscles.
"A little myster is all well and good," Brynden says. "Especially when you're fully healed. I do wish we had something that would stop the ache in my feet and legs, however. Sometimes I really do hate this jungle..."
Seeing Loras's expression, he continues, "But duty calls, so I follow."
He has no desire to be ambushed like earlier in the day, but hopefully the Ekujae are watching for dangers as well as them.
He is able to discern a faint aura of conjuration. The wand looks very familiar and is likely some kind of a healing item, but he can't determine how to activate it. Perhaps given enough time he could divine how it works.
** spoiler omitted **
Brynden watches as Garruk examines the wooden thingy they'd found. "So what is it? Also, what's next?"
THen he remembered the tracks he'd found earlier.
"Uh, if you or your friends," he said, nodding to the Ekujaei,"Are interested, I found tracks earlier. Looked like a large undead group going off. Want me to show you?"
Jaine becomes visibly excited by Garruk's proposal. "A group of four, forging into the darkness to face the depths of evil! We are as a Heroes' Group, as told in the Acts of Iomedae!"
She calms down and turns to look at Brynden and Loras. "That is of course... If you both agree with this?"
"As I just said, I'm with you for the short term," Brynden says. He turns to look at Garruk. "Your helping me with this wound goes a long way to solidifying my friendship though. A couple drinks sometime, and we'll be well on our way, I think."
His wounds feel much, much better after Garruk cast his spell. It felt like a bunch of beautiful ladies had been kissing all over him and the pain had just floated away. It was a nice feeling, although he was in no particular rush to get hurt again.
Brynden pulls out Tchiana's wooden dowell. "Garruk, would you happen to know what this bloody thing is? We found it on her body," he says, pointing to the fallen ranger.
Loras listens to Jaine and Garruk talk, and then to Brynden's typical kind of response. "Garruk, I am Loras. It is a pleasure to meet you, although the times are dark when innocents are accosted in the jungle by undead creatures. Is there any way that we might assist you? I can't vouch for my friend here," he says, pointing to Brynden, "But I'd be willing to help you for the chance speak and perhaps train with you and your friends. But that is another thing entirely. Would you like my help? I can't promise I'll be able to stay with you, but in the short term I can promise my support."
"Don't listen to my stupid friend here. Of course I'd be willing to pledge my services,"Brynden said. He hoped his chivalrous attitude would impress the lovely Jaine. Her religious inclinations didn't bode well though. "Normally I charge a fair amount, but in this case I am as curious as you as to the reasons behind these undead creatures. Not just because of the fact that they tried to slash me to ribbons, either." He tried to judge the reactions of the others. "So for the short term, I am with you as well."
The ekujae aren't cannibals, are they? he wondered after he'd pledged his support.
Seeing the half-orc be more reasonable, Jaine sheathes her sword, and upon hearing his question about a gnome, answers: "I've not seen any. How about you gentlemen?" She looks questioningly towards Brynden and Loras.
Brynden lets out a sigh of relief as the the half-orc, Garruk, reveals his decision not to butcher them with the help of his friends. When Jaine asks her question, he pretends to think carefully as he stares at her. The very picture of Iomedae herself.
But he shakes his head. "I might have seen a gnome during a puppet show, once, but I can't recall seeing any recently. I am, however, very familiar with the jungle and know that its dangers are formidable to all but the highly trained."
"And the friends of the highly trained," Loras pipes up.
"Yes, exactly. We've been walking around this bloody jungle all morning and we've already been attacked once," Brynden says. Remembering that there is a woman nearby he quickly adds,"But we defeated them quite soundly. Still, I do hope that your friend is alright."
As Jaine draws her blade, you both notice the tell tale sounds of bowstrings drawn taut... it seems the wild elves in the trees are prepared to defend this strange half-orc.
Brynden takes a tentative step forward. He whispers to Jaine as quietly as possible while still enabling her to hear. "Uh, Jaine. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it seems there's a whole tribe of ekujae out in the forest and it looks to me that they have bows. Now, I'm wounded already, and I only have one bow, so..."
As you approach the clearing Jaine is barely able to contain her eagerness and thus the two men on foot are periodically outpaced by the woman on her fine charger. The end result is that the three of you become aware of a half-orc standing at the edge of the clearing at about the same time. He is well within bow shot and looks like he has been bush wacking for the better part of the day.
Brynden notices someone standing ahead in the clearing. An ugly creature, vaguely humanoid, although it was quite clear that he'd been bushwacking for quite some time. He looked more like a plant than a person to Brynden. But is he alone? And what is he doing at this clearing? Brynden scans the nearby trees. Loras would never let it go if they were caught unawares again.
perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
"Wonder what he's doing here," Brynden comments, keeping the arrow nocked but not yet ready to shoot a half-tree, half-something, monstrosity. "Do you know that fellow?" Brynden asks Jaine.
She looks Brynden and Loras up and down, and nods. "You seem like a capable pair, if you accompany me on this quest, I am certain that Iomedae will see fit to reward you."
She beckons in the direction of the potentially skeleton-infested jungle.
"Shall we?"
Brynden looks at his friend, and wonders why they didn't spend the time developping a fool-proof method of hand signals to speak. Perhaps the woman is a bit hard of hearing. He did say that they could show her the area quickly, but he still didn't want to walk around until his guts fell out.
Making beautiful women happy is never a bad thing to do, but you can't take advantage of that if you're dead. "Let's take a look, but it's only going to be a quick look, then I need to head back to town. I need sleep, I need food, and I need some bloody healing."
Brynden points to the road ahead, "Ladies and gentlemen first," he says. He'd rather Loras talk to her while he takes up position as the rear guard to help keep them safe. That, and they'd take the brunt of any attack from the front.
Assume Brynden is more interested in checking the surroundings, and their rear (especially Jaine's, but also their rear flank or whatever you want to call it). His bow is out and he's ready to rock (and by ready to rock i mean he's tired as hell and getting grumpier by the minute).
Brynden looks over the map and gives Loras a pointed look. He points out the clearing where Tchi'Ana was killed. He tries to show his friend that he doesn't particularity want to return there, but Loras offers anyways.Of course, this woman, beautiful as she is, has absolutely no way of healing them. Likely Story he thinks.
Still, if they did eventually decide to explore the area to find out what has happened, it would be best to have someone to soak up the attention of the baddies so he might actually have a chance to use his bow. That, plus the fact that the woman sitting on horseback looks really good.
Brynden begins to speak before the woman has a chance to talk. "I'm not feeling well, and I don't particularity relish the idea of walking till my bandages come loose and my guts come out, but we could show you the area quickly if you wish, my lady." The last bit he adds recognizing he isn't been extremely courteous. But he REALLY doesn't feel well. He looks her up and down again. "And yes, what IS a fully armored rider on horseback doing travelling through this part of the jungle on such a day as this?"
Brynden looks over at his friend as they wait for a response. "Did you really need to tell her about me so soon?"
Loras smiles at the woman."It seemed prudent," he whispers back.
"Seems the exact opposite to me," Brynden says, quiet as a field mouse. "So if this b%$#! tries anything, we get into the trees and hope she doesn't follow. If she does, well, there's two of us, and one of her."
Loras nods. "She doesn't look unfriendly though."
Looks can often be deceiving, Brynden thought, remembering the long-legged blonde who so happily brought him back to her room, drugged him, and left him naked and without a coin to his name. But that had been a long time ago, long before he'd become a ranger. Best not to think on that for the moment.
He looks at the woman again and puts on his most endearing smile.
Brynden takes the moment to scan the nearby jungle, looking for places to hide, potential dangers, and easy trees to climb. Perception 10+6=16
Can I also ask how far down the trail this mysterious paladin is? 30ft? 50ft? 51ft+?
I figure its in characer for Brynden to make a stupid comment, since his INT is 9, but he isn't stupid enough to not whisper it =P
With regards to the smile at the end Im not sure if I"m supposed to roll a diplomacy check or a bluff check. I rolled 19 diplomacy (then 6 bluff).
Brynden listens from the trees, bow still nocked, but becoming more and more certain that this woman--a very young and pretty one at that--was not an enemy. Still, he figured it was better just to wait it out and see what happened between the two of them before revealing himself.
"...and my companion, currently hiding in the trees, ran into some of the creatures..." Loras was saying. Well, he supposed that there was no longer any point in hiding in the trees. He puts the arrow away, but keeps the bow out. At the very least, if she attacked, he could throw it at her.
Brynden steps from the trees as Loras finishes. "Yes, we ran into a sizable group of undead creatures," he says. Loras raises an eyebrow at that, but he continues. "It wouldn't be safe for you to continue, not alone at least." The woman truly was a picture of Iomedae herself, the sword and the hair and the beauty all wrapped up some shining armour and riding a grumpy-looking horse. That was Brynden's impression of the creature, wrong as it might be.
"If you'd be kind enough to tell us your business, we'd be glad to tell you ours. And if you could do anything to help get us back up to full strength, that'd be a kindness as well," Brynden said.
That was a start, he figured. He wasn't willing to show Tchi'Ana's wooden dowel to just any pretty girl riding her horse through the jungle, uncommon as they may be, but if she was found to be trustworthy and friendly enough, maybe he'd give her a glimpse of it (to start... He had other ideas of what he'd give her a glimpse of, given the chance, but the bright sword on her shield and the sense of honor bleeding off her didn't bode well for his designs).
sense motive and knowledge religion:
Brynden got 8 on his sense motive check last round.
I'm assuming his knowledge religion check of 14 would at least enable him to recognize that she is affiliated with iomedae.
Brynden holds his hand up to stop Loras. There'd been some kind of noise up ahead that sounded suspiciously like a horse walking the path. Better to be safe than dead, he thought.
“Someone on the path ahead. You check it out, I’ll cover.”
Brynden takes a few steps closer to a nearby tree, careful not to step on any dry twigs or a venomous snake. That would have been an ironic end to the laziest, most lecherous, and altogether best ranger that Bloodcove had to offer.
Making sure that no large branches would offer his foe cover, Brynden knocks and arrow and offers a quick prayer to Erastil.
Erastil, my lord, please guide my arrows if this is a foe to be reckoned with. If it is a friend, however, as I so hope that it is, let her be a beautiful female friend and someone with a love for handsome rangers like me. Since you're the god of farming and family too, I'll just say that I hope I can till her field (to please you, of course, lord). Many thanks.
He could now see that it was someone on horseback, well armed and armored, and lacking either a group of undead lackeys or giant lizard. Brynden sighs, and then looks closer and saw that it was a woman, who looked trustworthy enough in his eyes. Maybe Erastil was listening to him after all. You might have helped me against those bloody skeletons a while back though, but I'm a forgiving man..
He strains his eyes and ears to try to detect any further hidden companions on the path. Despite looking like a pretty and single human female, he was in no mood to get into another fight. His ribs still ached from the pounding they'd taken and his cuts didn't feel much better.
Brynden watches as Loras steps towards the path, wondering if he might have been the better choice to confront her, seeing as he is the better looking of the two.
ooc:
Initiative in case of combat
Brynden 1d20+3 → [18,3] = (21)
knowledge religion checks to see if they recognize she is a paladin of iomedae.
Brynden 1d20-1 → [15,-1] = (14)
Sense motive Both characters will be assessing her as soon as this unknown woman begins talking.
Brynden 1d20+2 → [6,2] = (8) Two coming from favoured enemy
Brynden is still looking around for further signs of danger.
Perception 1d20+6 → [7,6] = (13) +2 against favoured enemy human if there are more nearby.
Please ignore if I'm getting ahead of myself or this doesn't make sense :):
Hey, I hope it makes sense that I actually post this now. I'm just doing it based on Jaine's roll of 4 to detect traffic, my roll of 20 perception from Brynden, and the fact that Loras will be stepping into the road to reveal himself anyways. I'm not sure if you're waiting for me or nameless or nameless is waiting for me. so here goes.
Brynden holds his hand up to stop Loras. “Someone on the path ahead. You check it out, I’ll cover.” He takes a few steps and kneels in the grass next to a nearby tree, nocking an arrow to his bowstring and looking for a clear shot. He could now see that it was someone on horseback, well armed and armored, and lacking a group of undead lackeys or giant lizard. He looks closer and saw that it was a woman, looking trustworthy enough. He strains his eyes and ears to try to detect any further hidden companions on the path.
Loras steps gingerly from the trees. He didn’t feel like getting trampled in case the woman decided to charge, so he wanted a quick route into the underbrush. “Good day, my lady. What business are you on?”
She looked surprised at Loras’s presence on the road, and he could only hope that she is not looking for trouble.
OOC stuff for this post:
Invisible castle for rolls even though its slower. I'm changing back after this I think, but I thought I'd give it a try. Not sure why only the first part of this is OOC since i posted it as all OOC. oh well.
Initiative in case of combat
Brynden 1d20+3 → [18,3] = (21)
Loras 1d20+3 → [4,3] = (7)
knowledge religion checks to see if they recognize she is a paladin of iomedae.
Brynden 1d20-1 → [15,-1] = (14)
Loras 1d20 → [3] = (3)
Sense motive Both characters will be assessing her as soon as this unknown woman begins talking.
Brynden 1d20+2 → [6,2] = (8) Two coming from favoured enemy
Loras 1d20+6 → [9,6] = (15)
Brynden is still looking around for further signs of danger.
Perception 1d20+6 → [7,6] = (13) +2 against favoured enemy human if there are more nearby.
"Tough luck, that," Brynden says.
"Aye, it is."
"Know what those markings say?"
"No."
"Know anyone that would?"
Loras considers. "Possibly, but we'll have to get back to Bloodcove. Do you think Fendon's Fair Weather has sailed?"
Brynden inspects the dowel of wood. "It's possible, but not probable. I'd rather you went in to investigate matters first."
Loras nodded.
"If there is but one boot left, where is the other one?" Brynden asks, looking for her coinpurse and weapons. "I don't see them on him, so that means that someone must have taken them from him. You remember seeing a skeleton wearing one boot?"
Loras laughed. "No I surely don't. Could be some traveler came upon the body and took what they wanted."
"Tchi'ana didn't deserve this. He even warned me once about trouble coming my way, saved me a good thrashing, and didn't ask a thing in return. I bought him a drink, anyways..."
"If he was as good as you say, his spirit will live on, and we'd best be going."
"You just take a look around for any more weapons or junk we can sell. I'm going to look for any tracks leading away." Brynden walks the edge of the clearing, looking for any tracks or evidence that someone had been there after the skeletons had killed the ranger. He also takes the moment to scan for any further evidence or items that might be useful.
"Best be getting home to heal up and rest."
"Indeed, friend," Loras says. "Indeed."
tracking: survival+ranger track Roll(1d20)+12: 18,+12 Total:30
Loras perception check: 8 Brynden perception check 16 (looking for other evidence or items that might be useful)
Annoyed. I do a 20 minute write up of their conversation afterward, get all my rolls prepared, and press preview and it messes up. I'm definitely posting everything somewhere else before trying to do anything here. Also, note it happened the second time as well, but i had it copied to be repasted. Stupid interweb. Hope you enjoy the conversation :)
=)
Loras and Brynden:
"Well, that's an interesting way to start the morning," Brynden remarks, ripping a piece of cloth from his shirt.
"Would have been less interesting had you actually been paying attention. Didn't I ask you to stand watch?"
"I was standing watch, I just didn't see them coming."
Loras raises an eyebrow. "Isn't that the whole point of the thing?"
"Well," Brynden says. "Usually, but I have to say that this particular situation has never happened to me before. Do you know how many times I've been through this part of the forest?"
"No. does it matter?"
"Yes, it does matter. Something weird is definitely going on. I've been through this forest a thousand times, and never before have I been ambushed by half a dozen skeletons. Do you really think I would still be alive if that happened every time I stepped out of BLoodcove?"
"Three skeletons is hardly half a dozen."
Brynden bristles. "Well it's at least a dozen times as many as I usually encounter. Which is usually none. Something isn't right."
"Doesn't change the fact that you should have seen them coming. I think next time you'd best climb a tree when we're standing around in the jungle. Better cover, better for you to fire your bow, and better to see our enemies coming. Plus, you won't in my way."
Brynden laughs. "Get in your way? Who was it that finished off that last skeleton? I'm having difficulties remembering..."
Loras shrugs. "And who finished the first two skeletons? The ones that were slicing you up like a festival roast?"
"Anyways, I think we'd better head back."
Loras pointed. "Do you see that?"
"What, the trees? The foliage? What?"
"The break in the underbrush, it must be where the skeletons came through."
"Ah, so now you're an expert tracker eh? Well, let's take a look," Brynden pauses. "But a quick look, I don't feel like running into another dozen skeletons. I do want to check it out though, just in case something nefarious is going on here. Wouldn't want any other adventurers getting hurt."
"No, we certainly wouldn't. It's our responsibility to check into this."
"I guess so," Brynden replies, picking up the crumpled skeleton's short sword, "But if we see anything more threatening than a f+%$ing field mouse, we boot it back to Bloodcove, agreed?"
"Agreed."
Brynden takes his time looking around, scanning for movement, noise, or obvious signs of danger such as swords being waved around.
"Don't see anything from here," Loras says.
"Me either, but best if you stay close."
"Fine."
Brynden feels the cuts on his sides, and reconsiders. "Maybe it'd be best if I bound my wounds, shouldn't take more than an hour, there are no enemies coming, and night is long away."
Loras nodded, "As long as you aren't using this as an excuse not to do our duty. I'll help but I'm going to be watching more than helping.
Brynden takes his time in trying to bind his wounds.
Brynden takes 20 (1 hour) to treat deadly wounds. 20+6(heal)=26 so I heal 1hp+wis modifier, going up 5hp (i added one hp thanks to neil pointing out the favored class bonus and updated all the other stuff he talkled about).
Please note that Brynden's perception is up at the expense of his stealth, since he usually hides from danger and needs perception to not die in the jungle. He also took a rank in heal even though it seems like a skill that is useless as anything, but it makes sense for him to have it.
I think loras will keep power attack becauase i want to get improved overrun (if it works as i think, i can use it as i try to move through a person and potentially knock them prone, if it doesn't work, at least i stop in front of them and can attack). Is this correct?
The characters take ten (1 minute) to scan ahead for danger and then approach cautiously, Brynden with his sword still out.
Loras's rolls: 20, 16, 9
Brynden's rolls: 5, 16, 13
Brynden sees Loras get hit with a nasty slash across his chest. If the fight didn't end soon, the only one available to carry them back to the city would be the skeleton itself. He rushes from his cover to get a flanking position on the skeleton. No stupid bloody skeleton is going to kill the greatest jungle-exploring band from Bloodcove!He swings his greatsword to smash it with the flat of his blade.
Attack at: Roll(1d20)+4: 20,+4 Total:24 (natural 20, +3-1+2flank)
Damage at: Roll(2d6)+1: 6,2,+1 Total:9 (bludgeon damage)
Sorry about all the confusion Kevin, I think we both initially imagined the scene a bit differently and thus all subsequent actions were a bit off. Thanks for the google doc (and sorry for the trouble)
=)
Brynden:
Brynden smiles as the skeleton faces Loras. At least the strikes he'd been hit with weren't enough to incapacitate him. The longer the skeleton lived the more chance of the creature getting a lucky strike, and Brynden had no wish to carry his friend back to the city alone. He swings the flat of his blade at the creature and then retreats back to the cover the wonderful wonderful tree has been offering him. The creature takes a step sideways to prepare for Loras's attack, and thus Brynden's inept strike with his sword misses (at least I assume).
Attack for: Roll(1d20)+2: 10,+2 Total:12
Damage for:Roll(2d6)+1: 2,5,+1 Total:8
Brynden takes a close look at the claw marks left in the tree bark, and reconsiders a full out attack. It would be manly, for sure, but you couldn't be manly if you were dead, and Loras seemed to be doing pretty well on his own, anyways.
I guess this is why I usually use my bow, cleaner, safer, better That was normally true, but he didn't think an arrow would do much to a skeleton. Brynden raises his sword in a defensive stance again.
"Not feeling so well, he's all yours," he shouts over to Loras, who nods.
I didn't know about using the tree for cover, does the skeleton get a cover bonus too then? I'll use the cover and continue defensive fighting for +6AC to not die.
Brynden decides to take a quick swing with his sword as he retreats to a safer place hiding behind a tree. Loras looks like he'll be arriving shortly. He swings at the clawed skeleton, hoping to drive it away from the combat or at least limit its infernal ability to distract.
Attack Roll(1d20)+3: 5,+3Total:8, which almost certainly misses for Damage Roll(2d6)+2: 2,2,+2 Total:6
I thought that the total defense was listed under standard actions on the combat table of paizos website so i thought i could do that instead of the "attack defensively" combat option. I also totally forgot that there was a heal skill outside of magic/potions. I'm poor as s*%%, so no potion for me!
Fight Club (I fixed Loras's attack bonus to +1 from STR, mistake in typing =)
Brynden:
Bryden swears at the skeleton's swipe. "Might want to hurry up," he says to his friend, but not loud enough; Loras is in his trance. He takes a quick look and sees Loras dismantle the first skeleton.
They aren't that tough, he thinks, but feels something wet dripping down his leg and realizes that if anything were to happen to him, Loras wouldn't be able to survive alone in the jungle. So, with that in mind, he decides that not dying would be his first priority.
He considers running away, but who knows, there could be a dozen more skeletons waiting, so instead he yells "Hurry!" and retreats a few steps to put the tree at his right and two monsters in front. He draws his greatsword and prepares for total defense. With the blood running down his leg, and his friend incoming, he words a quick prayer to Erastil. He is the god of family after all, and with the amount of time they'd been spending together, Brynden figures Loras is practically family. Total defense +4AC, no longer flanked, sword out
I'm having a difficult time picturing the exactly landscape of the fight. I know there are two skeletons currently on opposite sides of him and I picture the tree being behind him as he'd been lounging up against it. So in taking a five foot step back to put the tree against his right he avoids the possibility of flanking attacks from the skeletons and gets Loras into a position to flank.
Loras:
By the love of Irori, but Brynden needed to work on his focus. Loras doesn't quite care how dead Brynden would be if he had stayed in town. He'd agreed to come along on this trip, so he should have been more vigilant. Perhaps he could get a spell to overcome his ineptitude at standing guard in the future...
He demolishes the skeleton in front of him with a sweet-sounding crunch, and hears, "Hurry up!"
Brynden has backed up to put a tree on his right and the skeletons in front. A perfect target for me, he thinks with a smile. Loras rushes in, fists tightened, and unleashes a power attack from behind the skeleton currently closest to Brynden. not sure if this draws an AOO from him. He hopes it will be enough to knock this skeleton out as well, as he notices that Brynden does not look well. He knows that he must end this quickly...
Brynden attacks with a power attack at +0 (strength bonus is +1 but power attack lowers attack by 1 and ups damage by 2) and rolls: Roll(1d20)+0: 19,+0 Total:19 (lucky, but not even including flanking)
and for damage he rolls: Roll(1d6)+3: 5,+3 Total:8 (i know, lucky again!!! woo woo).
