The creature claws at the tree, trying to make it's way to you, a single burning purpose in its hate filled eyes.
It makes it about a quarter of the way up.
Search Posts
It glares up at Hella, balefully, as if it understood what she said, but continues to fail to climb
I am very sorry about the absence, things have been happening with family that have necessitated my attention elsewhere, including some travelling. Hopefully I can be back consitently for a while now XD That is if you guys are still wanting to continue
The smack brings Cerian back to the real world as it distracts him and breaks the creatures hold. The creature claws at the tree, trying to climb up to get you.
The arrow strikes true sticking in the exterior of this monstrosity. It reaches the base of the tree and glares upwards. With the ladder retracted it attempts to climb the tree. It's claws leave deep furrows in the wood but it makes no progress.
The blow cows the canine causing him to cringe away. Hella's spear strikes true going right through the torso.
Cerian finds himself falling into it's gaze, to a place of paralyzing fear. It seems to recoil at Nedyrs Gaze.
It raises it's arms and brings them down on wolf.
Knowledge Arcana DC 19:
Scarecrow
N Medium construct Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +0 DEFENSE AC 16, touch 10, flat-footed 16 (+6 natural)
Speed 20 ft.
Str 16, Dex 10, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 14
Environment any land
Fascinating Gaze (Su) Target is fascinated, 30 feet, Will DC 14 negates. Fascination lasts as long as the scarecrow remains within 300 feet of the fascinated creature. The approach or animation of the scarecrow does not count as an obvious threat to the victim of this particular fascination effect (although the scarecrow's attack does count as an obvious threat and ends the fascination immediately). This is a mind-affecting effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
A scarecrow cannot speak, and the only sound it makes is the creaking of its wooden frame and the rustling of its straw stuffing when it moves. In combat, a scarecrow uses its fascinating gaze, then chooses the largest foe to pummel with its slams. Although unintelligent, the scarecrow does not ignore other enemies, using its fear touch to cow them until the scarecrow kills its first target. A scarecrow usually does not pursue fleeing foes unless specifically commanded to do so by its creator.
The creature turns it's baleful gaze upon Cerian, pulling the arrow from it's limb as it does so. Hella's spear flies at the creature but another lightning dodge and it is buried in a tree behind him.
Wolfs jaws snap on empty air as the creature moves out of the way quickly.
The arrow flies trick, sticking in the tangle of branches that makes up its limb.
Cerian 16
The creature locks eyes with Hella and screeches, its claws reaching out.
I've sent pm's to our inactive members to see if we can pull them back. Aluxion if you could poke Miri's player again we'd love to hae her baaaack.
Whoever is taking second watch please make a perception check and arrange yourselves on the map as you shall be at that time. everyone else may make a perception check as well with the usual penalties for being asleep as it isn't "trying" to be stealthy.
Watcher DC 18: The sound of thrashing in the underbrush is unmistakable. Something is coming. The horses are spooked, whatever it is is coming straight for you. As the brush parts below a pair of glowing fiery red eyes and a fire flickering inside a mouth. Jagged claws that almost look like bundles of twigs stretch out as it sets eyes upon the group. The inner fire in its face casts enough light for you to get a look at the beast. It looks like a scarecrow, a carved pumpkin for a head. And it looks angry.
The blind is much the same as the one by the river, though without the supplies stocking it. There is easily enough room to sleep four and plenty of room beneath for the beasts.
The blinds still hold their camouflage and cover. Though fitting the party in one would be cramped.
Cerian raids the trapped area for anything he can re-appropriate. Most of the traps are built with local materials, dead falls, ankle breaker pits and snares. But he does manage to disarm and acquire two bear traps as well. The area itself is a bit of a bowl surrounded by a rise on all sides except the trapped area in the north. So long as you don't have a very big fire it should be relatively secure. As you search around a bit more you find their latrine pit, it was carefully covered over with netting to make it almost another pit trap.
The rest of the day goes by fairly quietly and you make good progress. A detailed map of the area roughed out.
As you search the camp it doesn't seem they took the time to trap the remains, but it is clear they cleared out trying to keep it's location a secret. You do find a number of traps around it's perimeter you are able to disable. Judging by the fires and the areas tents were, you expect a total of around thirty people and 10 horses stayed here.
As you approach the camp there are no new indications of it's existence or abandonment. The blind you spotted the first time is empty but still concealed. You find the other two empty as well, cleared of all supplies. As you approach you find a number of piles of logs, set up to look natural but clearly a defensive measure if you knew the camp was there. You creep to the edge of the clearing to find that it has indeed been abandoned, though it does not seem to appear it was done hastily. You don't see anyone keeping watch on it at the moment...
Kesten shakes his head. "Me and my men are well supplied. And it's not captain. Just call me Kesten." Oleg shakes his head as well, "We are quite self sufficient here, and with the extra protection I see my profits growing rapidly." He grins, " And you've already made my wife ecstatic with word from her friend and the return of her ring." Benny shyly shakes his head but Reynolt looks thoughtful. " You might want to watch out for Breeg. He's a nasty piece of work who traps out somewhere to the west of the camp. If there's a quick profit to be made you can bet he'll be nose deep in it. We could never catch him to make him join up but we suspect he got to a few marks before the Doe's did. I did some dealings with him and he cheated me blind and picked my pocket, took my best axe. If you happen to 'liberate' it from him I'd like it back."
Mikmek stops happily shoveling food into his gullet for a moment and with a big grin and poorly pronounced common manages the word "Food!" This little outburst nearly makes Oleg burst into tears with laughter and his attitude towards the kobold softens remarkably. As Nedyr relays the conversation to Mikmek he starts to ramble off in draconic. [b]"Raider camp is empty, Stag Lords people have all gone back to his redoubt. They are worried a larger force is coming, don't know it's just you."[b]
Kesten also adds himself to the conversation. The captain nods his greeting but keeps his eye on the kobold.
The guard changes as the night watch takes their rest. You do note a small new building has been added in the back north east corner under the tower.
The night passes uneventfully, the day dawning on a grey sky and the hint of rain on the wind.
Svetlana finishes preparing the tub for Hella and excuses herself for the night. The guards continue their patrol without paying too much attention to you.
Svetlana smiles, "They have retired for the night. I'll fetch it for you and put some water on to heat." She goes and readies a bath for you. Mikmek seems delighted with the tallone food and digs in, letting out a sound that almost sounded like a chirp of pleasure.
Sorry for my disappearance there. I was working 2 jobs all last week, then I got kidnapped for a weekend out in the woods. Back and recharged and good to go. Welcome back Miri! You were missed!
The guards relax a little as you all seem undisturbed, but their hands are still on their hilts as Mikmek stops in front of her. He hands the small wrapped item to her and speaks in broken common, "This taken by bad mens, stolen from thems by mites. Kobolds return as hand of peace." She unwraps it and nearly bursts into tears. She places her wedding ring back on her hand and thanks him as she chokes back the tears. The guards look surprised but relax further. Waving you over to the table she lays out bred and venison, "You must tell me what has happened!" She see's Cerian slink off and a small smile creases her lips as she nods in his direction, "He will be most welcome"
The guard on the wall seems surprised at your late arrival but opens the gate none the less, calling a greeting. Even in the dark you can see that work has been done to repair the siege weapons on the tower. One of the other guardsmen meets you and offers to see to your mounts. He looks askance at the kobold with you but doesn't make any hostile moves. Svetlana appears at the door to her home carrying a basket and heads for the tables. "Well come! It isn't hot but I have food for you!" She looks startled as Mikmek darts forward and holding something out to her.
She awaits it with baited breath
Mikmeks knowledge of the area proves invaluable, you believe with his information you could make it back to the post just after dark. The plains have many flowers but with so many eyes watching a very impressive bouquet is assembled in good time.
The chief nods, "He will leave with you now. He will represent our interests with you for now, though I cannot say if the new chief will wish someone else."
The cheif nods, "Only fair we give you some token to show our gratitude, hold a moment." he enters the false shamans hut and returns shortly. He hands over a heavy sack and a leather bound book with a lock. "We cannot read the book, it is in a tongue foreign to us, this silver is the fruits of the labor the shaman demanded as sacrifice to Sharptooth, best we be rid of it." There is roughly 20 pounds of silver ingots. The book is clearly written in undercommon, as the list is.
The chief and Small scale exchange looks, "There are a number of candidates and it won't be decided over night. But I will send Mikmek with you. He has scouted the stag lords settlement and can help.
kingmaker starts out a little slow cause of the sandbox mode exploration too, a lack of interesting npc's for regular interaction XD
tell her we are missing her in wotr too :P
I did but Neila didn't also Hella already poked fun at me for missing you ;) If you guys aren't too concerned about it at this point then we will soldier on and give them a chance to catch up
He grins, "Take my place as an elder, father more hatchlings, eat, sleep, and tell lies of how things were 'back in my day'. It is not so bad a fate, far better than a series of challenges and death. Let the young bare the burden of responsibility."
The chief shrugs, "There are three ways a chief can be replaced. He is challenged, he dies, or he retires. If I don't choose to retire now it is very likely I will be challenged. Even if I prevail I will likely meet with an "accident". Too many see me as weak now, and maybe they are right." He looks much like a tired old man now and you wonder if maybe he knew all along that the shaman was false but had not the strength or bravery to challenge him.
Chief Sootscale listens to the arguments and looks somewhat relieved until Smallscale pipes up, then he frowns. He thinks quietly for a few minutes before shaking his head. "I cannot negotiate this, clearly I'm not going to be Chief much longer... I've failed once too many but please accept our friendship for now. If Smallscale support's one of my hatchlings as the new chief I am sure you will have your alliance." Smallscale nods. The chief relaxes a little, " Then we have much to settle but if you can be found at the trading post we will send a message once things here are resolved."
Well, head count wise we've still got Aluxion, Nedyr and Hella active, and Rodric posted just about two weeks ago, so the question is, do I throw down for some recruitment or do we want to press on as is?
The chief hesitates. "I have long suspected this." He responds in common, clearly. He turns to Littlefang still speaking in common, "You, you came wising your fathers place. and you will have it..." "So what do you want from this then..." Sense Motive DC 15: He is clearly trying to control this conversation so that only you, Littlesfang, and he understand the proceedings. His last question is heavily weighted and implies he has no interest in indebting his tribe.
He is doing a most convincing impersonation of a rug you have ever seen. The breathing is shallow and Littlefang grins as he moves forward and slits the unconcious figures throat. The chief swallows a little and steps forward. "You have come here and murdered our shaman, this must be the curse of old sharptooth once again. What have you to say?
Daylight blossoms from a stone in Smallscale's hand and the rest of the kobolds yelp and cover their eyes, or flee. Hella's spell covers the area in a soft light, revealing a glowing form standing next to wolf, who takes a piece out of him. Feeling Aluxion's blessing, Arilyth moves forward and stabs at the glowing form.
had a bit of an accident sorry I've been gone, morphine is great stuff lol
|