I'm still here, and would be interested in starting a new game. I think it might be a bit harder to revitalize the current one.
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Sorry, didn't realize I was holding up the game. Gruthic is effectively neutralized by the blindness, so the party will have to come up with another avenue of attack.
"No. I can't see a thing. It spit right in my eyes, and I can't see a thing. I'd be very careful of approaching it, maybe just collapse the building on it."
Gruthic will raise his shield and cover himself as best as he can given the agony in his eyes. He'll retreat out of the house as fast as he can without tripping.
"The beast spit in my eyes. By Torag's Hearth and Hammer, it burns! Akhom - quickly - give me your waterskin, before my eyes are melted from my skull."
Yeah, I can sympathise when a game starts being more work than fun. Burn out affects even the best GMs, and everyone here understands how that goes. Please focus on what's important: dealing with the real stresses in your life. This game is just a game, and real life takes priority. You've got a group of supportive, understanding players here, and we're willing to give you the time you need.
Gruthic readies his shield, takes a deep breath, and ventures into the darkness. He lets his eyes adjust in the doorway and slowly steps inside, ready to provoke the giant snake and make a tactical retreat.
"I can draw it out as long as you take it down before it swallows me."
Gruthic is willing to relocate anyone who is a barrier to peaceful reclamation of Kelmarane. He's also willing to slay any that attack him for such an attempt. However, he is holding his tongue and deferring to Muqaq as the leader of the expedition on how to handle this woman.
Gruthic is taken aback by the strange sight, but does his best to keep his surprise from showing on his face. He lowers his axe, but does not sheath it. "Greetings to you, Undrella. I am Gruthic Shalebreaker and I apologize if I have intruded upon your home. The others who live here have not been gracious hosts, and I am wary. As to why I am here, I cannot speak, for it is not my place. You must speak to my boss." Gruthic raises his voice and calls outside. "Muqaq, there is a woman in here, no gnolls. You should come talk to her."
"I'm on it. They can't hide from me." Gruthic enters same as always. Shield stowed for stealth, axe out for trouble.
"Trust my nose to find the gold. It's in my blood."
"I cannot emphasise enough how big the snake is." He holds up his hand, fingers splayed. "This. This is an eye. This is no cobra that lays as long as a man. It is massive. Bigger than that boar we fought. Much bigger. Best leave it lie. Fighting the snake will be tough enough without drawing out the gnolls to fall upon us as well. Let us deal with them, and then deal with the snake in our own time."
Gruthic's gut clenches involuntarily as the giant snake rears in the darkness. He gulps, his mouth rendered instantly dry. "Torag, shield your faithful servant," he prays as he fumbles with the straps on his shield, trying to ready it without provoking the cobra into striking.
"Giant Cobra in here, Muqaq!" he hisses, hoping the noise doesn't startle the snake. "I'm backing out. Watch for its blinding spittle."
Gruthic will be moving as quietly as he can, with his axe out and his shield stowed.
Gruthic is in good spirits after his visit with the cleric. Hope is always a reason to celebrate.
He cleans his breastplate and speaks with Muqaq about putting some of the spoils of battle to use. "I have often kept an inventory of my wares in my mind. I have a good head for it. I purpose to act as your quartermaster for such time as I an in your employ. Saying so, three are some items laying unused that could help us in our fight. Seif should wear this breastplate from the gnoll rats, and I wish to claim the ring blessed with Desnas's graceful descent. It will be useful in scouting should I need to make a quick exit from a rooftop. There is also a potion of mighty strength that Seif should carry, as our strongest blademaster."
"I have seen the lives of men bought and sold upon these desert markets for fewer coins than that, priest. To me, life is priceless. If you require gold to save the life of another man, so be it." Gruthic will retrieve the gold coins and stack them on an empty spot on the busy table. "Tell me father, whose faith do you carry?"
Gruthic will approach Father Zastoran directly after the meeting with Almah and inquire about the cost it would take to heal the man they rescued.
Gruthic accompanies Muqaq and answers any questions directed at him. He also sits in silence with Akhom, working on his gear and lending a caring ear to any troubles the boy wants to voice.
"This man needs shelter and care, and there is no safe place here. He would be best back at the monastery, but we would lose our advantage if we were all to return with him and give the gnolls another day to regroup. Muqaq, you are our leader, and thus this decision falls to you. How does our mission weigh against the life of this man?" Gruthic is very interested in Muqaq's decision, taking another opportunity to gage what kind of leader he is currently following. Having only just noticed Akhom's return, he gives him an enthusiastic shake.
Unwilling to engage in the footrace, Gruthic sheaths his axe and approaches Muqaq. "I am not seriously injured, but I would ask you for some salve for the dog bite. Wouldn't want to catch the froth from them. And I have no idea what madness spawned that flying horror. Do you think its condition is contagious?" "We have routed the gnolls and claimed a solid victory here. Once we see if the poor man on the stake is still alive, we should press our advantage."
Trusting in his shield, Gruthic moves past Seif to guard him from the hyena and the other gnoll.
He swings at the gnoll he passed, putting his corded arms to work.
Gruthic looks over his shoulder as another shot rings out. He misses the hit, but sees its gruesome results. He winces sympathetically as the horned horrer crashes into Xanyon, knowing full well the sting of those horns. He continues barreling up the hill after Seif, growing increasingly furious as arrow after arrow strikes the Suli warrior. "Damn these short legs!" he bellows, wishing he was in front taking the shots on his shield instead.
Healed by Muqaq, Gruthic hurries after Seif toward the mangy gnolls.
Gruthic acknowledges Muqaq with a short wave of his axe and takes another swing at the hyena before moving. This swung is more precise than his last swing, as the desert dog is wounded and he's trying to finish it off.
He carries the swing of the axe around in a glittering, gory arc, aiming for the second hyena.
Then he hustles over to Muqaq, flush with adrenaline.
Rules:
It does indeed seem odd that Flyby Attack doesn't deny AoOs. I'm definitely not complaining.
A bit daunted by the multiple bizzare creatures housed in this ruined village, Gruthic is none-the-less determined to remain standing through this particular assault, after his disgraceful showings versus the boar and the schir. He swings his axe with all the strength he can muster at the dive-bombing beast.
His strike is wide, and he knows it will miss even before the bird adjusts its dive. Still, it changes its angle of attack when it does so, and Gruthic uses his shield to cover himself accordingly. Seeing the desert shaman struck by several of the archers, and too slow to get to any of them, he calls out to her,"Seek shelter behind my wall, if you need." Then, he moves past Sief and swings at the snarling desert dog.
Gruthic, angling his shield to cover himself from the archers, is taken by surprise when the creature attacks him from above, and its antlers penetrate his defenses. Honed reflexes respond instinctively, swimming his arm up and out, cleaving at the flying monstrosity, even as his legs pump to carry him forward. He doesn't slow, but continues to charge across the opening.
Gruthic will double move after Muqaq.
Sorry for your loss. I lost my grandfather a few years ago, so I know what it's like.
Gaging the distance to far to cross to accompany Muqaq without being exposed, Gruthic moves to the corner of the ruins.
Gruthic hustles behind Muqaq, though the taller man outpaces him easily.
"Akhom is reliable. He has fought beside me many times. He would not neglect his duty without some serious reason. If we strike now, he is capable of keeping out of trouble - I have faith in him." Gruthic takes up a position near the ruin's wall, shield and axe at the ready.
I'm game. Seasonal stuff is now sorted and I'm back. I can usually post daily, weekends excepted.
Still busy but winding down.
I've been completely swamped by my seasonal job, and I'll likely not have time to play until the new year.
Still here.
Real Life happens, man. I got a heaping helping myself, recently. Get done what you gotta get done, then come back and run. We can wait.
"I warned him to make himself scarce until the town had been cleared. He was a fool not to take my advice, and now he is paying the price for his stubborn pride. Still, I would not wish to bring suffering on any man for my actions, and the gnolls have gathered in one place for this display. We shall turn their ambush into a killing field." "I will gladly take the van. Let them come at me; I will stand strong."
Gruthic rises from scouring his armor and wipes his hands on a clean rag to remove the gritty paste. "At once, sir." He follows Muqaq to the debriefing, and presents his observations to Garavel succinctly and methodically. He describes their encounters in the pesh fields - the dust predator and the gnolls - giving details on the enemies' capabilities, tactics, and equipment. He draws and annotates a map of the ruined shrine to the east, deferring to Muqaq where the shrine's occupant was concerned, as he had limited interaction with the mad hermit. He continues to sketch Kelmarane proper on a new sheet of parchment, drawing outlines of structures and paths they encountered, leaving vague outlines for the rest of town, inlcuding the prominent rise to the north. He segues into descriptions of the towns occupants: the patterns the gnolls kept and their estimated number, the feral boar, and the Schir. With his recitation completed, he relaxes in his chair and awaits any further questions Garavel might have.
OK finally got updated. Thanks for your patience. My posting rate will still be abysmal, but I will post when I can. I trust Muqaq to use me effectively in combat so it doesn't get bogged down waiting for me. Level of fighter. +14 HP
"I have little skill at riding. I will walk."
Thanks for the kind words. I have really enjoyed playing, but my workload has become very intense during these past few weeks. I feel like I'm holding the game up. I can try to post when I can, but I'd need someone to delegate to act for me at other times.
Will update tomorrow morning.
"Hesitation offers evil the chance to insinuate itself into your soul. Redemption can only come to those who willingly seek it out. Any drowning creature will reach out for a branch when death waits below; Your honest offers will often be falsely accepted, for evil has a silver tongue, and tells you what you wish to hear. Better to stand in strength and judge harshly than to offer succor and be gutted. You were not wrong."
"Muqaq is right. It has already caused a broken leg. We will not let it cause further chaos, or spy for the gnolls." Gruthic hefts his axe and swings.
Gruthic gets a good look at their quarry for the first time as they corner it in the Chapter House. The miserable little creature doesn't impress him terribly as it cowers against the back wall. "This? This creature is what all the ruckus was about? It's no bigger than a rabbit. A silly little rabbit. I'll go lop his head off." He draws out his axe and moves across the room to the creature.
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