Enjoying as able. Safe, but having to post from my phone for now.
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Hey guys and gals. So posting this in all my games. My job is sending me south (closer to the path of the hurricane) for additional training, so I might not have internet for a few days, depending. I will post as I am able, but that might not be all that much (even after the hurricane) as I have been told to expect longish hours. Feel free to bot me as needed. I should be there for about three weeks, give or take. Regards!
Hendra gives Norn a sideways glance. "Not real. Illusion. Like snowman, and talking horse. Same tiny backstabber. If you burn, try to save bones." She turns back to the illusion as she adds, "Intend to wear as necklace." Planting her scythe in the ground, she pulls out the spear she took from the chest. "Play time over. Death time, now." So saying, she lazily tosses the spear at the illusion, not much caring if she connects.
"Tiny fey... come out from behind illusion. Have score to settle with you, not connected to Naz-heh-nah's", she sounds each syllable out like a curse in undercommon, "score with twins. Face me, coward. Alone. Tell bandit friends stay other side of river, or will kill them too."
"Enough games. Come out from hiding, tiny creature! Face death with blade held high... or die afraid, cowardly illusionist." Pointing to the 'snowman', Hendra shakes her head at her companions. "Fake snowman. Illusion. Same pixie demon from horse. Still call dibs on skull, will turn into necklace later."
"We get there, soon. Be ready. Fey likely left more tricks. Call dibs on head, will take for trophy."
Hendra listens attentively to the twins as they tell their tale, making mental notes. When they seem to have mostly finished, she clears her throat. "So white witch caused winter here, yes? Contract from Heldren is find source, slay it. Both of you major blood line, current ruler. Probable you know person responsible. Two questions for you." The drow uses the hand not holding her scythe to hold up two fingers. One drops down as she proceeds. "How powerful is person maintaining sorcery? As follow up question, what forces...." she struggles for a moment trying to think of the correct word, settling upon, "extra... does this person have at disposal?" The other finger ticks down into her fist as she continues. "Will have problems with killing person? Black-white sheep, regardless, kill family not always easy ask of person."
As they walk, Hendra shrugs. "No. History of surface not well researched, learning as we go." "Hah... nobility. Well, I guess they do have to have someone leading them. An odd question though... I would think that it was based off of whatever short-lived arrogant fool managed to both control an army and convince someone to mate with them."
Feeling much better with a full night's rest and the healing of the town's medicine woman, Hendra strides off confidently. "Come. This way. Time for revenge, rescue, completion of contract. Be prepared."
Given Hendra was arguably being cared after, how much above zero did she get back? I don't want to start pulling the party's spells prior to fighting if I don't have to, but if I am only at the 1 to 3 HP range I might need it... if only not to be as much of a liability.
Hendra did not seal the letter, by the way. If Faethara is the type to read a letter to someone else... or is just suspicious about what the 'evil drow woman' might be writing... feel free to have her read it in character.
Hendra insists on writing a quick message to Councilor Teppin upon reaching town. "Must.... report... part of .... contract." Hendra's note:
"Councilor, "Found definitive evidence of fey involvement. The carriage of the Lady Malassene was destroyed. No evidence of the Lady among the dead, but her guards were slain to the man. We recovered some of their affects. We also encountered a troll on the outskirts of the snow. "Due to these hazards, I strongly recommend keeping all towsnfolk away from the area until further notice. The fey are using trickery and traps that are likely to kill anyone not prepared for them. Regards, Hendra Krammier"
After ensuring that whomever has it will get it into Teppin's hands immediately, Hendra silently allows herself to be guided wherever her companions feel she has the best chance of recovering from her wounds.
Hendra mumbles something about having a room provided for her as part of her contract as they slowly walk south. "Doubt... innkeeper... wishes... blood... on sheets. Then... was not... that civil... perhaps... worth... trouble."
Hendra gratefully takes the half-orc's arm, leaning heavy on it. "Thanks. If.... less wounded... would hunt down... backstabbing... little... twerp.... now. As is, would.... just ... arrive to ... bleed on it." A weak smile crosses her face as she adds, "Not enough... cold iron... in diet. Would not... have... desired effect." She coughs up a bit of blood as she laughs at her own poor joke.
"Have fey stabber scent. Can track... tomorrow. Assuming live that long." Hendra gives her companions a weak smile as she pulls down her mask. "Make easier... to see... if still breathing. Also townfolk... should know... what has been discovered... know... to avoid... area... for now." The drow woman slowly stands, using her scythe as an improvised walking stick. "Hate... impose... on anyone... but might... need a shoulder... to lean against... on way back."
"Damn... backstabbing... coward.... ca.... ann....ot... run ... far... enough." So saying, the mostly comatose drow woman marks the retreating fey form in her memory.
Cool... pretty sure that Hendra is going to be easy to predict, given her current hp... I do have some internet though if you would prefer me to say which direction she staggers. ;)
Going on vacation for a week from Monday to Saturday. Should have limited internet access, but it might not be enough to post reliably. Feel free to bot me as needed, should be back on this coming Sunday.
Glaring back at the pixie, Hendra silently curses as she collapses to the bank.
"Great. More ice creature. Must ask, how take non melting trophy, later." Taking quick step to the closest creature Hendra takes a swing at it with her scythe.
Finally determining it is safe to cross Hendra charges the river at full speed. Despite her earlier trepidation, she manages the feat with ease. "Easier than at home. Have light here. Wonder if creature seen surface now."
For once the drow woman exercises some amount of caution, opting to let the others cross before her. She does, however, stand near the bank ready to attack anything that attempts to come from behind them or the river near that bank.
Finally shaking off the tinnitus, Hendra looks upon the river. "Wonderful. Break out spear, catch fish. Pyro Norn can cook, all fighting taking toll."
Despite looking into the river, nothing really jumps out at her as being unique motion.
Hendra is completely unprepared for the explosion and stands stunned for a moment, making sounds like a turkey trying to clear the ringing from her ears. "Moap. Moap moap. Moap."
Noted on game breaks, should be no problem. On the topic of Vampires... never really been interested in the source material the campaign is based on... if you still need someone by the end of the month, I can try to make a submission but it would be me having to learn EVERYTHING (from basic submission to structure to rules to... well you get the idea).
"Too much talking." Dropping her study of the horse for a moment, she studies the snowman intently. "Speak, snow. Where is source of snow? Where is lady? Where are bandits?" Pulling her scythe back, she makes it clear from her posture that a lie will be met with swift decapitation.
Hendra rolls eyes. "Or fey in disguise. Or fey illusion. Or bandit wizard illusion. Or bandit druid in disguise."
As the 'horse' speaks to them, Hendra watches its movements and listens carefully to it, attempting to discern what it is really and if it is lying to them. "Odd creatures. One to talk. Literal, figurative, funny."
Looking with some incredulity at the two half orcs and Grey, Hendra shakes her head. "Surface dwellers.... so quick to be mistrustful of a solitary drow in their tavern, so foolishly trusting of 'talking horses' found within what is arguably enemy territory." "By all means. Share information with potential spy from foes. No harm, no harm." The drow turns back to the odd horse, ready to strike at it if it proves hostile.
Hendra looks with disbelief at the horse. "Talking horses aren't impossible, but they certainly aren't normal..." Taking a firmer grip upon her scythe, the drow woman begins examining the chatty equine intently. "Why interested? Spy? Shapeshifter? Illusion?"
No worries Shadow... think all of us know just how busy you are on the forums alone, not even factoring in anything you need/want to do IRL.
Indeed they have... almost wondering if someone is DoSing the site for fun or whatnot given how often it has been inaccessible lately.
Hendra smiles broadly under her scarf. "Find, yes. Ask, yes. Kill, yes." After a moments thought, she turns to Grievous and adds, "Cover own tracks, no. Easier find way back to town."
Hendra looks at the two other women and shakes her head. "Obvious. Bandits not used to snow, cannot even disguise trail proper." Checking that her scythe is ready to begin the task of reaping bandit skulls, she nods. "West bound."
Looking with some surprise at Lurruk, she still nods gratefully as the healing energies close more of the wounds she has sustained. "Yes. Must find source winter, put stop to, rescue Lady if alive."
Noticing Grievous taking a crossbow, Hendra passes her 15 bolts, putting the remaining 10 inside her clothes behind her back. "Likely store for future. Does imply well armed. More so if some dead from ambush." Rising slowly, she takes the other spear after some additional thought, strapping it to her back. "Should be well enough to continue. More rest mean more lead bandits have. Have large enough lead already." Shaking her head, the drow picks up her scythe once more. "Ready when others ready."
The look of surprise is almost comical on the drow woman as the log connects, knocking her unconscious for the second time that day. Feeling the healing energies of Lanyssa closing most of her wounds, she nods thanks to the half orc as she sits up again. "Well. Not interested in prisoners. Capable of using environment to make trap." Looking inside the chest with Lurruk at the belongings within it, she shakes her head. "Armed enough to leave additional behind. Perhaps was meant to be emergency cache, retrieve when needed, trap prevent others steal." Picking up the masterwork dagger and the bolts, she nods at his assessment of the longsword.
"Not trigger from impact. Good info. Watch selves, will try trigger. Preference not need trip to boneyard after." Taking out a pair of her daggers and the silk rope from her pack, the drow woman embeds both within the lid. Wrapping the rope around one, through the latch that opens the chest, then around the other dagger, she steps a few feet behind the chest, holding onto both ends of the rope. "Open in three, two, one!" At one she gives the improvised contraption a pull, releasing whatever horror awaits...
Hendra shrugs. "Fine with range trigger if none can disarm. Should disarm, townfolk may come here. Not normal to care about, not my town. Still, chance trap might give mindset of trapper. See preference for damage type, if interested in taking captives, if willing to poison, among other things." Taking an additional few steps back, and readying her scythe in case the trap has a living element that requires killing, she awaits the others.
Seeing the other woman's eagerness, Hendra shrugs and takes a few steps back. "Trapped. Any skilled with removal?"
Hendra looks at Freyr with a bit of a shrug. "Can not say for her. True most from my blood bear grudge against cowardly cousins. My House tolerates, expects reciprocation. Necessity from surface proximity, can not fight all old grudges, needless loss of life, enough foes to slay."
"Heh. Djinn in chest. Would be funny." Hendra smiles mirthlessly under her scarf as she says this. "The world would be a very different place if I could have my wish. Both on the surface and under it...." Putting such thoughts aside, she turns back to Faethara and begins speaking with an almost exaggerated air of patience. "Best case bad luck from bandits. Drop off last horse in column, not notice, perhaps not time to stop. Worst case, trap. Even trap tells story of trapper. Either case, worth a look."
Hendra gives Faethara the type of glance typically reserved for the sources of foul odors or annoying noises. "Typical cowardly behavior we have come to expect from our surface 'kin'. No wonder they fear us, they fear the shadows cast from rabbits at high noon...." "Yes. Stay back. Would not want coward blood accidentally spilled by chest splinter." Rolling her eyes, she focuses again on the chest.
"Unlikely. Signs of battle missing, would be present with chest. Snow makes hard to hide."
Hendra nods. "No fire, unless troll again. Then plenty of fire." Stepping toward it with Lanyssa, she studies the chest and its surroundings intently.
"Acid works. Hammer works. File works, slow. All mar surface, not look nice after." Hendra absently rattles off the first three ways she can think off to remove the crest. "Might want keep emblem. Assist Lady, ensure trust. Perhaps earn title, crest, from her."
Hendra shrugs. "Took dead with them, plain from deeper horse print." Pointing to the track as if it should be obvious, the drow woman takes the late captain's sword. "Well crafted, good balance. Will take with, never have enough weapon." Pulling back the folds of her outer garments, she reveals the bulk of her arsenal as she clasps the belt and scabbard to it... along side her short sword and pair of hammers. The prominent bandolier filled with daggers is also clear to see, and those who were in the inn recognize the bulge as her hand crossbow's hiding spot. Picking up her scythe once more, she nods at Freyr. "Yes. Follow track, find portal, slay foe responsible. Secondary objective, recover lady, alive preferred."
Back home from the graduation... ceremony was lovely, the car ride there and back not quite so much (the joys of traveling with a baby). Glad that we went, glad to be back.
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