Search Posts
Well this is entirely too close for comfort! Ikkis steps back and once more raises his grisly hand. Its crags glow with a firey warmth as he incants: "Attacking the unarmed? Shameful. Tillåt mig att utjämna spelfältet!" Skald:
"Allow me to even the playing field!"
Connor scrunches his nose up at the thought of eating people, "I like the taste of meat, Ikky, but I'm not a cannibal. I do have some standards, you know?" Thank the gods. "Of course! I wasn't saying you were... I was just... you know, making sure we were establishing some boundaries. We're coming up against a lot of things that are definitively not-human. Like that forest-lord thing. That you ate. I mean, it was probably just a regular deer, but even I had some doubts at the time." Ikkis follows Arthrax, hoping to not encounter any more surprise attacks. He was growing to hate those.
Connor finishes his waking rituals before collecting up his things and following Feinmeir back onto the trail. He looks around at everyone as they walk, "Once we run into these bandits, I'm going to advise we secure the lady and kill as many as we can so they won't prey on anyone else in the area. Does anyone object to this or want to try talking them into surrendering themselves?" Connor says the last bit with a little humor to his voice. "Honestly? In my opinion thieves, kidnappers, and those who traffic with such lethal spirits as we've encountered should probably be dealt with on a 'burn first, ask questions later,' basis. If we can capture them, that's great: we can bring them to justice for their crimes, and try to get some information out of them as to their objectives and the like. If not? You're probably right in that the area will be better in their absence." "And Connor?" he adds, wincing and without much confidence in his voice, "Please try not to eat any of them? We're pretty tolerant people, as far as I can tell, but I'm pretty sure taking a bite of human flesh would be taking it way too far..."
Ikkis awakes groggily in time for the last watch of the night, and slowly regains his full consciousness as he watches the sun rise on the horizon. Upon finding the fresh tracks, he tries to be the first to answer Merisiel, but...
"By my calculations, it seems to be... seems to be..." His sentence trails off as Ikkis realizes he has absolutely no idea what he's talking about. "...well it's definitely enough bandits to warrant doing this." Once more, ice gathers and thickens on the outside of his armor. The newly risen sun shines through the icicles like a prism, creating multicolored refractions upon the white, snowy ground.
Ikkis is fast asleep by this point, his self-created icy armor having, by this point, melted and fragmented away to join the snow around him. He snuggles himself in a bedroll that was hastily packed in his backpack, and passes out almost as soon as he lies down.
HI GUYS!
Hey guys, Unfortunately I've come down with an extremely bad case of the stomach flu, so I'll be all but unconscious for the next few days. Just letting you know that my posting rate will be decreasing due to excess vomiting, not due to lack of interest... or choice in the matter.
Ikkis, during the discussion, had been leaning against a tree. He was already nodding off, his eyelids growing heavier... and heavier... "How about you and Ikkis take last watch, I fear the lad may need his sleep as well. Arthrax and I shall sleep nearby if needed." "Hm? Oh, yes... that sounds... great." he says with a yawn. Who knew magic could be so exhausting?
Plan A: Melee!
Ikkis drops to his knees, the last embers of his conic emanation now but whisps and ashes in the wind. He looks tired. More importantly, he feels tired. "Ugh... folks, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think I'm all out of the big magic for toda- wait, do you all smell that?" Ikkis had forgotten to take off his gloves. Where once there was smooth leather, there now showed a blackened tear on the palms of his hands. The gloves were ruined, to say the least, and the sickening smell of burnt flesh and leather mingling did no favors for Ikkis' senses. Well, I guess I'm done with these. Everyone's already seen, anyway, and they've never provided protection against anything but prying eyes. Slowly tugging on each of the fingertips to loosen their grip on his fragile skin, he eventually removes the gloves entirely, baring flaky an vulnerable skin to the elements. Once back on his feet, he suggests: "I'm game for resting and refitting whenever you all are. This day's seen more action than any I've ever experienced, and I'll be glad to survive it long enough to sleep."
Ikkis finally regains his bearings and shouts "OH NOW YOU'VE DONE IT YOU SNOT-ICICLE!" Not thinking very well, he runs out towards Arthrax, then banks right and hops onto the ice! "Borða bálið þú skítur guzzling hálfviti!" is his invocation, as a wide stream of flames projects itself from his outstretched hands. Skald:
"May your masters melt as you do!"
Oh gods, not agai- Even Ikkis's attempts at thought are hindered by the soundsplosion emanating from the snow-trap. He blinks his eyes and holds his ears, not quite sure how to compose himself yet.
Seeing the strain on Merisiel's face, Ikkis also concentrates on identifying the things, hoping that by some stroke of luck he may be of use:
Alas, his lack of understanding in matters magical hinders his efforts. The auras remain as inscrutable as before.
"Careful, all! There are two of them! Whatever 'They' are..."
I love how Demona's reaction to each successive situation is: "Can I set it on fire? Yes? Then I set it on fire."
Ikkis follows Merisiel's lead: "Gera þetta Fae bragð þekkt og leið sína til að gera það, og sýnt!" Skald:
"Make this fae trick known and his means to do it, shown!"
"Well, we've certainly come far enough that that's not an option..." Ikkis says, referencing the sign. Unless anything happens, he continues to advance with the rest of the group.
"DAMNIT! Why don't they leave us alone?! This is such..." Ikkis's words trail off as he puts his glove back on his charred hand. The usual pain seems to be somewhat dulled by the warmth still lingering on his skin. "Sorry, I guess I lost my temper there. But if that thing shows up again... I swear I'll end it. All we're trying to do is save an innocent woman who was kidnapped by thieves. Why are all of these spirits against us for it!?"
Ikkis gazes in fury as the small fey comes out of hiding and stabs Arthrax's haunch. "Now that is QUITE Skald:
"MAY YOUR HANDS BURN AS MINE!" Ikkis removes one of his gloves with his shield hand, revealing... ashes. It's as though his skin is made of charcoaled wood. At his words, the breaks in the blackness glow as if flames were coming from within.
"It's just one thing after another, isn't it? Wait, where'd he go!?" Ikkis once again raises his shield, unsure of where the next attack will be coming from.
Ikkis follows Arthrax, eager to get away from the creature.
"Okay. I have now officially seen everything. If this deer starts to shoot lighting from its antlers and starts flying, I am officially done here," Ikkis says, half-jokingly. Half-jokingly, because part of him almost expects that to happen now that he's said it. In anticipation that something is about to go horribly, horribly wrong, he does his best to survey the stag and his surroundings, but as in most things he does, he does so rather hurriedly and without proper concentration.
"Everyone alright?" "I'm... good? I really don't know anymore. I just don't want to get hit again by whatever rainbow-beam-thing that was. Also, is everyone mumbling? I can't hear you very-" Before he can finish his sentence, a bit of snow falls out of Ikkis' ears, making a soft 'plop' sound as it connects with the ground. "-nevermind. That's why. Let's move on."
Ikkis, literally stunned, eventually regains his coordination and sight and wordlessly follows the other . He wasn't entirely sure as to what had just transpired, but at this point he had learned to accept it and move on.
Should a telepath come across the scene, the approximate thought process of the unconscious, blind, and stunned Ikkis would be something along these lines: I can't even right now. I just can't. I'm can't even-ing. I... how do I eyes I have no see. Arms... like noodles. Legs... like fish on river barge. Life is struggle.
WOOT to the new initiative plan. Also, sorry for posting early. I knew I'd be at work for a lengthy amount of time today and I figured it'd be what I'd do no matter the actions of the fey. Also I totally just got KO'ed by a creature that weighs less than a pound before I could do anything, so it's a moo point. And I thought dumping WIS wasn't going to be a bad decision...
First Dragons, now ice pixies?! What's else can happen?!" Not knowing what else to do in this situation, Ikkis follows Demona's example and drops to the ground, holding his shield over his face, which at this point is his only exposed vital area.
Ikkis follows, taking the same place in the group that he had previously. Even if this isn't an impregnable position for me, at least I'm well armored, and the more blows I draw the less my friends will get hurt. He told himself this, but in truth his knees were still shaking from the force of the Tatzylwyrm's blows against his shield. He began to recite an old and traditional prayer to Gozreh, one that had been passed down since before the inception of the god's worship. Ikkis did not know it, but the words he spoke to himself were spoken by those of the Green Faith before him, and of even more primitive religions previous. No one knows where they had come from, but scholars believed that the words had much power in them, and though they had changed slightly over the centuries, they would never be fully lost to time. "I must not fear.
Indeed let us continue on the path. she says happy that ikkis has controled her power
"Yeah, but there's no guarantee that they'll all go that way. Feinmeir, I believe this may help should we run into more trouble... Herra Gozreh, getur máttur þinn koma jafnvægi til að mynda þetta earthen að vera er! Skald:
"Lord Gozreh, may your power bring balance to this earthen being's form!" Once again, the light emanates from Ikkis's hands. He touches Feinmeir lightly on the shoulder, casuing the light to course through the dwarf's armor and clothes, finding and healing the areas with the most damage.
Ikkis had to hold himself back from laughing, but managed to say, "Hairy... child? Anything mistaking Feinmeir for a child seriously needs to get its eyes checked."
Gr... it's moving around too much for them to hit it... I'd best bolster my defenses in case it goes for me again! Ikkis concentrates hard, and as he does, an icy shell forms around his newfound mail.
NONONONONONOWHATISHAPPENINGWHATISTHATOHMYGODS Ikkis reflexively recoils with his shield in hand, deflecting two massive bites from the creature's jaws. Taking the opportunity provided by a halt in its attacks, he moves backwards through the snow, shield still raised, towards the sound of Feinmeir's voice. "What is this thing?!" he exclaims, finally finding words to pronounce.
True, and to treat Connor's warning as reason to take a readied action would have the same effect as the Lookout Feat: being able to act in the surprise round if your Ally is. Since neither of us have Lookout or a similar feat, I probably should not be able to do this. In short: Ikkis is ready to attack, but can't/shouldn't gain the effects of a readied action.
Didn't realize that Sigma was waiting for our "OK." Marching order is fine. Also, I forgot that some people don't allow readied actions outside of combat. GM Sigma, what's your opinion?
He reaches forward and claps Ikkis on the shoulder. Good job. "Oh... uh... thanks! I really didn't do much, though. I'll try to do better in the future."
Looking at Connor's signal, Ikkis thinks it may be the wrong time for his epiphany. He readies his knife with one hand, his shield held out in the other. "Looks like we may have company."
Ikkis was stunned. Merisel had just turned everything he had thought about his own magic on its head. "In... incantation? Wait, a healing spell? You mean... I'm sorry, I just thought..." He actually had to hold back tears. For almost a decade he had felt disabled and cursed by the world to only cause destruction. All of his abilities had manifested in strange elemental ways. But healing? The possibility that he could actually heal someone else, the idea that he wasn't some sort of jinx was... amazing. "Yes, of course! I've been so stupid! I think I can do this... on my own, actually. I think I can control it. Umm... Feinmeir? Connor? Care for some, erm, healing? Or would you rather wait, now that I think about it. My guess is that I can only do this a certain number of times per day."
Should nothing attack him immediately, Ikkis thinks back to the concealed log trap, wondering if perhaps more of it's ilk, or worse, was in store for them. He brings his hands together and recites a prayer aloud. Though he understands the words emanating from his mouth, they sound somehow alien to his ears. "Skï Faðir, sýna mér hættur framundan þannig að ég kann að þjóna þér betur." Skald:
"Sky Father, show me the dangers ahead so that I may serve you better." He then looks at the area ahead of him with new eyes, seeing, and somehow sensing, if there's anything he missed.
"Ah!" Ikkis exclaims excitedly, pointing at the dagger and shirt that Arthrax has lifted, "Now those I can use! Arthrax, you're more of a heavier-weapon-and-armor guy, right? Mind if I use those two for a while?" He also picks up a crossbow and some bolts. Just in case. You continue making your way southwest through the woods. The snow is becoming increasingly deeper as you get farther in the forest, more so since you've entered a windswept gully that carves a path through a tree-covered ridge. A soft cascade of snow falls from an overhead branch, hissing softly as it strikes the ground. I've never felt uncomfortable in the cold before, but maybe I should have brought winter clothes after all...
Well that figures. "Where does the trail lead from here?"
Ikkis looks around on the ground for signs of anything, but is not confident in his own skills.
Ikkis feels the wind created from the sheer force of the log. He cringes with the thought of what that could have done to him. "Gozreh's leaves! You bet that was too close! I guess whomever did those terrible deeds to the carriages' passengers knew they would be followed..."
"Too heavy for them? Or perhaps they couldn't open it?" Ikkis peers at the chest, but doesn't get too close. He's not sure what "Fey" do or look like, and remembers how opening the carriage door too soon turned out for Connor and Feinmeir. Surprises were not something he looked forward to.
"I'd be happy to talk fire magic with you any time you like, though I think Connor's about finished chipping through Iceman there, so we'll be on the move in a moment." "Thank you. And you're right: this is definitely a conversation for another time." Considering the danger they just faced, Ikkis dons his shield and takes the dagger from his waist into his dominant hand. Both actions cause enough pain to make him wince, but he tries to hide his difficulties from his compatriots. He then goes to pick up the longsword that he had all-too-readily dropped upon Connor's handing it to him. He examines the blade and calls to the others: "Does anyone want this? It's a bit heavy for me, and I really have no idea how to use it."
"Hm? Sorry, don't look at wha-OH... yuck." Ikkis looks away as he is bid to, and trying to distract himself, goes to speak to Demona. "Hey, so... that fire thing you did earlier? What exactly was that? I've apparently got a little fire magic in me too, and I was wondering if you had any pointers, I suppose. Also, that looks good on you! You should definitely keep it if we don't... I mean until we find Lady Argentea."
A bit of dead flesh and congealed blood flies into Ikkis's face from Connor's blow. He begins spluttering curses and tries to wipe the pieces of rotted humors off of his cheek. After he completely (or mostly) removes it, he admits, "So... I have absolutely no idea how I did that shiny-orb-thingy, but it seemed completely useless. Most of the time my powers do a far better job of wrecking things than that."
YAY, MAP! Unfortunately, Google Drive keeps telling me I can only view the document, not edit it. If someone could move me adjacent to that North-of-the-Wall monstrosity, it'd be greatly appreciated. Edit: Also, damn! It's a sad realization when a low CR mindless undead has a better Will save than you.
|
