Master Bvar's page

Bvar picks himself up and takes a look at the damaged columns and says, "Hmm." He walks around them several times and mutters a few calculations. He then reports, "If we built up a big hot fire around these two I think that would shatter a good portion of the stone. Would take a good few hours for it to get hot enough and it would generate lots of smoke. Anyway if the columns shatter, which isn't certain but if they do then the ceiling will collapse. Everything in here will be buried under thousands of tonnes of rock. Lucky for us they have a lot of fire wood laid in. We also want to burn the oil and anything else we can lay out hands on."

Bvar's eyes grow large with fear as yet more of the dragon is pulled within. Where its bulk is going none of you could say, for the dragon is many times the size of the levitating altar.

Teeth chattering he cries, "If this carries on, the dragon will be completely consumed! T. tha that altar is the most malevolent thing I can imagine. We can't just leave it, what if someone or something found it? W. Wh. What can we do?!"

Bvar nods and looks far away for a moment. He replies eventually, "Thank you for your kind words Pratavh, you're a good man." He seemed to be on the cusp of saying more before he suddenly asked, "What's that?"

You look where he's pointing and sure enough a section of the dragon's corpse appears to have slipped into the altar. A strange greenish black light is leaking out through deep marbled cracks. As you watch you notice it seems to pulse in a slow rhythm, like a heartbeat.

When Pratavh cones over he find that Bvar is in a bit of a state. And Hirati whispers into his mind, "Boss we need to get him cleaned up. Can't leave him like this."

He looks up at Pratavh with shame written on his face, he whispers, "I am a fool and a failure. I thought I could kill that, that... H. Hah. I had no idea. And now I have bought shame to my house." It's clear he's taken it hard, but he seems to be absently stroking Hirati in a way she finds pleasing, at least for a few minutes.

Bvar comes bursting in, "You've gotta see this! That statue is dragging the altar and its almost here! Oh and its not alone, there's a levitating freak with it..."

The statue looks like this and the levitating 'freak' looks like this. Lilly and Alwyn you may adjust your map positions if you like.

Bvar comes over to inspect Lilly and Shikyo's handiwork and he swigs a brace of potions on the way.

CMWx3: 6d8 + 9 ⇒ (7, 3, 8, 1, 7, 1) + 9 = 36

He nudges the remains of Deepti with his foot and grimaces before suggesting, "Maybe up there is good? Whatever it is seems to be coming from behind us."

He points to the stairs leading to the upper level.

Bvar whispers to Lilly, "Are you going to duel that crazy cultist? I reckon you have a chance, but that's a hell of a thing to do."

Bvar walks over to the edge of the pit and remarks, "Can't see the bottom of that shaft from here, but it looks pleanty deep. What do you all suggest? Should we try and go down there somehow or should we try the corridors to the north and east?"

Bvar glances at Lilly and mutters, "Well that was unexpected. Now what?"

Master Bvar nods, "OK, what direction do you suggest we go to search for cultists?"

Master Bvar steps lightly to the west and brings his weapon to bear on the dazed cultist, but he sets a foot wrong and slips. The arrow pings off harmlessly into the wall.

Shoot cultist, with deadly aim & point blank shot: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 1 - 2 = 12Damage: 1d8 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 4 = 12 --->MISS

Bvar

Pratavh <----- WE ARE HERE
Alywn
Shikyomaru
Lilly
Darkness Acolytes

With great precision, Master Bvar finishes the distant acolyte with an arrow that pierces the man's heart.
Shoot distant acolyte, with deadly aim: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 10 - 2 = 23Damage: 1d8 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 4 = 19

Bvar

Pratavh <----- WE ARE HERE
Alywn
Shikyomaru *INVISIBLE*
Lilly *STUNNED*
Darkness Acolytes

Bvar curses under his breath and steps back and shoots the cultist that had taunted you. The arrow lodges in his neck and the man screams.

Shoot distant acolyte, with deadly aim: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 10 - 2 = 22Damage: 1d8 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 4 = 14

Master Bvar had been advancing bow in hand and he shoots one of the acolytes in the chest and pulls out another arrow from the quiver, ready to shoot again.

Shoot distant acolyte, with deadly aim: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 10 - 2 = 26Damage: 1d8 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 4 = 18

Bvar

Pratavh <----- WE ARE HERE
Alywn
Shikyomaru
Lilly
Darkness Acolytes

Bvar sounds alarmed, "That doesn't sound good! Is this to frighten any locals foolish enough to climb up here, or is it something more sinister?"

Master Bvar clambers up sweaty and tired, he looks out over the view and whistles, "Wow that's quite something." When the clouds swallow up the view, he starts methodically checking his crossbow and asks conversationally, "So we're here then, what's the plan?"

Master Bvar finishes packing and takes one last lingering look at the Ballista. He whispers, "Gonna miss ya, but yer way too heavy to go traipsing up the mountain."

He turns his head and then with a gleam in his eye he addresses you, "Right! Lets get a move on eh? The monastery isn't going to clear itself. And our prize isn't going to kill it self now is it?"

Master Bvar dusts himself off and starts bandaging his arm. He winces and mutters, "By Sarenrae's mercy that was too close! It'll come back you know in a few days, unless you can find its original body. It's probably under there." He points at the pile of corpses.

Bvar pulls out a large crossbow, "But of course sir! Onward and upwards I always say. Besides I have something special in case we find our quarry!" He pats a curious looking crossbow bolt, it appears to have a blunt end on it, what used that will be you couldn't say.

Master Bvar folds his arms and harrumphs, "They're just a bunch of yokels. How much trouble can they be? No we need to be on the lookout for this dragon... I bet my hat, one of those mountain peaks is it's lair." His eyes go misty and it's clear he's imagining the glory of slaying a real live dragon!

The rest of the night passes without incident. The first light of morning sees Master Bvar follow the deep claw marks in the earth into the undergrowth. He chuckles as he spots encrusted blood and claw marks on several great trees headed north east. He returns and laughs, "I don't think he saw that coming, ho ho! I think we've seen the last of him, well he's certainly seen the last of us unless I'm much mistaken!"

Bvar seems very pleased with his wordplay this morning.

You've not gone all that far, perhaps a few miles, there is maybe an hour of daylight left..

Master Bvar nods and starts getting the ballista ready.

Master Bvar walks along side Mohktar and frowns, "That's an ugly knife wound, but I don't think that's what killed her. See those lacerations and that bite mark on her clavicle? Looks like she was mauled by a big cat, strange there should be none around here. Big cats need big prey and there's precious little of anything out here."

High Kn:Nature or Kn:History rolls may reveal more.

Master Bvar sighs, "That sort of sounds like a good idea. But have you see those swarms of mosquitoes? There's enough to eat a man alive.
There's swarms of the damned things lurking around every pool of stagnant water of which there is an inexhaustible supply."

Suddenly warming up to the idea, he adds, "You know what would be interesting to visit... That fen is the Daladala Expanse, the site of the twenty years war! This used to be prime farmland, oh five maybe six hundred years ago. Towards the end when the Jaxil empire was getting routed, some fool mage summoned an army of water elementals. Those are long gone but the damage was irreversible. Anyway there's supposed to be a low hill with an iron mine somewhere in the middle of the fen, between here and Lechmugee. It's the site of Warlord Agrippa's famous last stand against. Supposedly a good hundred thousand men, women and beasts fought and died there. That battle is considered a classic and it would be fascinating to visit."

Master Bvar has to shout over the howling wind, "We must get them in!" He says something to Bala but whatever it was is lost in the wind.

The pair of them using sign language get volunteers to lead an elephant towards Alywn's cave. The distance to the cave is short but the winds are so strong it feels like you've traveled miles. You're all soaked and miserable from the incessant driving rain. Bvar and his manservant struggle manfully with the Balista, and eventually Bala has to go back with an elephant to fetch it. Meanwhile you explore the cave entrance. The cave it self seems to be a partially collapsed lava tube. The walls are solid enough and they provide welcome respite from the rain and the nigh continual lightning, but you're not entirely convinced the cave is safe... Spider webs are everywhere, covering every surface. The back of the cave is lost in inky darkness, but somehow you don't think you're entirely alone.

To set the scene.

Make perception checks please. Shikyo you should have access to healing potions and the like, probably worth using some ;)

Some things are just red rag to a bull.

Master Bvar's ears prick up and like an over enthusiastic puppy dog he says, "My lady, did you call?"

On the second day after the camp, a large armed group thunders past on horses. Master Bvar recognizes them, "Ah contingent of the Thakur's mounted Hussars. We've not met any bandits so far, and they're the reason. I think I recognize their officer!"

He waves enthusiastically as the column passes, but they simply ignore your party and Bvar seems most put out and spends much of the afternoon brooding. Still that evening he perks up, "I recognize where we are now. It's been oh, maybe ten years but you see that field over there with the Ocra and the chillis? That's Raj's land. I spent a lot of time here as a lad. Bridgetown is not far away. Hopefully they'll have forgotten. Well, most of them won't care. It's more about what she thinks. T'was a long time ago though, never mind me. Chances are it's all forgotten."

Master Bvar laughs, "Of course not little dragon-kin. Bala has had us following the trade road, it bends west from here. Now there is a small town, well a hamlet really, two maybe three days the wrong way down the road. Called Bridgetown, I'm sure you can guess why. There is a quicker alternative... The river is a little lower than usual so Angora's ford may be passable. It's perhaps half a day's journey the other direction, which will probably save us a week or more in total."

There is a momentary pause, as if Bvar was far away. A little too loudly he enthuses, "But of course! Ajīta ā'ō, hama ēka bāra mēṁ yaha karanē kē li'ē śāmila karanā cāhi'ē. Yahām̐ śivira kē pīchē. , Sabasē acchā hōgā. Dēśa kē rakhanā āga kē ēka khulē maidāna kē sātha hamēṁ pradāna karatā hai ki kaisē dēkhatē haiṁ? Aba tō hama bēhatara hāthī sthānāntarita karanē kē li'ē hai ki ālasī kulī milatā hai. Maiṁ tuma usē hathiyāra analōḍa karanē mēṁ madada karanē kē li'ē hōgā ajīta kā ḍara hai. Lēkina kō'ī ḍara nahīṁ hai, maiṁ samanvaya mēṁ madada karēgā." His tone to you is respectful, his tone to Ajit rather less so.

Any other actions before you turn in for the night? Are you setting up a watch, if so please let me know who is on each watch.

I'll deal with Varunasi when I post tonight. Will take some time and research to come up with everything.

Master Bvar's eyes go distant at the mention of a dragon, "Ahh but there is glory to be had there! They'll remember my name, sorry our names for years to come... You look a competent man, why don't you see if you can get the hired help to mount this weapon. You may need to speak slowly and use short words however."

Glowing beet red in the face, the taller and immaculately armed and armored man is almost screaming at the smaller man in the turban, "Akṣamatā! Āpa lā'ina mēṁ hai ki jānavara nahīṁ rakha sakatē haiṁ?! Vāstava mēṁ āpa kaisē mujhē yaha mujha para hamalā karanē kē li'ē kōśiśa kara rahā hai jaba saṭīkatā kē kisī bhī ḍigrī kē sātha āga kī um'mīda hai? Aura isa dōhana, yaha Ulma Peiod mēṁ rājakumāra Hakkan li'ē kāphī acchā thā. Ēha ēha. Aisā kyōṁ hai ki āpa kē li'ē bahuta acchā nahīṁ hai? Āpa yaha galata kara rahē hai. Tuma cāhō tō maiṁ thā mērē ādamī... Ōha acchī taraha sē kō'ī bāta nahīṁ hai. Yaha padārtha kē kucha lōga ā cukē haiṁ lagatā hai."

He turns to greet you, and polishes some imaginary dirt off his gleaming bassinet, as he says, "AH! The ones we have heard so much about are here. We shall have to swap stories! I won't bore you with all of my exploits, I'm sure you've heard of my defense of the city in the summer of '06 and later again in '09 and '10 and '11. Oh and there was that spot of bother last fall. I was the main hero of the day, I engaged the pirate lord in single combat and ha I lopped his head off. The girls you know, they can't help themselves."

He sidles up to Lilly and whispers, "Why hello! We should get acquainted!"

Before she has a chance to reply, he steps back and tells you, "We seem to be having a spot of bother with the hired help. This here," he points to the ballista, ", is a mark three naval arbalest. A piece of precision equipment. Able to hurl these javelins through six inches of oak at a range of one thousand yards. The Thackur wants me to mount it on that." He points to the elephant.