Shalelu, Ranger's page

"Now that the Thistletops are dead and scattered, I should check on the other goblin tribes. I'm reasonably sure that they'll start squabbling among themselves to fight over the power vaccuum. Of course, once word gets out that Thistletop is abandoned, one of the other tribes is going to move in quickly—The tribes all agreed that the Thistletops had the best lair. If you want to finish exploring the dungeons there before that rock is crawling with goblins again, you should probably do so in the next few days."

Shalelu finishes her breakfast and heads over to the bar to have a private conversation with Ameiko. After a few minutes, she stops back at the table to say good-bye.

"I should be back in a few days. Good luck to you all!"

Standing her ground, Shalelu fires another volley.

Ranged attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 1 = 29
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

With a gasp, Shalelu draws her bow and fires an arrow at the disgusting abomination.

Ranged attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

Shalelu smiles at the reunion of Gwyn and her familiar, then straps her bow across her back. Without a word, she takes out a length of rope and kneels beside the unconscious Nualia. Gently, so as not to wake her, the ranger ties Nualia's hands securely behind her back, and also ties a length of rope between her ankles so that she can't take a stride of more than a foot-and-a-half. Finally, she stuffs a cloth in Nualia's mouth and ties a length of rope across her mouth around the back of her head, making what seems to be a very effective gag.

"Gwyn... killing her is what Nualia would do. Be better than that."

Shalelu looks at the slumbering demon-priestess with incredulity as she lowers her bow. "I didn't think that would work! Someone tie her up!
That magic won't last long!"

Shalelu fires a white-fletched, white-shafted arrow at Nualia.

Point-blank shot, bless, sleep arrow

Ranged attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 22
Nonlethal Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4 ...plus DC 11 Will save or fall asleep

Shalelu moves back to get a clear shot, then fires another arrow at Nualia.

Ranged attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 1 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

Will save (DC 14): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Shalelu draws back on her bow, and hesitates for a long second before releasing her arrow.

Ranged attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 = 30 ...Another crit threat!
Miss <= 20: 1d100 ⇒ 61 ...not a miss!
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7

Confirm?: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 = 30 ...um, yeah!
Crit damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 7) + 4 = 12

Ignoring the wave of evil energy, Shalelu draws and aims carefully, then lets a black-fletched arrow fly.

Ranged attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 = 30 ...Crit threat!
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 1 = 10
Miss <= 20: 1d100 ⇒ 46

Confirm?: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 26
Crit damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 = 13

Will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

"Prepare to meet your Queen."

Shalelu says, "We will never submit to demons, wretch," and looses another volley.

bless, point-blank shot

Ranged attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 29
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3
Miss on <=20: 1d100 ⇒ 65

Shalelu lines up a shot and fires at Nualia.

Bless, point-blank shot

Ranged attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

Surprised that Nualia has landed beside her, Shalelu draws her sword, steps behind the priestess, and stabs her.

Holding bow in off-hand, flanking with Orik.

Melee attack: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 = 14
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Glancing between enemies, Shalelu deems that Cerin is in the direst of straits, and fires at the demon dog.

Ranged attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 1 = 25
Piercing Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"I can't say I'd have much use for his ears, Orik. You could never tell him much."

The ranger winces in pain as she moves forward, firing at the bugbear.

Longbow: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 + 1 = 5

Shalelu puts her arm on Gwyn's shoulder and squuezes it reassuringly. This might be the first time you've seen the ranger's air of hardness melt away.

"Jossakin mielessä kaikki hirviöt ovat orpoja. Heidän vanhempansa lukitsevat ne häkeissä ja tekevät heistä taistelemaan toistensa kanssa selviytyäkseen. Jotkut jopa panostavat, joista he selviävät. Olen varma, että ne, jotka tapasimme, olivat lunastuksen ulkopuolella. He olivat jo hirviöitä. Ei muuta voinut tehdä, jotta voisitte muuttaa sitä."

Shalelu then brushes the tears from Gwyn's face.

"En tiennyt, että olit hukkaan. Tämä on raskas taakka sydämeen: katsella ystäväsi vanhempia ja kuolla elämisen aikana. Uskokaa ... Tiedän, millaista se on. Ja tiedä, että rakkaus tekee sen kalliiksi."

"And I can think of another irredeemable monster that deserves your magical fire. Let's go find her."

At the sound of battle, Shalelu rushes into the chamber, her bow drawn; she lets fly an arrow at the monster.

Ranged attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 1 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Unused to shooting in an enclosed space, the ranger fails to take into account the low and uneven ceiling. The arc of her arrow hits the ceiling, and the arrow skitters harmlessly across the floor, out the opening, and into the Varisian Gulf.

Shalelu regards Gwyn with an inscrutable yet firm expression. She then sighs. "As much as I hate to say it, I'm with Orik on this. They may be young, but those pups are already just as cruel and vicious as grown goblins. Goblins deliberately throw their young in cages like that as soon as they're weaned. The goblins call it 'school.' That's where they learn to fight and steal... and often to kill. The goblins think this 'school' toughens them up, making them into better goblins. It's where they learn to prey on the weak: they just let their young weed themselves out. I think typical goblin childhood goes a long way to explain why they're all cruel and crazy."

She pauses, her look stern. "I think this lot has already learned their goblin lessons, and I really don't think they're redeemable any more. Maybe if they were newborns, but not at this point. I'm not proud of saying this, but I think we should put them down. Barring that, I guess we could just open the door when we leave this place, and let them fend for themselves. I'm sure that at least a few of them would be able to survive on their own."

Shalelu takes a sip of ale from her stein, and the slightest hint of a smile crosses her face.

"You had me questioning myself for a moment. I guess I hadn't misjudged you after all, human."

Shalelu nods at the words of her fellow elf. "Honestly, Orik, we could really use your insight into the upcomming fight. You've actually met Nualia. Aside from what we'ver read in her diary, you know what she'd capable of more than any of us."

She pauses, perhaps remembering that Orik's role in Nualia's party was hired muscle.

"And... I would imagine that she has a fair amount of treasure that she's collected... You'd get a fair share of that!"

"I'm pretty sure Hannah keeps evening hours, Cerin. And if you're in need, she doesn't mind too much if you ring her doorbell in the middle of the night."

With a grim nod, Shalelu says, "I would rather not repeat that."

After Cerin uses the magic wand to heal her, Shalelu opens her eyes and sits up. She rubs her head. "Unhh. Thanks. Please tell me you got that bastard."

She then gets to her feet, albeit slowly. When she stands up, she swoons slightly, then shakes her head. She leans heavily on a pillar as she looks to her companions for a decision on how to proceed. "I don't think I'm ready for another fight-- and I'll be damned if I let Bruthazmus get the better of me again. Perhaps we should make a strategic withdrawal?"

"Can't argue with that..."

Shalelu nods at Gwyn's assertion that a 30-foot-tall goblin would certainly have been noticed by now. Yet, she still seems troubled by the image.

"This crude art is what as close as goblins get to a written language."

"What if that..." she points at the image of the giant goblin "...is the 'Malfeshnikor' Nualia is trying to release?"

"...and how do we know that sorceress friend of yours left without telling anyone where we are?"

Shalelu nods in approval. "That's actually a really good idea!"

"Goblins are voracious. They'll eat ten full meals a day if they can get it. This amout of food would be irrestible to a goblin—especially a barrel of pickles. Goblins LOVE pickles. I'd guess that Ripnugget or Gogmurt nailed the door shut in frustration to keep the other goblins out... without thinking through that it would keep himself out too!"

Shalelu still has her bow out with an arrow nocked and pointed at the floor, but not drawn. She looks at Orik and aks, "Malfeshna-what?"

Shalelu's eyes go wide at the mention of Bruthazmus.

"That a**hole is here, too?! He and I have been trying to kill each other for years. I've vowed that the next time we meet will be our last!"

Shalelu seems somewhat satisfied with Orik's answer, and puts her bow away. "So-- what are we going to do with these goblin corpses? I don't want Nualia to use them as an undead army. I vote we throw them off the cliff to the sharks."

Shalelu, her bow still drawn but pointed down, nudges several fallen goblins with her foot. She then turns toward the human warrior, with her eyes narrowed.

"Thanks for the help, but who are you and why were you working with goblins?"

Shalelu grins every-so-slightly and nods at Cerin's plan. "Nice. I think that just might work! Let's do it!"

Shalelu nods sagely. She peers through the opening in the maze toward the bridge. As is typical for Thistletop, the morning is gray and misty. "That might work! Tell me more of your plan, especially what magic you'll use to hide your approach? Once your elemental attacks, Kyrian, Gwyn, and I could support you from here with archery until you give us the 'clear' signal. Then we can all cross over and press the assault."

"Gwyn, it looks like you took a bit of a beating. Here. This should heal your injuries."

The ranger hands Gwyn a potion vial.

It's a potion of cure light wounds.

"Take it away, Gwyn!" Shalelu steps back behind the other elven woman, dodging the jaws of the undead goblin dog.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

She then takes a shot at the same zomblin dog that tried to bite her.

Ranged attack through soft cover: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 - 4 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Shalelu shakes her head at Gwyn's attempt at hairdressing, but can't manage to suppress a smile.

She chortles at Kyrian's comment. "I think arrows or a good blade are about the only thing you can use to make a goblin more pleasant to be around. They are a lot less dangerous when dead..." she pauses, looking back the way you all came. "...unless they're working with a necromancer..."

Shalelu sheathes her dagger and nocks an arrow without fully drawing her bow. "I really don't like this. I've never met undead goblins before."

At the talk of things to do in town before returning to Thistletop, a look of slight annoyance crosses Shalelu's face. "Well, I'd just as soon head out sooner rather than later, but if you need to gather more supplies for the raid, then go do it. Let's meet by the North Gate in an hour."

The ranger nods at Gwyn's questions. "Fair enough to ask. I've been living around Sandpoint for many years now. I'm most at home in the forests, and know the local woods very well. I've taken on the responsibility to keep an eye on dangers that may be lurking in the forest, and letting Belor here know about them. Especially what the local goblin tribes are up to. As far as fighting, I'm a halfway decent archer."

"I ran across a Licktoad welcoming party, and they managed to spot me. They normally run away when they see me, but something has emboldened them, and they attacked. I killed four of them, but three ran off and one one of them threw a thunderstone as a warning. I decided to press my luck and get closer to their village. The Licktoads were in the midst of some kind of celebration. They built some small effigies of humans, dogs, and horses our of reeds and a little town out of bark. One goblin was wearing a wig painted silver and was seemingly leading a bunch of other goblins toward the village. They then lit the model village and effigies on fire as they chanted... then three goblins in a demon suit made out of red-dyed horsehide jumped out and danced over the ashes... until they started fighting with each other and tore open the suit. That caused chaos to break out among the other players and spectators, and I decided to leave during the melee."

She pauses, and adds, "The leadership from Thistletop really seems to be stirring them up and getting them ready to attack Sandpoint. I think we need to put an end to this sooner rather than later. If you don't mind the company, I'd like to join you on your next foray to Thistletop. Are you planning to head back there tomorrow?"

"Any reports of my demise are somewhat exaggerated, Belor! Ameiko said that I could probably find you here-- how is Halvor?"