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Still a little in shock, Tad attempts to collect himself. Positioning himself in the midst of the party, he touches his hand to the pendant beneath his shirt, and murmurs, "Gozreh, attend my companions." A faint breath of air bearing the gentle scent of freshly fallen rain circulates the chamber as he channels.
As the soft breeze dissipates, Tad shifts his mace uneasily as he looks around. "Something... has changed," he breathes, shuddering. "But what?"
Tad stares at his outstretched hand, clearly frightened by the electric bolts he just unleashed. It takes a short moment before Hironaki's words draw his attention. He looks from the offered wand to the fallen Rishh and croaks something unintelligible in reply. Turning to Rishh, he crouches and, closing his eyes, reaches out to touch his injured ally.
Tad advances as far as the traffic in the narrow corridor allows. Reaching out a hand, he gently touches Rishh's shoulder.
Spell description: For the next minute, Rishh gets a +1 competence bonus on a single attack roll, saving throw, or skill check. He must choose to use the bonus before making the roll to which it applies.
Upon enacting this guidance, Rishh may notice the scent of freshly fallen rain carried upon a gentle breeze that appears to flow in the same direction as his endeavour, assisting his efforts.
Tad continues his silence, following while the southern room is explored and the questioning of the goblin scholar commences. He winces as the goblin reveals that he is unaware of a remedy for the mutation, but gives little else in the way of reaction. His withdrawal continues a short time after the interrogation concludes. Drawing a deep breath, he exhales sharply, seeming to have reached a decision. "Well, it seems that, although this one may be unusually smart, he has little knowledge of this place," he gives a small wave of his hand to indicate their general location, "or the... substance." "Let's keep going and see what else we can learn about this place." Upon hearing the sound of goblins chanting, Tad pauses, listening intently, a wary look on his face. Unable to understand what the goblins are saying, he hoists his crossbow, raising his eyebrows in query and turns to Dolvin, awaiting the dwarf's recommendation.
Tad's face visible pales, with a faint greenish hue, and his jaw clenches upon Armik's comments on the tail-like growth. "Hnnn," he gives a slightly strangled sound in response. Oh gods, I've got to get rid of this thing! Standing, he draws a dagger from a belt sheath and, squeezing his eyes tight, he attempts to remove the unwelcome addition to his body. Tad tears a strip of cloth and binds his arm (depending on the outcome, as part of the treatment for the self-inflicted wound or to hide the tail or perhaps both!) before turning his regard back to the group. He is withdrawn following the (attempted?) surgery and waits on the group to decide their next course of action. Should they decide to interrogate the goblin, he approaches whoever is going to speak, touches them on the arm, and says, "Find out if there's a cure."
As the final goblin falls, the skin of Tad's hand and arm return to normal. His face still rigidly set, he strides over to search the goblins for a remedy to his affliction.
He clicks his tongue as his search fails to turn up what he sought. "They've got some fire flasks, here," he informs the others, a peculiar edge to his voice, as holds up one of the flasks for them to see. Tad walks back toward the doorway and collects his crossbow from the floor, loads a bolt and rejoins the group, the hardness in his face diminishing over the course of his passage. "Everyone okay?" he asks, his voice sounding more like his own.
Tad looks down, intending to reload his crossbow, and notices the small furry tail twitching on his arm. Recoiling in distaste, Tad accidentally drops his crossbow to the floor. "What have you done to me?" he asks the nearest goblin, distaste clear in his face and voice. Striding forward, Tad approaches the goblin, weaponless. With each step his expression hardens. "Gozreh, purge this vile mutation," Tad petitions his god, the skin of his hand and what is visible of his arm darken and harden as they become covered in small thorns. He attempts the punch the goblin. Wooden Fist (Su)::
As a free action, your hands can become as hard as wood, covered in tiny thorns. While you have wooden fists, your unarmed strikes do not provoke attacks of opportunity, deal lethal damage, and gain a bonus on damage rolls equal to 1/2 your cleric level (minimum +1).
Tad tries unsuccessfully to evade the lumps of goop the goblins throw at him, the sludge splatting against his chest and thigh.
Tad grimaces at the goo and pulls a lever on his crossbow, loading another bolt. He raises the crossbow and carefully sights the goblin, at the far side of the room, beyond where Pig engages his previous target.
Following Pig as they return from the exploration to the east, Tad calls out to the large warrior when he notices Rishh and Armik gathered around the northern door "Wait, Pig. It looks like they've found something." "There is magic all around us, and that statue, that statue was surely magical. Though it's magical origin I unfortunately cannot say." Dolvin announces. As they are searching the chamber he turns to Tad and asks "you seem to be a man of the cloth, who is it that you worship? If you don't mind my asking." Tad's hand reaches instinctively toward the pendant now nestled once more within the confines of his shirt. "I don't know much about magic," he replies to Dolvin. He seems to be searching for words as he explains, "I... hear whispers on the wind. I can... read Gozreh's moods. Sometimes I predict her humour or calm his rage. Sometimes I can only warn of their coming vengeance." "Whose voice do you hear?"
Tad enters through the double doors, turning his head to look over the incongruous scene before them. He wrinkles his nose slightly, "Smells like something has lived here."
"There. Some sort of slime trail," Tad points out the shimmering scum to the others. Tad kneels to inspect the trail, trying to determine what creature created it, then looks around the room for signs of any current inhabitants.
Tad's attention is drawn to Rishh at the urging for caution and he watches with interest as he goes about his inspections of the hallway. So engrossed in his observations, he fails to notice Pig moving toward the statue until too late. He manages a single step and to half-raise his hand in admonition, but by this time the half-orc is already making his way on all fours. Holding his breath, Tad watches on, saying a silent prayer for the big man's safety. Tad readies to offer healing should some misfortune happen to Pig. If he passes unscathed, Tad will follow Pig's example.
Tad examines the figures carved on the walls, glancing from those in the flames to those down below, his hand coming to rest lightly on the form of an anguished figure. He turns when Armik and Hironaki comment, regarding first the statue, then the plaque before returning to the imagery sculpted on the walls. "You might just be onto something..."
Tad marvels at the others' ability to notice the thin trip wire. Should the trap be successfully disarmed or set off prior to his passage, Tad gives the tabletop and books a wary glance as he cautiously passes by, distancing himself from them as much as the narrow hallway allows. If the trap has not been disabled and is still armed, with the others having already traversed it, he attempts to leap over the wire to follow them.
With little else to offer for Father Julian's comfort, Tad gives the man some of his rations and a small smile of encouragement, "We'll investigate what is causing these energies. You can rest soon." He looks toward the door. "What's known of this Runelord and his Bakrakhan?" As Julian, or any of the others, relate what they know, if anything, Tad makes his way toward the door, joining the group and trying to ascertain what lies beyond the door.
Tad shakes his head. "I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with your Soralyon - I've much to learn." "Come, sit and rest." Tad gestures to a nearby rock or similar perch, if there is one present, and offers his waterskin to the priest. "If there is evil trying to escape we must stop it. What we can do?" Should Father Julian take the offered seat and/or water, Tad tries to take the opportunity to check the man over. "If I may?"
Tad looks on in admiration as the others inspect what looks like barren rock to his eyes and piece together the events that transpired. Noticing Pig investigating the lone corpse, he crouches down beside him, also checking over the small body. "It's been dead some time," he murmurs as he works."About a fortnight.
He sits back on his heels to look around while the others finish their investigations. "I don't think we're in immediate danger," he replies to Rishh. "Perhaps it's best not to risk stirring it up and just stick to our task and follow the directions to the door. Unless your tracking shows more recent signs of passage?"
Tad joins the others at the cave entrance, falling into line behind Armik and Hironaki. He pauses in his preparations on hearing Armik's forewarning, glancing at him and then Rishh. "It's a poor stew that has no spice," he recalls the old adage from back home. Tad resumes his preparations. Still, it's best to watch out for chilli. He secures a mace within easy reach, lights a torch and readies his light crossbow.
Tad follows the others toward the Shoanti encampment and ensures he has ample travel rations, extra torches for the journey underground and fills his waterflask. Once finished, he joins/awaits the others to commence their trek. Should Hironaki join him before the others have returned, he begins filing him in on what little they know.
Diplomacy:
"Your trust is not misplaced. We will..." Tad falters as Rishh drops prone and begins his analysis. He continues watching the activity of his reptilian companion as he resumes speaking to the jothka, sounding only slightly distracted, "We will find out what's on the other side of the door."
Tad winces as the unexpected fervor of Pig's greeting jolts through him, a pendant slipping free from the confines of his shirt to swing on a length of string tied about his neck. "Uh. Thanks." He rubs his back as he glances up at Pig, asking, "Sleepy?Is that a person?" He nods his head politely in Rishh's direction, his lips set in a small uncertain smile. Pendant appearance, should anyone notice: The pendant is a simple wooden carving about the length of an adult human's thumb. It is in the form of a leaf, a single bead of what might supposedly be water falling from its tip. It seems likely Tad carved it himself.
Tad pauses briefly upon entering the common room, misgiving clear on his youthful features. Darting nervous glances left and right at the tavern's dubious patrons, he subconsciously tugs at his mismatched and ill-fitting armour before scurrying over to join his Pathfinder colleagues. He casts an apprehensive eye over the other members of the group; eyes ever widening as they pass the bulk of Pig to take in Rishh's reptilian silence and on to Armik, where they come to rest on - and follow - the flicking tail. "A man is known by the company he keeps." The tip of his tongue licks nervously at his suddenly dry lips. Appearance:: Tad is slightly below average in height and stocky of build. A mess of short brown hair frames a youthful, clean-shaven face. The well made but rough-spun clothes of a labourer are visible beneath the layers of his disparate armour. |
