Scardd follows Tuon's lead. His concentration is focused on stealth. So he forgets to stay alert.
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Scardd looks to his companions, determination in his eyes. "Let uzzz try to no kiill one right avay. Ve queztion for anzwerz," he finishes his statement by patting his chest over his heart.
Scardd nods at Tuon's logical assessment and helps with the wagon. To pass the time while Verzale and Roderick scout ahead, the Warlock practices with his spear.
Scardd wakes to the morning light and Creed's combat routine. The forest is alive with life and the Half-Orc blinks at the early morning dew glistening off the brightening sun. Cracking his neck from side to side to work out the kinks, the Warlock goes over to look at the trail that Roderick spotted the night before.
Scardd nods to Roderick, "Zo, ve make camp for ze night? I vill take Meeedle vatch. Vy zee better in ze dark. Vake me in a few hourzzzz." Scardd will aid in finding a spot and setting camp.
Scardd nods and moves off into the forest, following Verzale and Creed's path, to aid with the body.
Moving away from the hanging Bugbear and his own thoughts, Scardd finds his Ranger companion, "Zo, Roderiiick, any zight of a trail zheze beazzztiezzz left?"
Verzale and Creed move off into the forest. Their discussion of the dead body has Scardd thinking. He moves over to stare at the hanging Bugbear and the mark on its chest. He unconsciously places a hand on his own chest and rubs at his heart. Staring at the creature, his mind wonders. If things were different, would that be him hanging there.
Scardd cloaks his soul and pulls his energies away from the cart. Nodding his head, he looks up at the starry night. He sucks in a deep clean breath of fresh air. Taking his eyes from the sky, the Warlock looks at his companions, “Do zu zhiink thiizz wazzz all of zem?” He waives a hand at the dirt mound and the hanging Bugbear. “Ve found out zat a dog attacked ze caravan alzo and ze Dwarf zaid zat zhe vould like ze body of her friend back. Maybe Roderrriiiick can track zem to zheir lair. Vhat do zu all zhink? Ve could alwayzzz make camp here for ze night and zee iiff more zhow up.”
After a few moments of initial shock, Scardd slowly comes out of his contemplative stupor. His mouth slowly closes, he shakes he head, and briefly eyes Tuon, "No Anzwerz, but a path iizz given." Nodding in thanks to the warrior for his understanding and friendship, he turns and watches Creed and Verzale gather the bodies. Eventually, the Half-Orc makes his way over to the cart and looks over the gathered loot. Searching deep within his soul once again, where his dark energies swirl and flow, he studies the items.
Scardd is updated. DM:
Spoiler: Did well. Rolled 6 for HP for a total of 7.
At 3rd level, Warlocks gain Damage Reduction 1/cold iron. 2 Skill points, added a rank each to Knowledge: Arcana and Planes. 3rd level feat is Weapon Focus: Eldritch Blast. Good stuff Dreamweaver!
Scardd nods, “Among many,” he says as he holds out his arms to show many similar marks. “Thank zu. Vy feel better now.” The Half-Orc moves back to the Bugbear to examine the body. He pulls out a small bottle filled with fluid. He holds it up to eye level and peers into its depths. Reaching deep into his soul, he wills his power around the bottle.
Scardd then follows Tuon’s example and tosses six gold coins and the Bugbear’s sword into the cart. As the armor is stripped, Scardd stops in mid action. He stands and the armor slips from his grasp with a ‘thrump’ to the ground. “Look,” Scardd points and stares. Anyone turning to look at the Bugbear, sees the goblinoid’s bare chest. On the chest, over its heart, is a scar. The scar is in the shape of a demon’s hand. Scardd, his mouth slightly agape, slowly loosens his leather armor and shirt and shows his chest. The Half-Orc bears the same mark.
Scardd, after examining his wounds, spits on the fallen Bugbear, "That hurt furvee deeviil." The Warlock starts kicking it around and searching it. He takes his time examining weapons, searching pockets and pouches, and removing the armor to examine the skin for tattoos or markings. Although the Half-Orc will not say, on a close inspection, one can tell that he is badly hurt.
"Bri, hiit hiim vhere iitt hurtzzzzzzz," shouts Scardd.
With Creed's huge frame blocking a ranged attack, Scardd moves around his big friend. Finding the dark energy pulsing in his soul, the Warlock sends it forth into his spear and stabs at the goblinoid's unprotected back. "Now iitt iizz my turn furrvee deeeviiil."
Scardd growns and his eyes flutter open.
Wagon:
Spoiler:
Scardd falls to the ground as the Bugbear's sword digs deep. Blood splatters the air and starts soaking into the rough ground. He does not move. DM:
Spoiler: Scardd is at -5. Next round, should I make the % roll or did you want to?
Wagon:
Spoiler: Scardd, seeing Tuon fall, lets out a growl and leaps from behind the cart toward the whip-carrying Bugbear. "Vy had enough of zu fervey Go'Blin." Roaring as he approaches, his fire-red hair blazing a trail behind him, the Warlock searches within himself and pulls at his newly understood Eldritch energy. Projecting his power through his spear, he stabs at the hairy Goblinoid.
Wagon:
Spoiler:
Wagon: Spoiler: "Hey zu. Leetle one," Scardd turns his head toward Skiddifig, "Quiiit zour jabbering and letzzz get zeeze ziings. No?" Scardd quickly turns his head back to the Bugbear, waiting for the attack.
The Wagon: Spoiler: Scardd stands tall at the appearance of the yelling Bugbear. He stares and the Goblinoid for a moment, then shrugs his shoulders, "Don't underztand zu furvee deevil. Pleazzze die."
The Warlock reaches into himself and finds the flows of energy that inhabit his being. With a growl, his arm projects forward and the Eldritch power unleashes towards the Bugbear.
The Wagon: Spoiler:
The Wagon
Spoiler: Scardd jumps to his left off of the cart, away from the shouts and torches, and stumbles slightly from the calf wound. He growls away the pain and reaches deep into himself. Arcane swirling patterns form on his hide as he scans the treeline for the attackers and growls, “We‘re under attack”.
Spoiler: Scardd grunts in pain at the sudden attack.
Spoiler: As Bri, Verzale, and Roderick disappear into the woods, Scardd gets the wagon moving again. Day turns to night and Scardd scans the twilight for danger.
Scardd nods. "Vy zay ve go two more hourzzz on thiizzz trail. Iiff nozzing, ve return. Zound good, no?" Scardd turns to Verzale, "Iiff zu follow uzz and zu zpot zomething, could zour volf howl a varning? And iiff I zpot zomething, vy zimply blazzzt zem. Zat vill be my zignal. Zound good, no?"
DM:
Spoiler: Is it still within the 24 hour timespan?
Scardd returns to the cart with little knowledge learned. He listens to Verzale, "Hmmm, vell ze plan wazzz to be ambuzzzhed. Zhould ve carry forward along ze trail? Zen again, vy believe zat ze Dwarf Woman vanted a body returned, No? Do zu zink zat ze bandiittzzz have it vith zem in zheir lair. But zen again, vith ze ambuzzhh, ve have zurprize on our zide to take out a fair amount of zem. Zen ve could follow ze tracks vith lezzz reziztanze ven ve find zheir lair." After a moments pause, Scardd concludes, "Vy zay ve continue for a leetle biit and try and get ambuzzhed. Maybe Roderiick or Verzale can follow uuzz from ze voodzzz and report vith any findingzzz." Scardd looks to his companions for any thoughts.
“Hmmm, burnt horzzze,” Scardd says to himself but loud enough for Creed to hear. The Half-Orc stops the wagon completely, grabs his spear, and steps to the ground. The Warlock moves towards the horse but looks towards the surrounding grasses and trees as if the intermingling shadows between tree and tree are piercing and threatening eyes. Scardd reaches deep in himself to a corner not yet discovered. He feels the dark power surge and flow through his body from the inside to the outside until it fuses onto his skin. His skin itself turns into a chaotic swirl of dynamic colors and shapes pulsing with arcane power. Lifting his arms, Scardd stares for a moment in astonishment at this transformation. Somehow he knows that this will help protect him as he searches around the area.
Scardd guides the horses as the cart makes its way. Without knowing how or why, the reins feel somewhat natural in his hands. He hums a tune long hidden in his memory, the lyrics to the melody just out of reach. As the smell of burnt flesh becomes apparent, Scardd guides the horses to a slower pace and silences his song. The Half-Orc twitches his ears and scans the area for signs of danger and movement.
Scardd watches the big animal and the moving building in complete astonishment. Memory or not, he has never seen or could possibly imagine such a thing. He watches the flower float down into Creed's reaching grasp wondering the significance of the act. --------------- Scardd moves along when the small parade passes by and eventually reaches the waiting wagon. With a nod, Scardd says, "Thank zu. Ve return vith zour wagon intact and bandiittzzzzz dead."
"Ve have a wagon to get, zen we go, no?"
Scardd turns and shakes himself out of his comtemplation and self-absorbtion when he hears his name, "Zu are right. Vee have a job for Talon to do. And vy have a new plaze to look for anzwerz after. Thiizz plaze called Narath-Dur. We go now. Zet ze ambuzzhhh." The Half-Orc looks briefly at Garl and says, "Thank zu," as he nods.
“Mean Nozzing to me either,” Scardd says to Verzale. He shakes his head again, “Theze markingzzz tell me nozzing.”
The Half-Orc turns to regard the man, “Ze table and iittzzz runezzz were familiar, but from vhere, vy cannot zay. Thiizz table or at leazzzt vhere iitt came from might have anzwerz zat I zeek.” Scardd turns back to stare at the rock pieces once again just incase there was something that he missed. His ears perk up as Creed speaks.
As Tuon questions him further, Scardd moves over and checks out the pieces of stone. His eyes scan the runes and workmanship for any incite.
Scardd nods his head in agreement with Skiddifig, “Alzo, Zu zaid iitt wazzz beeeger, and zu cut iitt down. Do zu ztill have zome piezez? Do zu know vhere zey got ze zlab?” Scardd’s speech speeds up with excitement. At times he just sounds like a buzzing bee.
Scardd stares at the man in anticipation but otherwise keeps quiet. He conveys through his body language that he will wait his turn and allow Tuon to get his answers. Eventually, at the appropriate moment Scardd turns to Juris and asks, “Ze table zu zold Meezzter Zallizzz from ze Danzing Dize, ze heavy one with ze runezzz, vhere diid zu get it?”
After a few moments, Scardd looks from Dagmar back to Verzale, "Outcazzzt eh? Maybe we ztart our own zity zomeday zen, no?" The Half-Orc turns to his companions, "Vhere to now? Tuon, have zu met with ze man about ze table yet?" Eyes slinking back to Verzale for a brief moment, Scardd remembers a Dwarf that rescued him from a cave accompanied by a 'Furvey Deevil', and he wonders if this man is similar in nature.
Scardd shakes his head to terminate the stare, “Know zu? Not zure. Your faze … iitt lookzzz familiar. Vy know not why.” Scardd turns his head and looks briefly at Killian before turning back, “It zeemz zat vy find zome answerz only to have more questionzzzz arize. Vy do not know my real name, but vy am called Zkarrd.” Scardd, now less distracted by Verzale’s face, takes in all of his features. He takes a step back and sucks in a breath after realizing that a wolf is at his side. Scardd turns briefly to his companions, a look of confusion on his face.
DM Spoiler:
Scardd listens intently to Killian’s explanation and does not notice when Roderick runs ahead. He nods his head when appropriate while listening. After she is finished he says, “Thank zu. Vy underztand a leetle more now. Iiitt iizz a ztart.” Scardd suddenly looks up as his name is shouted. Scardd is seen walking down the street nodding and talking to Killian when Tuon shouts. Scardd looks up and a smile reaches his scarred face. He moves ahead, “Zorry, vy zeem to have left zu for a biiit.” He shakes his head. The Half-Orc looks around to his friends. Then his gaze falls on Verzale. His smile goes limp, and he just stares.
DM Spoiler:
Scardd stands with a nod of thanks to Roderick. He looks over to the woman with a slightly embarrassed look, “Vy do not remember iiif zomething like thiizz happeeened to me before. Until a few dayzzz ago, Vy remember nozzzing of my pazzzt.” The Half-Orc pauses for a moment and his mouth turns a frown, “Vy am truly zorry zat I hurt your friend. Vy diiid not mean to.” After a few moments of silence, Scardd turns back to Roderick, “Thiizz Verzale, iizz thiizz the red haired man zat I zaw?” Scardd then smacks his mouth together as if he just ate something horrible, “Black zmoke, you zay? Vy feel like vy can tazzzte iitt. Roderick, vhere are ze otherzzz?”
DM Spoiler: "A faze. Juzzzt a faze. Red hair, like mine. Two different eyezzzz. Thiizz iizz all I remember." Scardd looks at Killian with confusion then shakes his head. “No hozzzpiiital. Have tazzzk. Vy am fine now. How long wazzz I like thiizz?” The Half-Orc looks to Roderick for an answer.
DM
Spoiler: “Muzzt protect, muzzzzzt protect,” Scardd mumbles almost incoherently. His eyes regain focus, but he squints for a moment while he lets the morning sun filter through his vision. Eventually he sees Roderick and a woman looking down on him. Scardd moves to sit, shakes his head, then plants his feet on the ground. He looks to the Ranger, “Vhat happeeened? Vhere are we? Vhere are ze otherzzz?”
“Great … an angry Dwarf,” Scardd shakes his head. He shrugs his shoulders then and says with a half-smile, “Vell, at leazzt zhe vill be upfront with uzzz.” Scardd takes a step forward but then stops, “Oi, vy don’t know if thiizz Dwarf vill take too kindly too me. At leazzt half of me anyway. Tuon, zu uzed to dealing vith merchantzz, right? Maybe zu zhould do ze talking. Zkiddifig, zu have a way vith wordzzz alzo. And Creed … Vell who could not like zu Beeeg guy. Bri, zu on ze other hand alwayzz look like zu are up to zomething and zat iizz uzually true. No?”
Scardd gives a nod and a slight smile, “Vy am glad zu are not hurt. Thank zu for thiizz,” he says raising the sealed note slightly in reference. “Zu are tough, leetle girl. If I need help, vy will zeek zu out. Vhat wazzz zat all about anyway?” Scardd nods his head toward the retreating men. After Terra leaves, Scardd unseals the note. After reading it, he looks to his companions, “I muzzzt be at ze Fat Friar at noon today. Zhall we be off to zee theeze merchantzzz until zen.” As Scardd starts to walk, he turns to his companions, “Thiizz plaze iizz very interezzting. No?”
Scardd stops and stares for a moment at the situation and allows himself to process the whole occurrence. He tosses around what he knows about the girl for a little bit. He feels bad that he scared her, but he is also angry that she almost got him arrested. Eventually though, he comes to the conclusion that her whole life is built on survival, and she does what she has to do to survive. She is still just a girl and she needs help. With what sounds like a deep sigh coming from deep inside his chest and leaving through his throat and mouth, the Half-Orc says with a shake of his head, “Two men, leeetle girl. Not right.” Scardd approaches the altercation, stops twenty feet away with his spear leveled and shouts, “Hey, zu there. Leave ze leeetle girl alone. Zhe iizz much more trouble than zhe iizz worth. Bezides,” he says with a growl and a show of his teeth, “Vy owe her one.”
After several seconds of quiet thought, Scardd nods his head slightly, "Yezzz, I can vait. My pazzzt iizz a blank. I guezz it doezz not matter if it catchezzz up to me in ze prezent or ze future. Zhall we zee theeeeze Balon merchantzzz firzt zen and find out more about vhat we are up againzzzt?"
"Information regarding zat table we zaw lazt night," Scardd answers trying to be cryptic.
"Maybe zo, ve zhould go out of town and zee theeze Balon Brotherzzz firzt zo. If zey tell uzzz vhat we faze, zen we buy suppliezzz vith a better knowledge of vhat we might need, no?"
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