I have played Valik through a bit of the first part of the Legacy of fire. I like him quite a lot and would love to finish it with him, if you don't mind a viking paladin of Sarenrae. I would bump him back down to first, of course, I just wanted to get the character concept up there for you to see. I don't remember much about the game so that won't be a problem...and I don't like to metagame.
"Lets try it. If it turns out to be too hard, we will back off and find another way. I want to make sure that we are in fighting strength for gnolls, rather than getting hurt climbing some rocks." "Besides, it might be fun. Just don't scream when you jump for the cliff." "Wait a second, if Felliped takes the rope with him when he swings to the cliff, how are we going to climb up too?" Valik asks, perplexed.
"Perfect. Lets see if we can get this to work. Felliped, you go up, get the rope tied off, then we can all climb the rope after you. We get easy access to the upper level. Since everything down here is ruined, we should go and see what we can do up on the top level. There might be an opportunity there that isn't down here." "Dashki, please lead us to the building that has the intact second floor."
"Still looks green in the gills. Hmmm. Let me see the wound site for a moment." Heal 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 Valik works on the wound for a few moments, pulling items out of his pack, massaging the wound site and moving Dross's limb around. "Well you will live." he says brushing off his hands as he looks around the room. Was the snake on a straw bed? Can we arrange the snake so its wounds aren't immediately visible? "Dashki, do you think the dogs were using the snake as a guard animal, or are they too hard to train? Also, do you think this town has sewers?"
"What are they feeding that thing? Horses?", Valik asks as the shadowed shape of the snake rears up out of its nest. Eying the beast Valik opts for caution, dropping a stone into his trusty sling, then spinning it up to a thrumming blur before sending it at the creature. miss? 1d100 ⇒ 91
"I think that Dashki has the right idea. Let's turn it into a pincushion!"
"Good enough for now. Let's go see if there are any patrols moving around down here, and lets check that domed building over there. Lead the way Dashki. Oh, I just remembered something. If we have to scatter, meet back at the river spot that Dashki led us to." So building 1 is the domed building...looks like it has a roof still.
"Ok, that doesn't make any sense. It isn't chained up? At the first provocation the critter will just run off. And it didn't stop us from getting into the town, so what is the point of it guarding anything?" "Dashki, do you think that you can get inside this building and poke around? Can we boost you over the wall maybe?" Valik whispers.
Valik looks at the buildings across the river, rubbing his beard. "I don't like it." "Look at the cliffs over there. Its basically a trap. If someone is watching the road and the bridge, we could get pinned over there pretty easily." "So we are going to have to pull attention away from there before we do anything else." "Lets go check out the building that gets food three times a day. If it turns out to be something mean...which I hope...between freeing that, and lighting some fires, we can cause some chaos, then go check out the building across the way." "Thoughts? Dashki, anything to add?" Valik asks.
"Flame above, Dullen. You sound like a crying brat. Haven't you been with me long enough that you know I am fair about things? And to be honest, I had no idea that the brooch or the mace were magical. Since I think that I can trust you to smash what needs smashing, here." Valik says as he tosses the mace to Dullen. "Now you are ready to smash some dogs into the dust, right?"
Valik jumps a bit at the mention of magic by Felliped. Perhaps he can tell me about the sword! And the mercenaries will be happy if he can determine if any of the items are magical and what their value might be...that way I can get them paid. "Ah. Felliped. I can help you chose gear if you wish. While you look over what the caravan has I would like to ask some questions about magic if you don't mind. I also may need your assistance with a small project."
"It is not right for us to sit by while the gnolls torture your comrades Felliped. Dashki's plan is sound. If the gnolls are going to execute your friends, they will do it soon." "I think you are right Dashki. A quick strike could cause enough confusion so we can grab the prisoners and run like rabbits for a good ambush point. And attacking an execution party from behind, that would definitely cause confusion." "Dashki says that the gnolls will execute the prisoners along the path of Felliped's escape, correct?" Valik says, looking at Dashki. "If so, then we merely need to position ourselves in the abandoned houses on the edge of town so we can strike when we see a chance. If the gnolls don't help out and bring the prisoners out, then we will just have to go and get them. Our escape point will be whatever is the best place, tower, ruin or waterfall that is closest to wherever we are on the edge of town." "Any problems with that plan? Its simple enough, but we can modify it if we need to." Valik finishes, looking around the group.
"Well I guess that answers my question about the "Battle Market", I really had no idea what such a thing was. Anyways, thank you Felliped. By adding to the information that Dashki had already provided you may have given us the edge that we need to see this through successfully." Valik says rubbing his chin. "I really hate to sound like a crazy zealot, but this talk of Rovagug...Ameera, I have a duty to eradicate the gnolls. That may not exactly match up with securing the town. But you can be sure that unless the filth of Rovagug is burnt out it will spread and threaten everything you care about." "I still think the original plan holds. We cause chaos, draw gnolls into traps and ambushes until their forces are weakened. Then we crush them." Valik finishes, punching his fist into his palm.
"Well I guess that answers my question about the "Battle Market", I really had no idea what such a thing was. Anyways, thank you Felliped. By adding to the information that Dashki had already provided you may have given us the edge that we need to see this through successfully." Valik says rubbing his chin. "I really hate to sound like a crazy zealot, but this talk of Rovagug...Ameera, I have a duty to eradicate the gnolls. That may not exactly match up with securing the town. But you can be sure that unless the filth of Rovagug is burnt out it will spread and threaten everything you care about." "I still think the original plan holds. We cause chaos, draw gnolls into traps and ambushes until their forces are weakened. Then we crush them." Valik finishes, slapping his fist into his palm.
"Felliped, when the Father is done with you, I need to talk to you. The rest of the mercenaries and myself are going to be heading to Kelmarane tomorrow. I need you to draw us out a map of the area and where you think that your companions are located. Also we heard mention that there were large beasts penned up in buildings. I hope you tell us where they were located." Valik uncorks one of the remaining infusions and drains it in one gulp, then walks around picking up his gear off the ground. Infusion 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
"Ameera, the man has not introduced himself, but I think that his name is Felliped...he sounds a bit like a pesh-addled madman to me.", Valik says from the archway. "One of the guards caught the bird with an arrow as it was attempting to flee. Apparently it fell over the wall, so it might be prudent to send someone to get it."
Valik awakens with a start, swinging his arm and almost catching Dross across the temple, as he jerks back to consciousness. "Gah!!..." He sits up, blinking for a moment, collecting himself. "Well the Father was right about one thing. Those tonics of his don't taste that bad...a bit like eating a fist full of herbs, not great, but not bad. Thank you Dross. What happened to the bird? Also, did anyone check the corpse over there?" Valik asks, pointing at the body lying in the center of the courtyard.
"Ahhh. Flames to you bird! Well she is good and distracted, hit her from behind!", Valik bellows, ducking under the snapping beak. As the bird turns away to look at Utarchus, Valik dances forward, slicing at the bird's neck. Slice, flank 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 The bird snaps its head up in time to evade the blow, and the scimitar slices through nothing but feathers.
"Blades against beak it is!" Valik thunders, dropping his sling and pack and drawing his scimitar, before moving across the courtyard towards the filthy bird. Can we just consider that he wouldn't be wearing his backpack if they are fighting in the abbey? Valik knew he wouldn't be leaving for a while, so he would have had it off. I ask because without the pack, rations and waterskins he is back to a light load and the 30' move. It makes more sense to me.
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