Proteus looks around at the carnage. "Vitae," he chants.
Ka'kara looks off into the darkness in frustration. "They are as bad as sand roaches, always skittering for the dark corners." She catches Grond as he topples hefting him easily. "Shall we return to the cave where I was staying to rest. Our companions do not appear to be in any shape to continue shaman."
Proteus turns to the small halfling laying to the other side of him. "I'm sorry for this small one." With that he pulls back and slaps Royl into conciousness. As Royl's eyes flutter open, he speaks."Sandros needs your aid, Royl!" He then moves in an attempt to shield Sandros from any further incoming missiles.
Roylenna obliges, stretching her hand toward Sandros and producing a ray of fire that turns green as it strikes the half-elf, but the glow is not as bright as it could be even as it focuses on the bolt still protruding from his body.
Heavenly Fire to hit; healing dealt (1d20+4=12, 1d6=1)
With a disgusted sigh at her efforts, Roylenna shakes the sleep out of her mind and gets to her feet. "Gah! I seem to be spending a lot more of my time unconscious lately."
So, after another channeling or two, where are you going and what's your plan going to be?
"I agree Ka'kara, I am ill prepared to aid much more if we continue and it would seem you met little of interest in your time spent in the cave above." With that, Protues concentrates to try to magnify the power of his ability to minimize his allies' wounds. "Vitae," he chants.
Proteus will also grab the box in the cave.
Roylenna will push or pull Sandros and Grond as necessary to get them to follow Proteus' lead. If she can get them going in the right direction, she will rearguard with a set of Dancing Lights at 40 ft behind her, ready to use her Heavenly Fire on anything that comes into range.
Who did that 6 HP healing go to? Right now Grond id curled up sleeping like a baby in the barbarians arms. Well he is 6'-6" so maybe he is just flung over her shoulder sleeping, but either way, he's out.
Seeing that there isn't much to gain pursuing the kobolds now that they are alerted and you are low on healing, you reluctantly pull out. You have to go around the hill to find the cave where Ka'kara was staying, but it's not very far, and nothing bothers you on your way there.
As you arrive, you notice that the Pogin gang has left in a hurry, bringing their ill-gotten gain. The fire is still warm, though and soon you have a comfy fire going.
There is only one exit apart from the narrow chute. The kobold caves are quite near, but the sight from the cave mouth is good and it's near impossible to sneak up on you that way.
Neither of you is sleepy (it's still only morning), but you are beginning to feel hungry. As you prepare a meal Grond takes a look at the boxes you've salvaged . The orc's strongbox isn't trapped and Grond has no trouble picking the lock even without tools.
Speaking of tools, that's exactly what's in the box. There is a set of thieves' tools and an ivory brooch. The other box on the other hand is trapped with a simple poison needle trap, but it is easily disarmed, and even this more complex lock is no match for Grond as he tries out his new tools.
In it are 450 sp, a military dog saddele, a disguise kit and a masterwork shortsword with a pearl in its pommel.
Who did that 6 HP healing go to? Right now Grond id curled up sleeping like a baby in the barbarians arms. Well he is 6'-6" so maybe he is just flung over her shoulder sleeping, but either way, he's out.
Actually the 1 point from the last channeling would have woken you up, and the 6 go to everyone.
The xp tally is 100 for the net trap, 150 for killing six kobolds and 100 for the poison dart trap.
Ka'kara fidgits impatiently, constantly pacing, and taking low practice swings with her sword mumbling to herself about skittering quick little critters as she does so.
Sandros, much recovered from his unfortunate encounter with the kobolds, is also running drills with his rapier, apparently heartened by his generally effective performance against them. His movements have a slightly greater flair, but also a little more control, and contrast sharply with the heavy, powerful attacks that Ka'kara is practicing across the cave.
Now the question is: whereto? Will you try to assault the kobolds again and if so from outside (you can see the bushes that hide the entrance to their den from the cave mouth) or from one of the passages you've explored. Or do you want to go somewhere else?
Before laying down to rest, Proteus uses his remaining Bless spell to staunch some of Grond's wounds.
"I think we should remove the rest of the kobolds before we continue. I have a plan, though it may take some time to create the configuration. If we believe that the opening into the cave network just outside where we sleep, then perhaps we can grab some of the bushes that lie outside and then create some barriers in the caves we know leads into their lair. Perhaps then we can corner them so they can't use the guerilla tactics that they are obviously relying upon."
Bold words, priest.
Bold words, priest.
"It doesn't seem as bold as trying to chase the creatures throughout their home turf. I also don't see the point in leaving to chance giving them an opportunity to cut off retreat should we need to use those caverns in the future."
Sandros frowns. "I like your thinking, my friend, but I'm not sure that using the bushes as barriers would be practical. I fear we'd merely burden ourselves and leave ourselves open to attacks from kobolds not trying to carry branches and fight at the same time."
Sandros frowns. "I like your thinking, my friend, but I'm not sure that using the bushes as barriers would be practical. I fear we'd merely burden ourselves and leave ourselves open to attacks from kobolds not trying to carry branches and fight at the same time."
Still shaken by the mental image of Royl's body laying still as well as the shaft that impaled Sandros deeply into his flesh. Gathering the brambles can be done in the first place and wouldn't be difficult to carry. We are not looking for enough to stop progress, just merely impede if the little devils try to make an escape. We also don't know which caverns are tied together in the caves below. It may also save us by making it more difficult for them to have the opportunity of bringing the fight to us on more than one front. As always, I will defer to the opinion of the group. The look on Proteus' face becomes grave. I am concerned, however, that if they manage to get us in a crossfire, we would be doomed. There is only so much I can do..." Proteus trails off.
Proteus begins to speak with a weightiness to his tone. If that is not an acceptable plan, then I feel we must do all we can in preparation. Which means, I would not feel comfortable unless the assault wait until tomorrow.
Now the question is: whereto? Will you try to assault the kobolds again and if so from outside (you can see the bushes that hide the entrance to their den from the cave mouth) or from one of the passages you've explored. Or do you want to go somewhere else?
Ka'kara looks somewhat approvingly at Proteus, "Yes, a way to keep the little lizards still and in our light would be good" However she gives the bushes a doubtful glance, "Give me light to keep with me and I'll hunt them down where ever they flee too. Do any of you have a better way of hindering their crossbows or protecting us from them?"
Since they are spending so much time in the cave, Ka'kara unrolls a piece of suede leather with sharp needles and tools kept in various pouches in it. Getting Roylenna's attention she says, "'Lenna, you have earned a spirit mark. Would you allow me to place it?" She uncaps a small vial of some black tar-like substance.
"I can afford myself alone some protection against the crossbow bolts or I can summon a bank of fog to hide within for the group."
She shakes her head, "No, you protecting yourself would only be useful if you were the one being shot at and that does not strike me as a smart way to go about it. The fog however could sow confusion long enough to get in close with the little lizards and since we know the terrain in the first couple of chambers possibly of most use there. That settles it, lets go with that one!" Pleased with her plan she is ready to go as soon as Proteus is.
Roylenna puts a tiny hand on the cleric's arm, "Proteus, your idea has merit, don't doubt that. Anything we can do to throw them off their standard tactics is worth considering." Looking at the others and the recent wounds they still carried, she says, "I think one thing we should consider is bringing them to us rather than charging - or, um, skipping - into a room full of loaded crossbows. I don't know how we might accomplish that, but it seems that roaring in didn't work so well for us this time around."
When she has an opportunity, she shares the following with Proteus. "I've been watching you when you bring your god's blessings to heal torn flesh and I've wanted to know how, but I don't have your faith. When that creature's spell washed over me and I fell asleep, I heard the most beautiful song - and as it played in my mind, I saw wounds heal. I heard a voice tell me that songs bear power. Have you ever heard of such a thing?"
Since they are spending so much time in the cave, Ka'kara unrolls a piece of suede leather with sharp needles and tools kept in various pouches in it. Getting Roylenna's attention she says, "'Lenna, you have earned a spirit mark. Would you allow me to place it?" She uncaps a small vial of some black tar-like substance.
With bright and curious eyes, Roylenna asks, "What is a spirit mark? How do you place it?"
As the group rests and recuperates, Roylenna hums and sings to herself, suddenly full of energy after all of the recent stress. With a gasp of surprise, she watches the hole in her leggings close up as though by a tailer. She rushes over to where Grond rests to show him her new trick, "fixing" one hole after another in his battered clothing. Unless stopped, she proceeds to do this to each member's gear in turn, experimenting to see if it works on leather vs. cloth vs. damaged weapons, etc. It's quickly apparent that it only works on very small items, but it feels good nonetheless to be in relatively whole clothing again after all the abuse it's received.
Shortly, she's at it again, having found that she can force dirt and grime off things with a touch, so she goes to each person and "cleans" them off. Again, unless the offer is turned down.
The child-like glee with which she does this may be seen as amusing. Or it might be somewhat disturbing.
Regarding the discussion of the problem presented by the kobolds, she offers, "I think I have a way to make it difficult for them to retreat, but I haven't tried it yet. It doesn't harm them, but it makes it difficult to stand in an area, so running should be difficult, too."
With bright and curious eyes, Roylenna asks, "What is a spirit mark? How do you place it?"
Ka'kara sits next to Roylenna and points to one of the tattoos on her arm that looks like a pattern of lines that each widen and narrow smoothly and intertwine with one another to form a beautiful tribal symbol, "It would be like this one. This represents courage, something which you have a lot of. I place it with these and this." She holds up a series of needles and a jar of some black inky substance.
With bright and curious eyes, Roylenna asks, "What is a spirit mark? How do you place it?"Ka'kara sits next to Roylenna and points to one of the tattoos on her arm that looks like a pattern of lines that each widen and narrow smoothly and intertwine with one another to form a beautiful tribal symbol, "It would be like this one. This represents courage, something which you have a lot of. I place it with these and this." She holds up a series of needles and a jar of some black inky substance.
Roylenna looks closely at the needles and the ink. Looking up at the woman, she says, "My mark will have to be much smaller than that, won't it?" She extends the corresponding arm to that decorated with Ka'kara's symbol of courage. "Will this hurt much?"
Roylenna looks closely at the needles and the ink. Looking up at the woman, she says, "My mark will have to be much smaller than that, won't it?" She extends the corresponding arm to that decorated with Ka'kara's symbol of courage. "Will this hurt much?"
"Yes, definitely smaller." she smiles. "No, it'll hurt just a little at first and then not at all. Some other places do. Like marriage tattoos, those can hurt." At Roylenna's look she laughs, "Well from what I understand it is probably still the least painful thing about marriage." She pulls out her finest needles and sterilizes the area with some other pungent fluid and settles down to work. It is the calmest and most focused you have seen her. Usually she seems like a bundle of energy barely contained but not now. To Roylenna it stings for a little bit and then the endorphins kick in and she starts feeling pretty good. Ka'kara says in a knowing tone with a sly smile, "careful, you could get addicted." She takes her time and then bandages it with some salve and a soft leather strip around the arm. "Let it heal naturally, magic sometimes messes them up. Keep it wet with this and don't scratch or rub it." She looks pleased with the final results and then starts asking Roylenna about where she is from and what her people are like.
Ka'kara will watch the chute for the first half of the night (til midnight) and then go to sleep. As she doesn't have dark vision I am assuming we have some light in the cave.
I have had a sudden emergency and must be offline for awhile, but I hope to have things back by the weekend. Sorry for the trouble and don’t let me hold up the game.
I'll also take a watch, preferrably while there is still light. Perhaps taking the chute down while Ka'kara takes the opening of the cave.
So, with Proteus's new spells prepared where do you go and what do you do there?
Grond watches Ka'kara and Roylenna curiously, then takes his watch without fuss. He spends most of the night sharpening his falchion and waiting for another chance to use it on kobolds.
As the group prepares the following morning, Sandros offers a thought: "We might consider closing off the access we know about inside the cavern, and then beginning an assault through the exterior entrance. The kobolds might not expect an attack from a different direction, and we might be able to catch them by surprise if we chase them toward a dead end that they don't know about."
As the group prepares the following morning, Sandros offers a thought: "We might consider closing off the access we know about inside the cavern, and then beginning an assault through the exterior entrance. The kobolds might not expect an attack from a different direction, and we might be able to catch them by surprise if we chase them toward a dead end that they don't know about."
Roylenna can't bear the anticipation of seeing her new art and keeps looking at the bandage. She has already stifled the question of how long she must wait at least four times when Sandros makes his suggestion.
"That sounds like a good idea, but how do we block the area we know? With brambles, as Proteus suggested?" She chews on her lower lip for a moment, "I hesitate to ask because it sounds dangerous, but what if three brought a frontal assault on them while two others sneaked into create a road block? We know Grond is stealthy and my size is allows me an advantage in that area, we could be the 'closing off' that you refer to while you three push them toward us. I'm just afraid that our knowledge of the cavern is not sufficient for such a plan..."
Shaking his head, Sandros replies, "We'd need those barricades in place before we began the assault, not during it. Of course, we'd need to take care not to draw attention to them - or us - while placing them, but we should hold any frontal attack until after the barricades are in place, and we can then go in together." He tosses a sidelong look at Grond and adds, "Besides, I'd not want to deprive our friend of the chance to finish what he started yesterday."
Shaking his head, Sandros replies, "We'd need those barricades in place before we began the assault, not during it. Of course, we'd need to take care not to draw attention to them - or us - while placing them, but we should hold any frontal attack until after the barricades are in place, and we can then go in together." He tosses a sidelong look at Grond and adds, "Besides, I'd not want to deprive our friend of the chance to finish what he started yesterday."
Roylenna looks at her bandage while she shyly responds, "I'm actually a little glad that you don't like that idea. I'd rather go in with the whole group. I just don't know how we go about placing the barricades."
She looks pleased with the final results and then starts asking Roylenna about where she is from and what her people are like.
"My family? Well, ...
actually, if I understand the tribes correctly, we may have something in common." She gets a bit of a faraway look in her eye as she recounts, "I grew up with a large extended family that was nearly always together. Some were entertainers, some were skilled craftsmen. Of course, as in any family, some were ne'er-do-wells, but we were always there for each other, all of us. We would settle in an area for a while, but we always grew bored eventually and moved on. I can't tell you how many towns I've lived in - some for just a few days, some for as long as a year. I understand that the tribes move around a lot as the seasons change - is that so?
"It's unusual for a Brenoien to travel away from the others as I have, but family tales say that I'm an unusual Brenoien. Several generations ago, as the family legend goes, one of our family was touched by an 'angel' that promised that in every generation there would be a child with great promise of whom there should be great expectations. Ever since, in every generation, there has been a child with white-blonde hair and pale blue or pale green eyes. Like mine. As a rule, our family has swarthy skin and dark eyes, not unlike Rana's -- but I guess you didn't really get to meet him, did you? My family has watched for something special in me since I was born and as soon as I began to manifest my... talents, they started pushing me to go out and find my great destiny. I found Grond and later Proteus and Sandros. Now, I've found you. I think the four of you are the companions I'm supposed to travel with on the way to my destiny. I'm a little nervous and a little excited all at once, but I think I'm in very good company."
Roylenna looks at her bandage while she shyly responds, "I'm actually a little glad that you don't like that idea. I'd rather go in with the whole group. I just don't know how we go about placing the barricades."
"The scarecrows..." Sandros says thoughtfully. "The only point in having the scarecrows there is if they guard that entrance to the cave. It's a fairly narrow access point, just a few feet wide - we could easily collect brush as Proteus suggested and block the passage there. It wouldn't keep the kobolds out if they're determined to get through it, but it would certainly slow them down." He looks around. "As for how... With ranged cover, I think, and as much silence as we can muster."
Roylenna looks at her bandage while she shyly responds, "I'm actually a little glad that you don't like that idea. I'd rather go in with the whole group. I just don't know how we go about placing the barricades.""The scarecrows..." Sandros says thoughtfully. "The only point in having the scarecrows there is if they guard that entrance to the cave. It's a fairly narrow access point, just a few feet wide - we could easily collect brush as Proteus suggested and block the passage there. It wouldn't keep the kobolds out if they're determined to get through it, but it would certainly slow them down." He looks around. "As for how... With ranged cover, I think, and as much silence as we can muster."
"Oh, well." Roylenna looks Sandros directly in the eye and asks, "How well do you think those brambles would burn, if the opportunity presented itself?"
Ka'kara looks thoughtful at Grond, "Were you not talking about moving the net trap earlier? Could you just reset it so that it will capture any of the lizards should they try and flee this way? Have to be careful because they may have changed up their defenses and traps by this point. We could also block the passage with the brush closer to us should they get past the trap. I still like the idea of using the mist when we charge in so they cannot shoot us."
Grond brightens. "Yeah, I can do that!" Then he frowns again. "No, wait, I had to cut the tripwire. Couldn't move it. Should still be down there, though."
"Oh, well." Roylenna looks Sandros directly in the eye and asks, "How well do you think those brambles would burn, if the opportunity presented itself?"
Sandros grins slowly. "Pretty well, I'd think."