"Success, riches and survival to us all!"
Rin looks around, adds, "Success and riches won't be that useful unless we're alive to enjoy them." and drains his cup.
Barshevy takes a moment to phrase his toast. He has to be mindful that his comrades are devoted to other gods besides Pelor.
"May the gods watch over us and guide our hearts and hands."
Qadim-sul adds his toast to the others: "May storms sweep before us, and strong winds blow at our backs." He takes a deep swig from one of the bottles and holds it out for anyone else to partake.
Raivek takes the bottle from Quadim-sul, "Here's to you," looking at the group and taking a swig from the bottle before passing it around.
"Keep the bottle. I can fill it with something destructive."
Rin drags his belongings together, slings them on his back and sets off again, still clutching the censer.
"One apeman did all that damage?" Rin asks wonderingly.
"Father, should we just pause a moment in case there's anyone to pray for?"
Lafiel draws her sword, and turns to the group: "We should check this place for clues. This is the first time the trail leads straight through an inhabited place... at least it was inhabited a few days ago. If the ape creature and these burnt houses are connected somehow, it may be worth checking. Raivek, can you check for any strange tracks in this area ?"
If no one objects, Lafiel walks between the buildings, looking for anything of interest, and tries to understand what happened here.
Drivish pulls the massive halberd from its harness. "I agree that we should investigate. I expect that nobody stuck around, but everybody be careful."
"One apeman did all that damage?" Rin asks wonderingly.
"Father, should we just pause a moment in case there's anyone to pray for?"
"Yes. Good idea, Rin."
The cleric stands among the ashes, bows his head and prays.
Rin looks tentatively at the corpses. "I've never been this close to violent death before." he says quietly.
"Can we work out who these people were or why they were attacked?"
Drivish's Perception check to assist in finding tracks:
Perception = 14
Lafiel looks for tracks herself, trying to find out more about whatever was here.
To DM:
"One apeman did all that damage?" Rin asks wonderingly.
"Are you so sure it was just the monkey?" Raivek asks Rin.
Drivish pulls the massive halberd from its harness. "I agree that we should investigate. I expect that nobody stuck around, but everybody be careful."
Raivek nods, agreeing with Drivish and draws his weapons, looking for any clues as to what transpired.
Perception (1d20+7=15)
"Come look at these tracks!" Lafiel calls for attention. "At least three apes came here. One of them proceeded to the keep, while the other two apparently turned back to the forest after pillaging this settlement. It also seems like there are no tracks of human survivors who left this area since the burning. Sad as it is, I don't think we have much to do here. However, this incident tells us that our ape creature was not unique, and that there are more of its kind wherever place we're going to. It also shows us that they can work in groups, and the fact that no attacker was killed proves that they're tough adversaries."
Although Lafiel struggles to speak matter-of-factly and not show her inner emotions, she has a very bad feeling about this. Whatever seemed a couple of days ago like quite an easy job appears to be much harder. If these creatures can raze a settlement like this without much difficulty or casualties, traveling to wherever they're coming from would be very dangerous. Lafiel confidence in herself and in her comerades doesn't seem to be so certain anymore.
"I don't like the idea that there are more of those creatures in the woods. Particularly not if they've got censers too. I wonder if masks of some kind would help?"
"Good idea, better safe then sorry. I dare one of those monkeys to test my blades.. it won't know what's coming"
Barshevy's soft hands ball up into fists.
"Damned savages. We must do what we can to stop them!"
"Agreed. How many of them do you think there are?"
Rin's friendly face takes on an unaccustomed expression of determination.
"Speaking personally, I can tell you that not all half-breeds are bad, but these creatures seem to be built only to destroy. I don't know about you, but I'm aiming to finish them and whatever is behind them."
He prowls the edges of the trees, watching for any signs of movement.
Nature and Perception checks: (1d20 2=3, 1d20 2=3)
... but is too upset to notice anything at all.
"Hmm, well, you can't blame the monkeys for how they were made. I'd rather find who's behind this and potentially stop this ridiculousness at its source."
"We should get moving. I don't think there's anything we can do here." Drivish bows his head in prayer for a moment. "These people were not warriors. Bahamut forgive me if I show these apes similar mercy."
Barshevy watches Drivish pray. He has never witnessed the spiritual side of dragon-born before, or given it much thought. It is a sight that makes the cleric wonder if the hearts and souls of creatures are more similar than their different appearances would make them seem.
"Yeah, let's go. Nothing more to see here. Where's the trail lead us to next Rin?"
"Through the trees I think. Watch out. We've no real idea whether the other apemen are still hiding somewhere."
Rin picks up the trail once more.
"We could use Rin's light magic to walk for a few more hours, till midnight. I'm not tired yet, and I'm not sure I can sleep so soon after seeing the destruction of that outpost earlier."
"I agree.. And how's about I just take last watch, like last time. Even better, how's about I just say I'll take last watch whenever we have to make camp?"
"Better carry on I think. I've got no idea how long this trail will last."
The middle-aged cleric is sweating and winded. But he is determined to keep up with the group. "Let's carry on. If and when we rest, I shall take third watch."
"Big wasps?" Rin gestures towards the sound, warning the others to stay still.
"Here we go.." Raivek says with a grin on his face and weapons at the ready.
Lafiel draws her short sword, alert and quiet, listening for sounds of anything approaching. She puts her back to a close tree, and tries to hide in the shadows. Apparently, she positions herself pretty bad, so that she casts quite a big shadow from Rin's lighted censer.
|
As you go on alert, everyone hears a mad buzzing and rustling ahead. Then you see the source coming into the light of Barshevy's sunrod. A horde of small dragon-like creatures, each the size of a cat, maybe 30 in all, though difficult to count as they climb over each other.
Nature (one roll):
DC10:
DC15:
DC20: