Looks like a 13 acrobatics and 5 perception.
Lucius/ Anala
Lucius starts making his way through the cactus and manages to hop through and dodge over the pine needle avoiding injury.
Anala (1d20+7=26) hops through with flair that makes Lucius envious of her lithe figure and physical build.
As he watches Anala skip through the cactus Lucius realizes his cloak is caught up in the growth and pulls to free it. He loses his footing and just by horrible luck falls into a cactus bush for 1 HP damage.
You each need to roll 3 more rolls to get through the cactus bush. You can make them all now if you want to speed things up a bit.
Ugh/ Aixa
Dahski casually scratches at an armpit as he speaks with you, pulls two pinched fingers out and casually looks at what he pulled out of his pit. He sniffs it then casually crunches it between his teeth.
"I already tol' yer packbearer here", he punctuates his sentence by spitting in Ugh's general direction, "I didn't see nothin' near The Seers wagon when the fire started or before that." As he mentions Aloais his voice takes a noticeable sneer.
More rolls
Looks like 10, 2, and 17.
Lucius moves forward cautiously watching his footing only to discover that one of the cactus roots he stepped on was a snake causing him to lurch back and bump into Anala's sunrod and singeing his arm in the process. He leaps forward when he gets burned and catches a cactus branch across the face. Then he finally stumbles out of the deadly thickest part of the cactus patch much worse for wear. It's pretty clear that Asmodeus is not the god of luck.
Anala has a moment of uncertainty but manages to skate through unscathed and mutters an apology about the singed arm.
You emerge onto a thin strip of land which drops into a 15' ravine. A bit further along the strip you see a rather torn and bloodied goat tied to a cactus plant before you. Below the goat in the ravine you see some movement, perhaps a large animal or maybe several. Something large sounding thrashes in the cactus behind you. The goat's bleating sounds panicked, almost like a small child's cry in the night.
Your sense of unease deepens.
Perception Check. (1d20+6=24, 1d20+6=11)
Anala raises the sunrod before her and grips her bich'hwa tightly before moving towards the goat, keeping an eye on where she last saw the movement. She motions to Lucius to see what the disturbance behind them is and then attempts to see how badly the goat is wounded.
Not being the most perceptive guy, especially in the dark, Lucius is going to float his dancing lights over to the goat and beyond. He'll also cast another set to float over his own head.
As Anala approaches the goat it's eyes get set in panic and it starts moving away from her erratically. Out of the corner of her eye Anala sees some scuff marks just a few paces to her left and blood rivulets running down a tall cactus plant below her. At the base of the cactus plant a large cat guards a body which has clearly been mauled.
The cat lunges to the right and just at the edge of Anala's sight a large dog like creature gets hit solidly by the jungle cat and lets out a yelp. But the distraction serves it's purpose and 2 of the hyenas lunge in and grab large mouthfuls of flesh and run off just as the cat lurches back to defend the corpse. A trail of intestines dragging after one of them. Though the cat is fierce it is also bleeding and likely won't last much longer.
The goat is nearly dead, small cuts and nicks marring it's coat, likely from it's trip through the cactus, but there are several gashes where it's obvious something maliciously gouged into it's side.
... I'll post a little more tomorrow
Lucius summons another flickering ball of light and sends it off into the cactus behind him to reveal nothing but a section of cactus rocking gently as if something brushed it.
Anala, You going to try and cut the rope?
"I already tol' yer packbearer here", he punctuates his sentence by spitting in Ugh's general direction, "I didn't see nothin' near The Seers wagon when the fire started or before that." As he mentions Aloais his voice takes a noticeable sneer.
"You tell Ugh you with guards at cookfire when fire start, guards say you were spying on Almah. You keep spit to self and explain dis." Ugh says trying not to lose his temper at the disrespect Dashki is showing Ugh.
Lucius summons another flickering ball of light and sends it off into the cactus behind him to reveal nothing but a section of cactus rocking gently as if something brushed it.
Lucius is gonna give the goat a little infernal healing. One first level spell left for today.
Ugh/ Aixa: Dashki looks away at some animal noise in the night and seems intent on something in the distance for a moment then answers you.
"So what, I was here, I was at the fire... it makes no difference. I didn't have anything to do with the old man and his card reading or his fire. Hell... he burned a million candles, it was probably an accident, just dumb luck."
Dashki is quiet for a moment and cocks his jaw open reaches in and tries to wiggle a yellowed tooth. Suddenly, he looks up at you. "I'll bet it was the Pugwampi."
Lucius/ Anala: Lucius' voice drops into a low chant as he starts to summon eldritch energies to heal the goat.
The goat, seemingly sensing the evil nature of the magic runs out as far as it can go on the end of its tether, jerking the rope back and forth and bleating for all it's worth. "Maaaaahhhh meeaaaaahhh!!". The rope jerks too and fro as the goat strains to escape.
Anala sees Lucius approach and attempts to calm the goat, knowing that he is able to heal in some fashion and wanting to stop the animal from doing itself any further injury.
She lays the Sunrod down beside her and tries to grab the goat and hold it still to receive Lucius' touch.
Attempt a Grapple with the Goat. (1d20+1=6)
Ugh/ Aixa: Dashki looks away at some animal noise in the night and seems intent on something in the distance for a moment then answers you.
"So what, I was here, I was at the fire... it makes no difference. I didn't have anything to do with the old man and his card reading or his fire. Hell... he burned a million candles, it was probably an accident, just dumb luck."
Dashki is quiet for a moment and c@@%! his jaw open reaches in and tries to wiggle a yellowed tooth. Suddenly, he looks up at you. "I'll bet it was the Pugwampi."
Ugh looks in the direction Dashki looked when he looked away to see if Ugh could see what he was looking at .
"What is Pugwampi? Why you think they did it?" Ugh asks. Ugh is becoming confused, he was sure Dashki was to blame for the fire but now he's starting to doubt that. He looks to Axia for wisdom.
Ugh:
"Pugwampi are evil desert dwelling creatures." Dashki pauses and spits off into the desert. "They bring bad luck whereever they go. They look like tiny dogs that walk on their hind legs. They prey on people's misfortune which they in turn cause. Pugwampi come, bad things happen. The fortune teller he was idiot, burn lots of candles. Pugwampi start fire. No one likes pugwampi, even the gnolls kill them when they find them."
Anala/ Lucius
Anala makes a move towards the goat to calm it but it spooks knocking her off balance and precariously close to the edge of the ravine. Lucius' hand glows with an unholy glow and he manages to dive over and touch the goat. Just as he does you both hear a hideous scratchy voice screach. "Noooooo. Bad Hooman"
You both catch a glance of a knee height creature wielding a tiny bow in the brush near the edge of the clearing. Just in time for Lucius to catch a nasty little barb in the left cheek (). The uneasiness which has been following you increases when you see this small but disturbing creature.
Urm... roll initiative?
"Uh, okay, tiny dog people... Tank you Dashki, Ugh will check into dat." Ugh leaves Dashki once again thankful to be away from his reek.
Ugh heads back to the area of the burned down wagon and begins examining the area for tracks of tiny dog feet or any tracks made by any feet that would be consistent with the description of the pugwampi. Survival: 1d20+4=19
Desvartes
Conversation at the fire is a bit somber and you notice Utarches staring at you. "Maybe the freak started the fire."
A deep scowl crosses Descartes face as he suppresses a rage. He keeps his heritage close but after a month with the caravan Utarches and the other guards picked up that he was something other than just a half elf. "Don't. Call. Me. a Freak."
The ladies are quiet and look down into the fire but Dullen, shakes his head. "You know Des was here at the fire with us. Quit stirring up trouble."
"I've heard these freaks have powers. They can do things. I'll bet he did it from here."
From that point the conversation only got worse, a more physical confrontation being averted only because Trevis returned. "Descartes, I need you to patrol outside of the camp. I don't want to see you for 2 hours."
Descartes starts to say something back but stops short and heads out. Utarches scoffs out loud, not even trying to hide his derision.
"Utarches, we need the latrines dug deeper and further away from camp. Bury the existing trench and make one half ..."
---
Descartes desert 'patrol' is nearly over when he hears some loud noises, perhaps the sound of a small child crying loudly. The voices seem to come from a cactus patch to the east.
Anala sees the tiny creature attack Lucius and launches herself towards it, Bich'hwa leading.
Attack Pugwumpi with Bich'hwa. (1d20+3=17)
Damage. (1d4+1=2)
Anala/ Lucius
Ugh
Descartes desert 'patrol' is nearly over when he hears some loud noises, perhaps the sound of a small child crying loudly. The voices seem to come from a cactus patch to the east.
While the dark is no real hindrance to him, Desvartes still carries a torch for 'appearances' sake. Now that a real possible threat is near, expediency and caution win out and he crouches shoving his torch point first into the sand to leave a small pool of flickering light.
Still in his crouch he sidles left away from it's beacon of light, creeping forward with his x-bow held cautiously at the ready.
As he draws closer to the cactus patch and investigates the strange goings on within it's prickly bounds.
Desvartes
The cactus is quite thick here and you don't see an easy way through it. It's obvious that thrashing through it is going to be painful but you think if you take your time you can pick your way through cautiously.
Just then the night air is pierced by a hideous voice that sets your teeth on edge. "Heee Heeee Heee... my stabbem goat, me stabbem funny man. Stabby stabby. Now me stabby you!! Hee Hee Hee. Ooo looky funny man bleeds. Heee Haww heee!!!"
Ugh
Desvartes swears softly in Infernal, putting a smile upon his features as the language finally comes in handy for something useful.
He looks about for any sort of higher ground. Wading into a cactus patch is not his idea of a good time. Shooting the stuffing out of a gleeful little gremlin certainly is, though. But to do so he needs to get a bead on the lil' bugger.
"Hmmm, if that's Hadrod's goat stuck in there, then that's plan A of simply lighting the patch a-fire out the door." He grumbles softly to himself in common as he moves forward, still searching the terrain around him.
Lucius is down to 1 HP, so he's going to spend his last 1st level spell to cast infernal healing on himself. His move action will be to heft his mace.
Anala/ Lucius
An crude stick with a sharpened piece of glass launches from a 6" bow lancing Anala in the cheek.
The creatures hideous voice sets your teeth on edge. "Heee Heeee Heee... my stabbem goat, me stabbem funny man. Stabby stabby. Now me stabby you!! Hee Hee Hee. Ooo looky funny man bleeds. Heee Haww heee!!!"
The little creature scrambles a little deeper into the cactus, seemingly careless of the effects of the scratchy vegitation.
Lucius mumbles some arcane words and then pulls his mace out.
Desvartes
Ugh
Seeing the large man approach, Desvarte's mind runs through the options. The stranger hasn't buried his large axe in Des' back, he doesn't smell any where near as bad as Dashki and he certainly isn't a Gnoll. Putting all these facts together Des comes to a conclusion,
Turing towards the newcomer, he straightens and says,
"Okay there big fella, I figure we've got two options of getting at the lil' Goblin b@stard attacking some one in this patch. One; I stand back and cover you with the x-bow, while you wade in and start chopping cactus with that axe. Or Two; You grab my belt and lift me up onto your shoulder to see if I can get a clearer shot in at the lil' bugger. What d'you say, mate?" Even as Des is outlining his ideas with a grin, he's turning his back towards the large fellow and getting ready to either be heaved or sprayed in cactus juice.
Lucius is going to try to clobber the little runt. (Not that he should be expected to pull it off, even without the bad luck.)
Yeah...that's not gonna hit.
Lucius notes that this little bugger is VERY hard to hit.
Anala moves forward with a perplexed look on her face. She should be able to hit such a weak little creature as this, but her intended blow flys wide of the mark, slicing through thin air.
Attack Pugwumpi with Bich'hwa. (1d20+3=15, 1d20+3=8)
She hears voices behind her and turns to see two figures standing outside the cactus patch. She can't be sure in the dim light, but she thinks one of them is Ugh and so returns her attentions back to the little beast before her.
"Okay there big fella, I figure we've got two options of getting at the lil' Goblin b@stard attacking some one in this patch. One; I stand back and cover you with the x-bow, while you wade in and start chopping cactus with that axe. Or Two; You grab my belt and lift me up onto your shoulder to see if I can get a clearer shot in at the lil' bugger. What d'you say, mate?" Even as Des is outlining his ideas with a grin, he's turning his back towards the large fellow and getting ready to either be heaved or sprayed in cactus juice.
"Ugh lift you so you can shoot. Me am Ugh by the way. Ugh think it not goblin but Pug-wam-pi, little dog man creature." Ugh then drops his greataxe and readies to lift the Half-elf onto his shoulders.
"Ugh lift you so you can shoot. Me am Ugh by the way. Ugh think it not goblin but Pug-wam-pi, little dog man creature." Ugh then drops his greataxe and readies to lift the Half-elf onto his shoulders.
Des braces himself, shifting his weight and crossing/locking his ankles so as to help the other man lift him,
"Um, name's Des by the way." He explains by way of introduction as Ugh lifts him 'by the seat of his pants', while taking a bead along his x-bow, trying to get a good line on the 'little dog man creature'.
"Okay, come outcome, out whatever you are." Desvartes croons as he lines up for the 'shot'.
Lucius notes that this little bugger is VERY hard to hit.
... post coming tonight ...
Ugh/ Des
Des makes out two figures dashing around on the far side of the cactus patch near a cliff. A goat franticly pulls on the end of a tether frothing at the mouth. Even from this vantage Des doesn't see and easy way through the cactus.
Lucius/ Anala
Anala makes a couple futile swings at the little dog creature but it easily dodges out of the way. The little ugly little gremlin cackles a bit more then his eyes bug out a little when he sees the goat healing. "Gaaaahh!! No No No NO!! You help goat me hurt you."
At that point he does a cartwheel between Anala's legs and scampers over near the goat then looks right at Anala and shouts "KRACKUM". Anala's Bich'Hwa vibrates in her hand then shatters into 4 pieces. The goat frantically dodges away from the Pugwampi only getting itself further tangled in the cactus plant.
"HEEE Heee Haww.cough chogh ack! Me breakit!!" And the viscious little pugwampi dances a little victory dance.
Des makes out two figures dashing around on the far side of the cactus patch near a cliff. A goat frantically pulls on the end of a tether frothing at the mouth. Even from this vantage Des doesn't see and easy way through the cactus.
Des sighs, "Bad news, mate. I can see a couple of folks and a goat, but not what's causing the kerfuffle. Looks like it's mowing time with your axe." He shifts and drops off the bigger man's shoulder. Slinging his x-bow across his back he draws his rapier, then looks form it to Ugh's axe shining in the moon light.
"Yup, my little 'weeder' just ain't gonna cut it in this stuff." He laments, stepping out of the way and getting ready for Ugh to 'do his thing'.
"Hmm, dat cactus don't look too bad. Watch Ugh back while he go in." Ugh will wade into the cactus (taking whatever damage that causes) and attack the first dog-man-creature (pugwampi) that he sees with his greataxe.
Desvartes watches as Ugh strides forth swatting and batting cacti out of his path though not slowing, nor wavering, even as the tough plants sweep back, thorns striking and lashing in response to Ugh's treatment.
Des looks down at his sword, looks back to Ugh, looks down at his cloths and again back towards Ugh. He takes a few quick, deep breaths, bunches his hands into fists, tightening his grip upon his rapier, and then runs and leaps after Ugh,
"Ohcr@pohcr@pohcr@pohCR@P! I cannot believe I'm doing this!" He exclaims as the cacti spines being to pierce fabric and flesh in Desvartes' mad plunge into their embrace.
Ugh charges through the cactus, thrashing the savage plants with his axe as he works through. Chunks of cactus go flying everywhere but Ugh still gets cactus thorns embedded into his arms and exposed legs. (
Lucius takes time and carefully lines up a ray of frost and just as he get set up a random chuck of cactus kicked up by the barbarian's charge through the spiney plants. Though it doesn't hurt him the unlucky chunk spoils Lucius' otherwise perfect shot.
Ugh emerges into the clearing just in time to get lanced by a tiny barbed arrow to add insult to injury. ([ooc]2 addl points damge[/ooc)
Initiative Roll(1):1d20+2->[17,2]=(19)
Initiative Roll(2):1d20+2->[3,2]=(5)
Desvrates plows into the cactus patch behind his larger framed companion. With his adrenalin up, he does little more than since at the spines that slice and pierce him in his head long rush.
Perception Roll:1d20->[1]=(1)
In all the raised dust and commotion of bodies and plant matter Des can't make out a d@mn thing.
Ugh hardly notices the pokes and scrapes the cacti give him as he pushes his way through to the pugwampi. Ugh gets shot when he enters the area where the pugwampi are and growls "Dog-man-creature messed with wrong half-orc!" and lays into the nearest one with his greataxe (provided he sees one he can reach).
A new Ray. Better rolls this time.
"I don't know what you are, little freak, but you'd best hold still and face Hell's wrath."
Still stinging from the loss of her Bich'hwa and seeing the newcomers arrive on the scene, Anala continues to try and calm the goat.
Desvartes makes another perception check to actually see the monster that is the cause of all this pain and suffering.
Perception:1d20->[19]=(19)
Perception:1d20->[2]=(2)
"I don't know what you are, little freak, but you'd best hold still and face Hell's wrath."
Des doesn't know who belongs to the voice, but at the moment...
"YEAH! That's the spirit! C'me here and DIE you little sodding...wait, did some one just call for an intervention in a way that could make things worse?" Desvartes coughs and waves his hands around to try and clear the dust clouds enveloping himself and his companions.