<Alia, hold on a sec!> Durnast wills to his companion beneath him, before zipping down beside her (opposite from the big bad wolf) and channeling his arcane awareness of the churning vortex of possible realities, imbueing her with his Diviner's Fortune (+3 att, skill/ ability checks and Saves for 1 round).
Cam continues darting above Swiftpaws, giving warning of the ghoul wolves maneuvers as they come (Aid Another: AC)
With a shriek of utter rage Mikka steps forward driving the flaming blade into the wolf's body.
fire damage
confirmation (touch attack) fire damage
<Alia, hold on a sec!> Durnast wills to his companion beneath him, before zipping down beside her (opposite from the big bad wolf) and channeling his arcane awareness of the churning vortex of possible realities, imbueing her with his Diviner's Fortune (+3 att, skill/ ability checks and Saves for 1 round).
Cam continues darting above Swiftpaws, giving warning of the ghoul wolves maneuvers as they come (Aid Another: AC)
, continued
21- Mikka -- attacks and leaves a smoldering burn on its haunch.
21- Durnast -- props up Alia's skills temporarily
19- Alia -- enraptured by Durnast's gift of luck, shoots the damned thing.
1st attack: ; hits! damage: , , two arrows straight into its left ear.
2nd attack: ; hits! damage: , a third shaft, into its neck, two inches away from the first two.
3rd attack: ; misses...
But that's okay, because the three arrows that hit are just enough to take it down. The dire ghoul wolf chuckles, as if it just realized the punchline of a joke, and sinks to its knees. It tries to rise and falls to its side. A couple of seconds later, it dies and begins to decay at an accelerated rate.
17- Chamomile -- continues to aid Swiftpaws.
4- Rasina, prone -- pushes, and commands her body to move, despite the ghoul's bite. This round, you're limited to a single move action.
4- Artimus, prone -- rises and looks around.
4- Montegue --
Montague charges to the remaining wolf.
Charging attack (1d20+10=11)
and runs face first into a bramble bush.
Montague charges to the remaining wolf.
Charging attack (1d20+10=11)
and runs face first into a bramble bush.
Despite the stench of the dead wolf, Swiftpaws rolls on the ground to get another bite at the dead wolf.
Attack from prone , damage
Whenever it comes to Durnast's turn, he'll cast Detect Undead looking towards the recent battle area (with scorched ground) and his spell clouds, and will float back up 5' or as high as possible/ necessary to sight any stray ghoul wolves. If possible (and depending on the presence of undead he detect with the spell), he will end the effect of the stinking cloud, and if no wolves are inside it, also end the sleet cloud.
Chamomile continues to Aid Swiftpaw's AC (+2).
(I think SP's last attack might have benefitted from Flanking from Montague)
Montague charges to the remaining wolf.
Charging attack (1d20+10=11)
and runs face first into a bramble bush.
Despite the stench of the dead wolf, Swiftpaws rolls on the ground to get another bite at the dead wolf.
Attack from prone 1d20+5, damage 1d6+3+4
Swiftpaws misses.
The ghoul wolf gets up, sees that you've killed its two leaders, and hisses at you like a snake. It turns tail and leaves. Montegue, you can get a last whack of opportunity in, if you like.
Swiftpaws isn't up to pursuing it. He's done his job, and kept the horses safe.
Despite seeing what happened when Artimus tried the same thing, Durnast casts detect undead:
The entire terrain. Viewed from above, the living people stand out in relief.
Montague determined to make up for his last embarrassing attack, takes a swing at the departing creature.
Mikka wildly hacks at the body of the large wolf striking it with her free hand to ignite its stinking corpse, over the crackling of flames her incoherent screams of rage and loss ring out against the once again quiet desolation.
Rasina, still recovering from the effects of the wolf bite, and seeing no more foes to take care of, turns her attention to her long time friend and companion. Realizing she cannot approach too closely with being burned, she settles on going to retrieve the corpse of Windrazor.
Once she has retrieved the corpse of the gallant hawk, who has helped save her life several times before, she cannot help but let her tears fall to the ground, where they are greedily sucked into the parched earth, to vanish like they never existed.
She lays the body down next to Mikka, and then sinks to the ground, overcome by grief, sobbing into her hands.
Montegue, that, added to the bite that Swiftpaws already delivered, is enough to take it down!
The sleet storm fades at the end of Round Nine, and the stinking cloud fades away immediately after that. There are no ghoul wolves hiding in the spell effects.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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Oh, and Durnast, as you're scanning the area, you also note...
In the distance to the north, there's a flat-topped hill, something like a mesa, with a small round building on top. Your guess is that anyone traveling the Desolation along the road would be unable to even see it.
"You will be sorely missed feathery companion."
"Alas my powers are not yet great enough that I have gained the power to raise the fallen comrades."
"All I can do is give him a proper burial, a hero amongst birds deserves that in the least..."
"To all the others, show me your wounds so I can tend to them."
"To all the others, show me your wounds so I can tend to them."
Rasina wonders if the tears will ever stop flowing from her, as she walks over to Richard, and awaits his ministrations.
Her rage consumes itself leaving only sorrow. The blade of flame vanishes, her body rippling, resuming her natural form to fall to her knees weeping hysterically, blood steaming down her body from a series of wicked tears in her flesh. Her staff clatters to the ground as she craws over to cradle Windrazor slowly rocking back and forth.
"I'm so sorry." she sobs. Her voice rasps harshly, the cackle fever causeing her throat to catch,as she coughs up a stream of blood.
Watching silently as Richard channels his divine gift to heal Mikka and Rasina, Durnast surveys the land, noting the extent of the undead presense in all directions as well as looking to see what happens to the trail of Gurg they were following: Perception Cam , before returning to the desert floor with his comrades.
"We should bury Windrazor outside of these cursed lands. Even the earth here is tainted."
"Alas .. I cannot help you regain your strength right now."
"I have not prayed for the the proper spell today."
With a last look at the decaying wolves, Alia joins Swiftpaws to check on his injuries.
"Thanks again swift one. You did well protecting the horses. Now let me have a ook at your paw. We need to get that healed if you don't want to limp for days"
With Swiftpaws at her side, they move towards Mikka and Windrazor.
Alia remains silent for a moment and she kneels beside Mikka, one hand on Swiftpaws shoulder.
"Let him go, Mikka. There is nothing left of him here. Just a body. He died fighting for you, it is the most beautiful gift. Let him go and fight for him. Together we will make this foul place right."
Durnast, the trail you're following continues north, for so long as you can tell. Perhaps two miles up ahead, Chamomile thinks he can see a figure, far too small to be identifyable. When he looks moe carefully ... he still can't tell.
Off to the west, a storm seems to be churning the desert sands.
"I am not used to healing animals, but this one has certainly earned it ... Please let me tend to him."
Nadeq watch in silence as Rasina and his new found companions line up to get healed.
”I hate undeads..” he mumbles under his breath.
He walks over to Mikka and bow his head in respect before continuing over to Rasina and check her for more wounds ”Tough fight, eh? Are you ok?”
Rasina smiles weakly at Nadeq, touched by his concern. "yes, I think I will be OK, I...just wasn't fast enough...to save him, Nadeq." Her voice catches again, and she pauses to regain her composure. After a moment, she continues, 'I am worried about Mikka, I fear she will let her desire to avenge Windrazor to cloud her judgement. Please keep an eye on her for me, thanks."
She walks over and gives him a hug, and a little kiss on the cheek. "You are truly one of a kind, Nadeq", before walking back to her mount and readying to continue on.
Mikka allows the healing to wash over her, silently accepting comfort from Rasinia and the others. As Alia speaks she nods slowly looking down at Windrazor's dead form, with a sudden detachment.
The tears stop and her face takes on an overwhelmingly intense expression, a fury burning in her eyes.
Her voice is rough, the cackling sound of her diseased breathing blending with a throat sceamed raw to give her nomally melodic tone a harsh violent edge.
"Yes, this place will be cleaned. I will personally watch the evil that lives here burn, every beast, every undead abomination, every bit of filth that walks this land. Let it be scoured by fire,Freya I beg you, give me the power to scour this place with holy fire and make it clean once more!"
Her fists clench so tightly that her nails dig into her palms, she rises slowly, her eyes flashing withthe intensity of nature's own rage.
"I will not shed another tear on this cursed dirt. Yes, sister we will cleanse this taint. I name all of Desolation my enemy, and an enemy of nature. I will see it burn.
"I'll be at your side, Mikka" replies Alia, watching the transformation of the Druid.
Before going back to her horse, Alia bends towards Swiftpaws and whispers in his ear: "Look out for Mikka, my friend. She is mad with grief with her friends death".
When the party remounts, Alia let her horse be overtaken by those of Artimus, Durnast and Montague. When they get close enough, Alia talks under her breath. "We need to watch out for Mikka. She is fueled by rage and will likely run into fights without regards for tactics or safety."
"I'll be at your side, Mikka" replies Alia, watching the transformation of the Druid.
Before going back to her horse, Alia bends towards Swiftpaws and whispers in his ear: "Look out for Mikka, my friend. She is mad with grief with her friends death".
When the party remounts, Alia let her horse be overtaken by those of Artimus, Durnast and Montague. When they get close enough, Alia talks under her breath. "We need to watch out for Mikka. She is fueled by rage and will likely run into fights without regards for tactics or safety."
Montague raises an eyebrow, "So what has changed"?
Montague raises an eyebrow, "So what has changed"?
Montague answer draws a smile from Alia as she replies:
"It could become even worse, these were only walking dead."
"It could become even worse, these were only walking dead."
"Yes, I agree, I have never seen her like this before."
"Yes, I agree, I have never seen her like this before.""It could become even worse, these were only walking dead."
Montague looks thoughtful for a moment. "Then I vow with you as my witness that I shall protector her from her emotions, laying down my life if necessary to protect hers". "Until she comes to peace with herself, I shall be like a brother to her". That being the most words anyone had heard Montague speak, he then resumes riding and staring straight ahead.
Rasina cannot hide the surprise in her face, but she does reply to him, "Thank you , Montague. This means a lot to us."
"Ahem... From my vantage up there, I THINK I may have spotted what could be Gurg's corpse about 20 minutes or so in the direction we were headed. I can't say for sure, but it's about the right size and not moving. I think at this point we can probably guess what was the most likely thing Gurg's lost expedition ran into, anyways."
"If any of you are interested, the day's events have left me rather low in terms of my arcane faculties, and I'd expect Brother Richard here to be in a similar situation after those ghoul wolves almost took another of us from this world. Laying low and resting until our energies are replenished would seem advisable. Oh, and a dust storm seems to be approaching from... that way."
"I spotted some relic of a building further ahead of Gurg's path, though I'd guess someone or something else have already laid claim to it's shelter from this desolation, so I wouldn't expect it to offer a trouble-free night's rest. I have.... some arcane means of shelter... though I haven't tried fitting a horse in it before...", glancing at the only 'real' horse amongst the group, Artimus'.
Rasina replies to Durnast, "I think we could all use some rest," glancing sidelong at Mikka. "If this Gurg giant is dead, then we should press on to the building you saw, after confirming he is dead. I hate the idea of resting out here, no telling what else is out there, so the building is our best choice."
"Maybe I should clarify. We needn't rest 'out here'. I can conjure a portal to another dimension that we can climb into and rest for the night. No virgins or gold paved streets, but a nice, boring, neutral room that doesn't have sandstorms or ravaging undead monstrosities. The pack of ghoul wolves was coming straight from the direction of the ruins, which seems likely to be inhabited by some sort of evil unless shelter against storms is against these abominations' religion. I probably don't have any better idea than you whose voice that was commanding the ghoul wolves, but I'd rather catch a night's rest and ready ourselves before finding out."
"In any case, we shouldn't lose track of our mission here in the first place. If we were able to learn from Gurg of the dangers here, that could help us, but I'd rather not seek out every opportunity to get killed we can find. We can set the dimensional portal within the storm's route, which itself may keep away unwanted visitors, if the horses can't fit perhaps we can stake them laying down and cover them with a tarp we can check on every so often."
"I can't say for sure, but it's about the right size and not moving."
As an aside, whether the figure was moving or not was impossible to discern. It could be Gurg, trudging along the desert.
I spotted some relic of a building further ahead of Gurg's path, though I'd guess someone or something else have already laid claim to it's shelter from this desolation, so I wouldn't expect it to offer a trouble-free night's rest. I have.... some arcane means of shelter... though I haven't tried fitting a horse in it before...",[/B] glancing at the only 'real' horse amongst the group, Artimus'.
Rasina, Mikka, and Nadeq also ride living horses, although theirs aren't trained for battle.
From what you remember about the history of the Desolation, any buildings out this far from Tsar are more likely to be strongholds of the Army of Light, who did things like that, than the forces of Orcus, who used first Tsar and then mobile caravans as their headquarters asthey raced to their back-up lair in the Forest of Hope.
Could the tempest described by Durnast be a Bone Storm ?
Survival Check
"Yes, I agree with Durnast. A place to rest and to hide from that storm would be preferable."
"Although I have some more spells left, my most powerful ones are spent."
"Besides that, with all the fighting, and the loss of many good people, I think we can ALL use a little rest."
"Lead the way, and I shall follow."
Could the tempest described by Durnast be a Bone Storm ?
It could be, but it might be mundane weather, as well. If it is a Bone Storm, it's a large one.
Mikka, you can tell that a serious windstorm might be brewing, but it won't hit soon (maybe a couple of hours, maybe tonight). In other terrain, it would likely bring rain, but the desert terrain makes that uncenrtain.
You've never heard of a "bone storm", so you couldn't tell if that were in the offing or not.
"The storm will probably hit tonight. We should shelter inside, the horses will not die stupidly for no reason."
Despite the rough cackling rasp, her voice is cold, not a sound those who know her are used to hearing. She begins walking in the indicated direction without another word.
Having already seen what Mikka is capable of, Nadeq see no reason not to trust her and starts following her.
Rasina follows along silently behind Mikka, trying to quell a sense of impending doom welling in her bones.
"Hey, wait. We need a shelter if the storm hits. But this building will be inhabited. Do not run there on your own again."
Rasina pauses on hearing Alia's statement about the building. She mutters a vile curse in Elvish, a tongue she rarely uses. She runs up to Mikka, and says, "Mikka, Alia is right. We don't know what is up there. Don't throw your life away, we need to scout ahead first. Plus we need to rest, you sound sick."
Mikka looks at Rasinia calmly. It is the calm of someone deparately cinging to purpose in order to retain some control.
"If we sleep in the desert tonight, everyone will die by sunrise. Whatever is in there is shelering from the sesert too which makes it the lesser threat."
"I agree". "This whole place is dangerous, and I am for taking a place with only a few entrances to defend, instead of many".
"I agree". "This whole place is dangerous, and I am for taking a place with only a few entrances to defend, instead of many".
"I'm not against going there. But as Rasina just said, let's do it properly and scout around it before entering."