Alia approaches Gurg's body, her face drawn and as she as done with her previous fallen companions, drips her finger in one of his wounds and licks it to carry the taste and scent with her.
She will also examine the beast body to understand what it is and why it is changed compared to his species.
Rasina, who has lost many close friends in this age old conflict, knows all too well what he is going through. She withdraws away from him to allow him to grieve in peace, knowing everyone must deal with their grief in their own way.
She walks over to Nadeq, and murmers, "Yet another casualty in this war, my friend. I believe we should try to find this Lady Valgara, for I believe she was the one who escaped earlier from the ambush. Montague may feel differently though."
"...We don't know how exactly your companions died, but know that they fought till the end. We could tell that much."
Chris, we also found a scrollcase on that body, with a pebble or rock inside of it. Did we ever determine what that was?
Nope. You haven't opened it yet.
Rasina thinks for a moment trying to remember something there was something unusual about how they died, Richard had mentioned it to her at the time, but she could not remember what he had said. Seeing Alia perform her strange ritual, also seems to jog her memory, something she had said...
Then it came to her, she speaks with a note of comprehension, Durnast, don't you remember what Richard and Alia said, the bodies were each slain by their own weapons! Like they had been possessed by evil spirits and forced to commit suicide! And we know there was a survivor! We need to find him before the Desolation claims another soul!"
"Either that or they killed each other, either option implies an outside influence they couldn't resist."
Durnast sighs, thinking 'So much for keeping things simple to assuage the survivor's pain...'
Durnast: moderate transmutation. In the scrollcase you find, well, something odd.
Veren's sobs grow quieter as time passes - but his shoulders still jerk and heave strongly as the tides of grieve still flood strong inside him. Finally, unsteadily, he gets to his feet and wobbles a crooked few steps towards the group. But his voice carries the weight and sober thoughts of a man pushed forward by iron self-control.
"I know that my plight is of little concern to you - but I beg of you, please lead me to my fallen comrades and then help me find Vilgara and Zhettiah. In these wastes I have found no greater treasure than the friends I brought with me - and I will be thrice damned if I won't reclaim them from these wastes."
Nodding at the emotionally exhausted swordsman (Veren), Durnast quietly says "We must discuss things amongst ourselves first. Please, have some food and water if you would.", offering resources from his pack.
"On the other hand, if this man's companions live, I would guess they are more towards the area we left, near the mesa. And the Tomb of Argos's secrets remain. Perhaps we should head back that way, and take what knowledge we can from it. Prudence may call for sharing such news with the Elders of Muir before we return to head further into the Desolation to seek this King Kroma, and Tsar itself. What say you all?"
Earlier... Rolling the strangely-cut stone between his fingers, Durnast focuses his arcane perceptions to discern exactly what this object might do, and how it would work.
Rasina cannot help but be moved by his plight. She remembers her former companions, all good friends to her, all too well, those who have lost their lives in battle against the forces of darkness. She could not allow this to happen to this man, and although she had known him for but a few moments, the bonds of loss weave ties too strong to be broken. She walks over and touches his arm, saying "Veren, I would be more than happy to assist you in finding your companions. But I must convince others first."
She walks over to the rest of the group and says, "I know we need to find this caravan for your employers, Montague, but I do hope you find it in your heart to assist our boon companion in need." while flashing him a winning smile."Plus it is possible they have information about the forces of King Kroma."
"I loathe the idea of leaving anyone alone and wounded out here in this accursed waste. If those undead wolves are indeed coming, I won't abandon someone to them, and the more of us the better.
I say we find his friends if they live, and reclaim them if they don't. This Desolation has taken enough already."
Her voice catches for a moment at the last sentence.
Knowledge Nature, or Knowledge geography, DC 10:
"The caravan has to be somewnere along the road at some point where Gurg would have been able to travel theree and back to Bard's gate within a day."
"You are right, Mikka, but do we know if there are any survivors from it? I confess, I am not familiar with these caravan guards, so I don't feel a pressing need to rush to their assistance. However, I will do what ever the group wants, because to split up would be foolhardy."
Rolling the strangely-cut stone between his fingers, Durnast focuses his arcane perceptions to discern exactly what this object might do, and how it would work.
In a fit of inspiration,Durnast tosses it from one hand to the other. It never gets there. Instead, it takes up orbit around his head, and he feels a surge of endurance and vitality.
"I say we find Veren's friends first. Anything else can come afterwards."
"I say we find Veren's friends first. Anything else can come afterwards."
"Agreed. If the survivor is still alive we could use yet another hand with the giant dead and what not"
-----
He turns to Veren "Don't worry. Once more it seems this group of ours is ready to put their lifes in danger for a complete stranger" he says with a sincere smile, though his tone drips of sarcasm
Artimus turns to Montegue and asks: "We agreed to help you find your colleagues and your master's caravan, and yours is the word that might release us from that pledge. What say you to this new mission?"
Montague frowns for a minute. "I think we are close to where the caravan went missing". "I must look for them, and would appreciate your help, but I understand if you wish to look for our new allies friends".
"If any survive from the caravan, it has been a longer time, and they may be near death, so as I swore I must look for them first".
Rasina thinks for a moment, and with a resigned sigh, says, I hate doing this but we need to split the group, if we are going to save both parties. I suggest Montague take Artimus, Durnast and Nadeq to track down the caravan survivors, while Mikka, Alia, and myself accompany Veren to find his companions. What say you all?"
Rasina thinks for a moment, and with a resigned sigh, says, I hate doing this but we need to split the group, if we are going to save both parties. I suggest Montague take Artimus, Durnast and Nadeq to track down the caravan survivors, while Mikka, Alia, and myself accompany Veren to find his companions. What say you all?"
"Are you mad? You want to split up ? Can you just imagine what the wolves would have done to half of us? I will not do it. We have two groups of survivors to try to catch and we will fail if we split. I promised to go and find the caravan and I will do it. Then we can do the rest. And I will do it, but not now and not with a half group."
"Are you mad? You want to split up ? Can you just imagine what the wolves would have done to half of us? I will not do it. We have two groups of survivors to try to catch and we will fail if we split. I promised to go and find the caravan and I will do it. Then we can do the rest. And I will do it, but not now and not with a half group."
"Alia, this is the only way we can to save any survivors! If we pick one group first, we condemn the other group to a slow, agonizing death. Please reconsider this!"
"Hmmm... I could send Cam to seek out Richard's counsel back at the Mesa, and ask him to call upon his gods to make augury, and discover the exact location and condition of both the caravan survivors and Veren's companions?"
Veren's face recovers a bit of the color it had lost and he looks to Rasina gratefully. "Thank you, your aid - and that of your companions - ...I appreciate it."
"If your friend lives, we will do everything in our power to find her,"
Mikka walks over to Montague and gently places a hand on th monk's shoulder.
"I know you've been watching me, making sure I can hold it together, and I want you to know I appreciate it. I think being able to save somone from this place will help."
She is silent for a few moments.
"You have a responsibility to your employers, and that kind of thing seems important to you, I don't want you to feel bound by any promises you made to look out for me. I'll be fine in the next day or so. Be safe as well, Montague. Until we meet again."
Rasina looks over at her newfound friends, and regrets having to say goodbye to them so soon. She hopes they will meet again, the gods willing. "So, this is goodbye for now."
She walks over to Alia and gives her a hug, "Farewell, my friend, I hope your journey is swift and uneventful.". To Artimus, she says, "Sir Paladin, this fair damsel requires an oath from you, which is to return safely to meet us again at the Tomb, where Richard decided to stay and explore further. By dawn of the following day, if either group has not returned there, we can gain Richard's assistance in divining the whereabouts of the other group."
"If your friend lives, we will do everything in our power to find her,"
Mikka walks over to Montague and gently places a hand on th monk's shoulder.
"I know you've been watching me, making sure I can hold it together, and I want you to know I appreciate it. I think being able to save somone from this place will help."
She is silent for a few moments.
"You have a responsibility to your employers, and that kind of thing seems important to you, I don't want you to feel bound by any promises you made to look out for me. I'll be fine in the next day or so. Be safe as well, Montague. Until we meet again."
Montague remains stone-faced at Mikka's statement. He simply nods his head and turns to address Veren, whom he holds responsible for the splitting of the party. It is obvious he is torn between promises.
"I do not know you, or anything about you, but people I have come to trust and consider as family are taking a great risk for you". "That one in particular he adds nodding towards Mikka has earned my protection". "I hold you now responsible for her safe return". "Should she be lost to us, or if you are running some scam, I will track you down, no matter where you might be and extract my revenge".
With that Montague picks up his meager belongings and waits for the remainder of his group to gather.
Alia does not look happy at the group parting and she responds aukwardly to Rasina hug."Do not try to chew more than you can and try to keep Mikka out of harm", she adds.
Then without a word, she collects Gurg club and decanter, store them in her bag and mounts back on her horse.
Swiftpaws rises from his crouching position where he had observed the heated discussion and with a shake of his head, takes back his position at the left hand of Alia.
"Well... Good Luck. Remember where you are."
"...Oh... If you don't see us again, tell the Elders of Muir in Bard's Gate what you know. But we'll see you at the mesa in a few days, so no worries. ...."
Rasina, wondering about Alia's response, decides to reassure her. "Don't worry, Alia, we have gone into tough places before, and we will be on our guard. Please be careful, Alia. I will make sure Mikka is well guarded against whatever confronts us. Durnast, I will do as you ask, but we will meet again, I promise you that," she finishes with a fervent tone in her voice.
Oh, by the way, which group is keeping the decanter of endless water?
Durnast, before you depart, will you be conjuring up a mount for Veren, or will the fighter manage travel in some other way?
--+--+--
Montegue, Alia, Durnast (and Artimus), you mount up and, with a last glance at the edifice of the crossroads, head north, along the road between the steaming pits of the boiling lands to the west, and the harsh, cracked baked plains to the east. The road beteen them continues on for ... meet me in the other thread.
--+--+--
Rasina, Nadeq, and Veren, you turn your horses back to the south and retrace the ten miles you've already travelled today, and then keep going. You intend to go almost all the way back to Camp, about 13 out of the 16 miles, and then bear east into the Ashen Wastes. But before you get there...
It's a few minutes past noon, and the temperature is higher than it was yesterday. The mountains to the west catch the rainclouds and dump their water to whatever lands lay on the other side. Your horses are panting, even though you're riding them along the road.
Mikka, you're the first to see it, a glaze of something still wet laying across the road in front of you. When you notice it, you're about 10 feet away from the nearer edge, and it coats the roadway and the land to either side for 20 feet or more.
Perception check, DC 10:
Those who make their Perception checks have a full round to act. Those who fail can make a standard action.
Rasina screams, "Behind you!"
Move action, Dismount and draw rapier and dagger.
Standard action, cast Protection vs. Evil on herself.
Knowledge, Dungeoneering check, if applicable to determine alignment and weaknesses, if any.
Durnast draws the Wand lent to the party by the Elders of Muir, summoning a healthy steed for Veren which will last up to 24 hrs before returning to wherever it came from.
Nadeq quickly dismounts and uses his horse as cover. From behind it he shoot, hoping to take advantage of their quick reactions. He hold his shot to let the beast get close enough for a hit to its vital areas.
Stealth
attack
damage
Sneak
Stealth to hide again
Crit
attack
damage
damage
Riding alongside Veren, Mikka whirls around bringing her horse to a stop facing the oncoming monster. The birthmark on her stomach flares with light, the halo of fire flashing as she chants a wild tongue that comes to her unbidden.
As the creature enters her range her hands fan out, a gout of flame rushing out to greet the attacking beast.
"Cover me!" She shouts to Veren.
Veren dismounts muttering soothing words to his horse, then spends his remaining action to move midway between Rasina and Mikka in a position to intercept the creature should it decide to attack either of them. He mutters to himself - I'm too sober for this - then loudly "Rasina! If I draw its attention, then get to its side so we can attack its blind spots!"
Nadeq fires a shot into the creature's carapace, lodging in a "shoulder".
Mikka lets loose a gout of flame, which she judges as less effective on the entity as she might expect.
Veren stands his ground. (If all those glowing red spots are indeed eyes, then this chelicerate probably doesn't have blind spots.)
"Your father was a cockroach and your mother was a lout! It might take a while, but the red bits are easy to aim for you freak of nature!"
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
|
Mikka, this looks like a creature that a god might have assembled, having gotten half-a-look at arthropods several years beforehand. Your knowledge of ticks and spiders prepares you to understand this about as well as your knowledge of cattle would prepare you to understand a minotaur.
But the spidery bits that you saw yesterday, along Gurg's trail, resemble smaller versions of this.
--+--+--
Rasina automatically makes her Perception check as well and casts shocking grasp as she dismounts and draws her weapons.
--+--+--
Veren, thank you for your enthusiasm, but we've found it's simpler for me to roll initative for everybody. (I'll keep that 20-result, though, for your next saving throw.)
The something:
Mikka:
Nadeq:
Rasina:
Veren:
The monster -- Stops 10 feet away from Veren, so 15 - 25 feet away from the rest of the party. It opens up its mandibles, and you all see a series of spinnerets inside its maw. (No, Mikka, that doesn't make any sense.) It exhales (No, Mikka, that doesn't make sense either.) and casts a bubble of webbing at Veren. (Attack: -- it hits.) Veren, you're encased in a rapidly-hardening tangle of very tough fibers, which smell strongly of brackish saltwater. (No, Mikka, ...)
You'll be able to get free with either an Escape Artist skill check or a Strength check. In either case, the DC is 23.
Veren
Nadeq
Mikka
Rasina
Mikka, this looks like a creature that a god might have assembled, having gotten half-a-look at arthropods several years beforehand. Your knowledge of ticks and spiders prepares you to understand this about as well as your knowledge of cattle would prepare you to understand a minotaur.
But the spidery bits that you saw yesterday, along Gurg's trail, resemble smaller versions of this.
--+--+--
Rasina automatically makes her Perception check as well and casts shocking grasp as she dismounts and draws her weapons.
--+--+--
Veren, thank you for your enthusiasm, but we've found it's simpler for me to roll initative for everybody. (I'll keep that 20-result, though, for your next saving throw.)
The something:
Mikka:
Nadeq:
Rasina:
Veren:
If you make a Sense Motive roll, DC 20:
The monster -- Stops 10 feet away from Veren, so 15 - 25 feet away from the rest of the party. It opens up its mandibles, and you all see a series of spinnerets inside its maw. (No, Mikka, that doesn't make any sense.) It exhales (No, Mikka, that doesn't make sense either.) and casts a bubble of webbing at Veren. (Attack: -- it hits.) Veren, you're encased in a rapidly-hardening tangle of very tough fibers, which smell strongly of brackish saltwater. (No, Mikka, ...)
You'll be able to get free with either an Escape Artist skill check or a Strength check. In either case, the DC is 23.
Veren
Nadeq
Mikka
Rasina
Rasina realizing this thing is intelligent, does not speak anything in return for fear of tipping her next move. she cautiosly advances towards the spider thing, and with a sudden side step, uses her rapier in a slashing motion, and slashes at the fibrous webbing in front of Veren.
Attack, Rapier (slashing) , damage
Whups! Sorry, Eric. I had skipped by your post. No hint, just imagining what Rasina might likely do!
Rasina realizing this thing is intelligent, does not speak anything in return for fear of tipping her next move. she cautiosly advances towards the spider thing, and with a sudden side step, uses her rapier in a slashing motion, and slashes at the fibrous webbing in front of Veren.
Attack, Rapier (slashing) 1d20+5-2, damage 1d6
Good work! You're now standing next to Veren, and your weapons have cut through some of the webbing (I would impose an additional -4 penalty, for trying to slice through the yellow mucousy stuff while avoiding the pink stuff, but you still hit.) Veren, if you hold your actions until after Rasina's move, the DCs would be reduced.
Rasina, if Veren were to shrug his mighty thews and burst out of the webbing without your assistance, before your turn, what would you do?
Whups! Sorry, Eric. I had skipped by your post. No hint, just imagining what Rasina might likely do!
Good work! You're now standing next to Veren, and your weapons have cut through some of the webbing (I would impose an additional -4 penalty, for trying to slice through the yellow mucousy stuff while avoiding the pink stuff, but you still hit.) Veren, if you hold your actions until after Rasina's move, the DCs would be reduced.
Rasina, if Veren were to shrug his mighty thews and burst out of the webbing without your assistance, before your turn, what would you do?
Hmmm. AH! I know what happened. The post timed out, and, since I had Ctrl-A Crtl-C copied the post, I just hit New Entry again and reposted it. That re-rolled all the initiative dice.
When I wrote the post, the monstrous spider/tick thing was acting on 26, and Rasina had rolled no higher than a 3 + 9 = 12. I didn't even think about the dice-roller, and so I'm sure it looks crazy as currently displayed. But I'm sticking with the original rolls.
Terribly sorry for the confusion.
So, shocking grasp, then?
Hmmm. AH! I know what happened. The post timed out, and, since I had Ctrl-A Crtl-C copied the post, I just hit New Entry again and reposted it. That re-rolled all the initiative dice.
When I wrote the post, the monstrous spider/tick thing was acting on 26, and Rasina had rolled no higher than a 3 + 9 = 12. I didn't even think about the dice-roller, and so I'm sure it looks crazy as currently displayed. But I'm sticking with the original rolls.
Terribly sorry for the confusion.
So, shocking grasp, then?