Veren, too distracted with Nadeq's return, doesn't notice, "Are you sure? What does it look like?" Veren draws his rapier, just in case.
Rasina, Nadeq's new body is the same size-category as his old one, so, happily, everything fits just fine.
Veren, it's best to think of this place as a semi-tropical jungle. It's thick, lush, virtually primeval. You can't see any man-made structures in there.
A light rain begins to fall.
And ... something happens. That's to Rasina's warning, nobody's surprised.
Nadeq:
Veren:
Mikka:
Dire Tiger 1:
Dire Tiger 2:
Nadeq and Rasina see them first, two enormous tiger-like cats, each with two huge saber-like fangs jutting downwards from their jaws, ready to pounce.
Nadeq (still a naked goblin, but with spells prepared):
Rasina:
DT 1:
Veren:
Mikka:
DT 2:
The goblin squeaks something in a language none of you know, and bones burrow their way out of the earth, jumping onto the goblin's body and forming a macabre suit of armor.
Rasina, you have seconds to react before the tigers pounce.
Rasina clutches her weapons, and quickly murmers a spell before the tigers are on her.
One of the "smilodons", the size of a horse, moves boldly off to the north, 40 feet away from the party.
Sense Motive (DC 20, or 15 for Mikka):
Sense motive
Rather than trying to Sense Motive on his own, goblin-Nadeq tries to support Rasina's attempt: .
Rasina, as Nadeq turns to face the moving tiger, you realize that he's exposing his flank to the one still hidden to the east. (And you can take a look at the spoiler above.)
Rasina screams "Look out, Nadeq!" She then turns to interpose herself in the path of the tiger, readying herself for the pounce...
As Rasina and Nadeq focus on one Mikka calls forth an eruption of divine flame to strike the other.
Mikka, the goblin is facing the creature to the north, and Rasina is steadying herself against a charge from the one lying in wait to the east, whom she judges to be the greater danger. Which one are you striking?
Veren:
Veren smiles silently - a smile that shows no teeth - then quietly, as not to startle anyone: "Okay guys. I've seen this before. Under no circumstances make a savage war-cry."
"Vilgara, and all the secrets this place holds, are right behind these two beasties. We'll have to work very tightly together here - try to focus on one at a time - these things will shred us if given half a chance. Stand firm, I don't think we'll be able to just walk away from this one."
Veren moves to Rasina's side, readying his rapier with combat expertise against the charge as well. Their rapiers angled to mimic the over-sized fangs on the beast.
Rasina whispers to Veren, "Are you saying Vilgara is here controlling the smilodons?"
The tiger to the east gets blasted by fire. (); and takes the full brunt of the spell's effect.
Before Veren can answer Rasina's question, the great tiger to the east pounces at ; Veren! Rasina, because you're right next to him with a readied action, you can interpose yourself to take some of the attacks, if you choose. Whether you decide to do so or not, you can discharge your shocking grasp against the dire tiger.
The smilodon will get a full claw/claw/bite sequence in on its charge. If it scores against Veren on either claw attack, it will try to grab him in a grapple. If it succeeds, it will rake with both back claws.
Rasina, are you taking any of those attacks?
Rasina, are you taking any of those attacks?
Rasina will allow the tiger to pounce on Veren, and then she will shift to a flank position (on her readied action, if possible) before striking.
Rasina ducks out of the way. Veren attacks as the smilodon pounces.
Claw:; damage
Claw:; damage
Does the smilodon grapple?; yes
Bite:;damage
Rake:
Claw:; damage
Claw:; damage
Total: 69 points of damage. Mikka, you'll need another reincarnate, it looks like.
Rasina strikes with a sneak attack, hitting the creature's touch AC, and doing 21 points of damage. It is still up.
Oooh, good point about the rake. Veren's still hanging onto life by a thread, for the time being.
And yes, good job with the critical, and yes, the beast is still doing fine.
Nadeq, you're up, then the other one.
DM
Nadeq starts looking for some kind of cover to hide behind as he was used to, when all of the sudden his eyes turn the white out. His body starts trembling and he gasps for air.
He rushes over to Veren and, still in the shrieking and grunting language of goblin, he starts what sounds like some kind of chant. He finishes with a great shriek and lunches forward towards Veren. As he reach out and touch Veren, blue energy spring forth from the earth and travel through Nadeqs body, following his arm out. When it reaches Veren it is absorbed into his wounds. Moments later flesh starts regrowing where there were none before, bones reshape themselves and Veren feel cold, but better.
Nadeq turns his back on the dire tiger to the north and rushes over to heal Veren.
The smilodon to the north leaps, and lands in the place where Nadeq had just stood. It's now 10 feet away from you. You can hear its deep feral growl, and feel the heat from its great breaths. It's holding its standard action.
Rasina, Veren, and Mikka, you're up.
Guess its time for Veren to make a stand :)
1. damage
2. damage
Rasina wonders, Nadeq, what in the Great Sky was that?
She notices the other tiger moving into strike, and knows she only has a few seconds left before it tears her apart. She decides to make it count.
Rasina's full attack is just enough to drop the smilodon to negative hit points. It's alive, but bleeding badly from several major wounds.
Mikka?
Veren coughs up some blood. And mutters to himself, "...only one week's worth. Make it last. Oh Baccusbreath it hurts." Louder: "Thanks Nadeq - it... I think I feel better than before."
Mikka guestures, her hands swirling in a circular pattern a s a 20ft high curtain of violet fire springs up between Nadeq and the tiger, spreading our to surround it, 5 ft away from it on each side.
From inside the flames, you hear a feminine voice, betraying delight. "When your colleagues are in trouble, you do not choose to flee. Even your goblin chooses to heal your wounds. And you do no more harm than you must. Most excellent.
"If I approach and heal the tiger, will you attack?"
"If you approach only to heal, we will allow it. I would rather not harm such a magnificent creature unnecessarily. If you then attack us again, I will be forced to kill you, though it will bring me no joy."
Rasina shoots an alarmed look at Mikka, wondering What in the Burning Hells is going on here?
She speaks up, addressing the voice emanating from within the burning wall of fire. "We meant no intrusion, but your companion did stalk us to begin with, we only sought to defend ourselves. Who am I addressing?"
A human (?) woman walks through the wall of flames as if it weren't there. She's dressed in dark greens and oranges, and her skin is deep red. "As I would hate to kill you, pesanta* I am a Reclaimer, and Gretta here is no one's companion; she and her mate are much too independent for that." she says. "This is our enclave, and you are welcome here."
She kneels by the smilodon and casts some sort of curative magics. It is still wounded, but it opens its eyes and gets to its feet. Still growling at Veren, it limps over to the woman's side.
*Mikka, pesanta is Druidic for "little sister."
"Baccusmercy" Veren straightens himself out and looks over to the druid and dire tiger. "I am, probably all of us really are, tremendously relieved that you've interrupted the welcoming. Could I beg a touch of healing from you? Or at least can you tell me how to get into Gretta's good graces?"
"Gretta and her mate are charged with protecting our lands. You've obviously been out in the death lands for days; you stink of it. The tigers are told to presume that you are demons, unless you demonstrate otherwise.
"I suppose that's a warning. You are welcome to take your rest here, as long as you like, but don't go wandering off alone."
"Speaking of wandering off alone... we're looking for a friend of mine; an elf girl by the name of Vilgara. We're pretty sure she came this way."
With a small smile Mikka makes a small guesture with her left hand and exhales, the violet flames retreating into the ground and fading from sight.
"It does my heart indescribable good to see something thriving out here."
Her voice, strong and commanding a moment ago sounds at once very young and very tired.
Rasina looks at the druidess, the Reclaimer, and says carefully, "We certainly thank you for your hospitality, Reclaimer." She addresses the lady using her formal title. After a moment, she continues, "We seek a small favor of you, as Veren indicates, we are currently tracking somebody who we believe entered your oasis within the last 24 hours or so. An elvish female adventurer, named Vilgara. Any information you have on her whereabouts would be greatly appreciated."
The woman looks concerned. "When, do you suspect? Within the last day? I am not aware of any other visitors. But the other Reclaimers might be. Come."
Veren smiles weakly. "Of course, more people that call upon nature's fury. I'll still feel it in my side. Pitblessed." Then he brightens up a little with realization, "Oi! Fermentation is natural, right? By Baccus' sweet rosy cheeks!"
Rasina gives Veren a look of disgust, before indicating the Reclaimer to lead the way.
As you advance into the depths of the jungle, the sky grows harder and harder to see past the dense canopy.
Hey, everybody. Make a Perception check.
(DC 16):
(DC 19):
If you make that last check, Knowledge (nature), (DC 19):
After a time, you see a wall of thorns and brambles to your left, decorated with demonic skulls.
Mikka didn't realize how much her soul needed to be in nature until she was. She cannot help but tear up, blurring her vision, her thoughts taking up her attention.