Jaine becomes visibly excited by Garruk's proposal. "A group of four, forging into the darkness to face the depths of evil! We are as a Heroes' Group, as told in the Acts of Iomedae!"
She calms down and turns to look at Brynden and Loras. "That is of course... If you both agree with this?"
"As I just said, I'm with you for the short term," Brynden says. He turns to look at Garruk. "Your helping me with this wound goes a long way to solidifying my friendship though. A couple drinks sometime, and we'll be well on our way, I think."
His wounds feel much, much better after Garruk cast his spell. It felt like a bunch of beautiful ladies had been kissing all over him and the pain had just floated away. It was a nice feeling, although he was in no particular rush to get hurt again.Brynden pulls out Tchiana's wooden dowell. "Garruk, would you happen to know what this bloody thing is? We found it on her body," he says, pointing to the fallen ranger.
Jaine becomes visibly excited by Garruk's proposal. "A group of four, forging into the darkness to face the depths of evil! We are as a Heroes' Group, as told in the Acts of Iomedae!"
She calms down and turns to look at Brynden and Loras. "That is of course... If you both agree with this?"
Loras didn't particularly care for facing the depths of evil, but he did care about the potential innocents the undead might assault. He hadn't been training his entire life to perfect his fighting skills to start a peace-loving farming community, that was for sure.
Loras listens to Brynden speak, and hopes that the ekujae will help them fight the undead and that Garruk will know what to do with the random piece of etched wood.He also wonders if part of his reasoning for going back to town might be his own bumps and bruises and just his friend's. Still, best to see how this turns out first.
Seeing that the situation has calmed the Ekujae step out from the trees, although they appear no less nervous at being so exposed in the clearing and are ready to leap back into the cover of the forest at a moment’s notice.
Garruk surveys the area, noting that there are faint auras of transmutation coming from around the strange charms hanging around each of the Ekujae’s necks. Made of sticks, bones, and stones they look vaguely like bird’s nests adapted into necklace form.
He focuses his attention on the enamelled wooden dowel that Brynden presented to him...
Spellcraft + bardic knowledge
He is able to discern a faint aura of conjuration. The wand looks very familiar and is likely some kind of a healing item, but he can't determine how to activate it. Perhaps given enough time he could divine how it works.
He is able to discern a faint aura of conjuration. The wand looks very familiar and is likely some kind of a healing item, but he can't determine how to activate it. Perhaps given enough time he could divine how it works.
** spoiler omitted **
Brynden watches as Garruk examines the wooden thingy they'd found. "So what is it? Also, what's next?"
THen he remembered the tracks he'd found earlier."Uh, if you or your friends," he said, nodding to the Ekujaei,"Are interested, I found tracks earlier. Looked like a large undead group going off. Want me to show you?"
Loras nods as Brynden speaks. "Seemed like there was a fairly large group of undead, and they weren't working alone. There was at least one animal and a couple humanoids with them, so this isn't your regular group. We could show you, but I wouldn't want to go after them unless your friends are there for support..."
Garruk eyes Loras' injuries, and smiles at him. "Looks like it's your lucky day." He walks towards him, touches the dowel to Loras' bruised flesh and speaks a few healing command words. The wounds quickly disappear with a flash of soothing blue light.
"How about that, then? I'm beginning to think this day might go better than I'd originally though. Perhaps I'm pressing my luck here, but might any of you fellows be carrying around some ale?"
Garruk eyes the Ekujae's necklaces, but decides not to press them on it. After all, they seem like nice enough savage elves... No sense in bothering them unless absolutely necessary. He does, however, tuck the information away in case it every becomes useful.
While Garruk examines the wand the sober-faced Ekujae follow Brynden’s indications and examine the trail presumably left by Tchi’ana’s killers. They discuss it seriously, tracing and retracing their steps, and though the afternoon sun has burned away most of the swirling mists the humidity and heat of the day seems to be fraying their nerves.
Jaine, encased in armor, feels the worst effects of the oppressive heat but it is the Ekujae who begin snapping and bickering amongst themselves. Finally the female amongst them spits in disgust and stalks back to the gathered group just as Garruk finishes his healing tasks...
She kicks a patch of ground clear of debris and uses the butt of her short spear to draw four crude stick figures. “Unclean,” she declares with a heavy accent, pointing at the image briefly before drawing three more figures a short distance away.
“Zenj.”
Then, beside those, she draws two similar figures but half the size and says a word none of you recognize while pointing to them.
The potbellied fellow suddenly runs up and kicks at one of the smaller figures, erasing it from the dirt. “One,” he says, “One!” She immediately cracks him hard over the head with her spear and he yowls, covering his head and dropping to his knees. Calmly, she re-draws the figure and points to it with an expression that brooks no argument. Whatever she believes them to be, she is clearly convinced that there are two of them.
She kicks a patch of ground clear of debris and uses the butt of her short spear to draw four crude stick figures. “Unclean,” she declares with a heavy accent, pointing at the image briefly before drawing three more figures a short distance away.
“Zenj.”
Then, beside those, she draws two similar figures but half the size and says a word none of you recognize while pointing to them.The potbellied fellow suddenly runs up and kicks at one of the smaller figures, erasing it from the dirt. “One,” he says, “One!” She immediately cracks him hard over the head with her spear and he yowls, covering his head and dropping to his knees. Calmly, she re-draws the figure and points to it with an expression that brooks no argument. Whatever she believes them to be, she is clearly convinced that there are two of them.
"Thanks for your assistance," Loras says go Garruk, after he used the wooden wand to heal him.
Loras waits as Brynden explains, or tries to, what he found to the Ekujae.He simply watches as they fight and then furrows his brows as he tries to understand what they are saying.
"Garruk, you were travelling with these folk. Do you know what they're trying to say?" He figures calling them "folk" is safest as he is unsure how much they might be able to understand.
So far all he understood was that at some point there were four undead creatures and three "zenj" and two other things somewhere. What exactly it's supposed to mean is beyong his ability to guess.
"Well, now that this is taken care of, it is time to be off! Evil awaits our blades and our boots!"
With that, Jaine spurs Earlina forward, at a leisurely canter.
Following Jaine's lead, Garruk begins walking as well, but turns to his new companions. "I'll be honest, Sir Loras, I've no idea whatsoever what they're going on about. I suspect we'll find out soon enough. What's life without a little mystery, after all?"
Following Jaine's lead, Garruk begins walking as well, but turns to his new companions. "I'll be honest, Sir Loras, I've no idea whatsoever what they're going on about. I suspect we'll find out soon enough. What's life without a little mystery, after all?"
"A little mystery is all well and good, but this mystery is dangerous and disturbing. Undead walking the Mwangi flanked by animal allies and overseers? Something is wrong that may be beyond the capabilities of a few souls such as us to deal with," Loras says. "But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try, at least while we have the Ekujae to back us up."
He follows Jaine with Garruk, stretching his muscles.
Following Jaine's lead, Garruk begins walking as well, but turns to his new companions. "I'll be honest, Sir Loras, I've no idea whatsoever what they're going on about. I suspect we'll find out soon enough. What's life without a little mystery, after all?"
"A little mystery is all well and good, but this mystery is dangerous and disturbing. Undead walking the Mwangi flanked by animal allies and overseers? Something is wrong that may be beyond the capabilities of a few souls such as us to deal with," Loras says. "But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try, at least while we have the Ekujae to back us up."
He follows Jaine with Garruk, stretching his muscles.
"A little myster is all well and good," Brynden says. "Especially when you're fully healed. I do wish we had something that would stop the ache in my feet and legs, however. Sometimes I really do hate this jungle..."
Seeing Loras's expression, he continues, "But duty calls, so I follow."He has no desire to be ambushed like earlier in the day, but hopefully the Ekujae are watching for dangers as well as them.
Once your intentions are made clear to the wild elves they seem willing enough to follow your lead down the trail and your small band makes good time on the more open terrain.
After nearly an hour of cautious but steady travel you crest a hill and immediately recognize the familiar shapes of skeletons wandering through the trees. You aren't fooled by their seemingly aimless movements, however, and your eyes are immediately drawn to a small hut beyond them that they are clearly circling around.
As careful as you all are, however, there is no way to quiet the horse and with Jaine in the lead the skeletons are every bit as aware of your presence as you are of theirs. Their low moans are not the only welcome you receive, however, and with a sharp cry of warning several men pour out of the hut...
Everyone roll initiative and check the combat map in google...
Ekujae
Skeletons
Cultists
Priest
Once your intentions are made clear to the wild elves they seem willing enough to follow your lead down the trail and your small band makes good time on the more open terrain.
After nearly an hour of cautious but steady travel you crest a hill and immediately recognize the familiar shapes of skeletons wandering through the trees. You aren't fooled by their seemingly aimless movements, however, and your eyes are immediately drawn to a small hut beyond them that they are clearly circling around.
As careful as you all are, however, there is no way to quiet the horse and with Jaine in the lead the skeletons are every bit as aware of your presence as you are of theirs. Their low moans are not the only welcome you receive, however, and with a sharp cry of warning several men pour out of the hut...
Everyone roll initiative and check the combat map in google...
** spoiler omitted **
Brynden:
Loras:Brynden grumbles as they crest the hill. "Maybe we shouldn't have let the girl riding the white horse go in front after all." Even though it seemed a good idea at the time...
Loras smiles. "I've trained my entire life for this. I won't let these foul creatures and their demented overlords suffer to live."
Earlina, rearing due to the surprising arrival of the skeletons, ensures that Jaine is slow moving into the fray, but she nonetheless draws her faithful blade and screams "TO BATTLE!" All emotion disappears from her features as she reverts to her training and spurs Earlina forward to the nearest skeleton and attacks.
,
,
Liss
Seeing the large number of foes arrayed against them, Garruk realizes that his allies may need some encouragement to stand and fight. And if there's one thing Garruk has learned, it's that the beat of a large kettle drum simultaneously terrifies your opponents, and make your allies worried about a giant club beating down on their skulls instead of the drum if they decide to desert. He lets out a roar and begins the rhythmic pounding, imbuing it with a small amount of magical energy.
Loras, please declare your action and move your piece on the map.
Loras, never much for conversation once the battle has begun, cracks his knuckles and runs forward as he notices the skeletons. Let them come to me, and I will smash their bones back into the dirt.
The first skeleton brandishes a rusty scimitar and closes with Loras...
Attack
...but he slashes at nothing but leaves as Loras easily avoids the blow.
The other skeletons close the distance, brandishing nasty looking blades of their own.
Brynden places an arrow expertly into the chest of one cultist, and had his internal organs not been freakishly reversed in a bizarre birth defect he would have been dead. As it is, the man is gravely wounded yet staggers forward with a fervent look in his eyes. This brave action, however, draws an attack of opportunity from one of the skeletons...
Attack
...but the attack goes wide.
The uninjured cultists move into range and open fire with their shortbows...
#1(Brynden)
#2(Jaine)
damage
#3(Jaine)
...Jaine is hit once for 4 points of damage. (ride check )
The first skeleton brandishes a rusty scimitar and closes with Loras...
Attack 1d20
...but he slashes at nothing but leaves as Loras easily avoids the blow.
The other skeletons close the distance, brandishing nasty looking blades of their own.
ROUND 2 for Loras
Loras smiles as the skeletons that closed with him flail at him with their blades. Such feeble creatures, although he could hardly blame them. They were dead, after all.Archers were firing from a distance, so he stays close to the tree for extra protection. Loras hears Garruk's drums and is invigorated by their rhythmic beating. It is the same as the sound of his warrior heart beating. As the skeletons skitter about, he unleashes a flurry of punches and kicks at them.
Attack: and
Damage: and
Jaine's powerful sword arm slashes downwards, smashing through the nearest skeleton's clavicle and blowing its ribs into pieces. Earlina rears and charges the next skeleton, trampling it to the ground with her flailing hooves before it can put Brynden in any further danger.
The Halfling priest casts a spell and a dark cloud of oily air flies towards Earlina...
saving throw
...who immediately panics in fear for rounds and flees.
Jaine Makes a ride check to stay on her horse and manages to do so easily.
Brynden places an arrow expertly into the chest of one cultist, and had his internal organs not been freakishly reversed in a bizarre birth defect he would have been dead. As it is, the man is gravely wounded yet staggers forward with a fervent look in his eyes.
ROUND 2 for Brynden
Brynden smiles as his arrow hits the mark and is so caught up in his success that he is almost hit by a nearby skeleton. Luckily, Jaine rushes to his rescue and smashes them to pieces. A brilliant attack, although he doesn't think he'll make a habit of needing to be saved by her. Or at least not APPEARING to need saving.He takes a deep breath and fires and arrow at the second cultist. If they want to have an archery contest, it's fine by me, he thinks.
attack
damage
Testing seems strange but ok?
Knowing their bows are nearly useless against skeletons, the Ekujae each pick a cultist and fire...
Attack
Attack
Attack
damage
...but only one manages to inflict a small flesh wound.
As Earlina rushes past, Garruk wishes he had been a bit quicker with those drums.
From behind the hut, a large lizard pokes it's head out...
Initiative
NO I didn't include Brynden's damage bonus against humanoids, forgot about that. It's +2 damage.
...and the gravely wounded cultist realizes firing a bow with an arrow already so close to his own heart wasn't such a great idea as he nicks his aorta and drops dead.
Not sure if the first cultist I hit is dead, but hopefully he's wounded as s%&@ and won't be rushing back into battle
He's not rushing anywhere but the afterlife.
Round Two
Loras
Lizard
Skeletons
Brynden
Zenj Cultists
Jaine
Halfling Priest
Ekujae
Garruk
Having watched Jaine's contribution to ridding the world of undead, Loras wastes no time in cementing his own burgeoning reputation by absolutely pasting two skeletons of his own.
The lizard runs forward, it's tongue flicking, tasting blood in the air.
The skeletons... are all dust.
Brynden drops his second cultist in as many rounds.s
The last cultist standing, perhaps spurred by the sight of the fleeing paladin, perhaps driven only by the madness of his own dark god, fights bravely on against all odds...
Attack (Loras)
...and misses.
The priests mutters strange words and a thick mist suddenly obscures him from your vision...
All 3 Ekujae fire at the lizard...
Attack
damage
Attack
damage
Attack
Doing 13 points total damage. The lizard is bleeding but far from out.
Jaine
Jaine regretfully leaps from her fleeing horse and moves back to aid her new companions.
Round Three
Jaine mutters a short prayer to Iomedae, hoping for the safety of Earlina in this dank jungle, quickly dismounts and begins running back into the fray.
Garruk, not always known for making the wisest decisions, falls into his heritage's natural biorhythms, drawing his enormous axe and charging towards the nearly-rampaging lizard. He visualizes his axe sliding between the skullplates of the overly large creature.
,
Garruk, not always known for making the wisest decisions, falls into his heritage's natural biorhythms, drawing his enormous axe and charging towards the nearly-rampaging lizard. He visualizes his axe sliding between the skullplates of the overly large creature.
Unsure as to what kind of creature the lizard is, Loras decides to attack from cover. As an added bonus, he thinks, it'll provide cover from arrows from the clearly suicidal initiate who has remained to fight them. His legs propel him forward and his heart beats faster at the threat the new challenge poses. He draws a shuriken as he runs. Perhaps it will be a worthy opponent.
Once he achieves his desired position he throws a shuriken.
Unsure as to what kind of creature the lizard is, Loras decides to attack from cover. As an added bonus, he thinks, it'll provide cover from arrows from the clearly suicidal initiate who has remained to fight them. His legs propel him forward and his heart beats faster at the threat the new challenge poses. He draws a shuriken as he runs. Perhaps it will be a worthy opponent.
Once he achieves his desired position he throws a shuriken.
Brynden raises an eyebrow as Loras runs sideways to launch a shuriken at the lizard creature. If Loras isn't willing to engage it in melee, perhaps he shouldn't either...
He loads another arrow. Perhaps if Loras is more worried about a lizard than half a dozen skeletons and a few cultists, perhaps he should be too.He runs forward a few steps to get him into optimal range, and fires. Hopefully it hits something important.
Too late, he wonders if perhaps it might have been better killing the last cultist, as he'd already seen the shuriken bounce ineffectively from the creature's scales.
Round two
Garruk, unable to identify either of the spells cast by the priest, rushes forward and plants his axe into the vicious lizard's skull. It reels back, spraying warm blood from the mighty wound, and as it's roar of pain dies you know the battle is almost won...
Round Three
Seeing the lizard drop, Loras refocuses his aim on the last cultist but his shuriken goes wide of the mark.
Brynden likewise changes targets but his arrow bounces ineffectively off the lizard hide armor the cultist wears.
The final cultist steps back into the obfuscating fog and fires an arrow at Loras...
Attack
confirm critical ...hits!
damage
Loras takes a whopping 13 hp of damage, and barely manages to remain standing!
Jaine runs her full move and just barely manages to arrive back at the edge of the clearing, breathing heavily.
The Halfling priest's actions are hidden from you.
The Ekujae each attempt to hit the dim figure of the remaining cultist...
attack
attack , chance to miss hits
damage
attack , chance to miss hits
damage
The figure slumps to the ground as the twang of bows fills the air.
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Emboldened by the lizard blood spattered over his tunic, Garruk removes his axe and moves into the cloud of mist, hoping to cut the halfling into small chunks. Well, smaller chunks, anyway.
Liss:
Round 4 Actions
Ready to return to the battle, Jaine runs in full-tilt, readying her sword for her next chance to smite an evil foe. She sees a small copse of trees and uses them as cover until she can strike at her enemies.
Round Three
As Garruk wades into the enveloping mist he sees the halfling priest preparing to cast a spell. He lunges at the lurking figure of the halfling priest but misses, and the halfling completes the spell in front of him.
Garruk recognizes the spell immediately, though the name becomes superfluous as the defeated Zenj cultists surrounding him rise again in zombie form: animate dead!
Garruk gets an AoO as the priest moves to touch the other cultists...
Attack ...miss!
Round 4
Loras
Brynden
Zombies
Jaine
Halfling Priest
Ekujae
Garruk
Emboldened by the lizard blood spattered over his tunic, Garruk removes his axe and moves into the cloud of mist, hoping to cut the halfling into small chunks. Well, smaller chunks, anyway.
Loras frowns as Garruk runs forward. He might've used a charge from that wand of his to heal his wounds. As it stands, he breaks off the arrow in his side and walks back to hide behind a tree. He attempts to do some first aid on himself and hopes that he'll be ok. A well trained warrior is not useful is he is dead, so he stays out of battle, although not very willingly.
Loras frowns as Garruk runs forward. He might've used a charge from that wand of his to heal his wounds. As it stands, he breaks off the arrow in his side and walks back to hide behind a tree. He attempts to do some first aid on himself and hopes that he'll be ok. A well trained warrior is not useful is he is dead, so he stays out of battle, although not very willingly.
1d20 + 0
Brynden sees Loras limping backwards, pain evident on his face. He knew his friend was going to be mad after the battle at having been taken unawares by such a terrible shot. Brynden felt bad for not killing the cultist earlier. He guessed it was up to him now. He drops his bow and rushes forward, drawing his sword.
attack
damage
Stepping into the fray, Jaine focuses her attacks on the halfling priest that has been troubling them thus far. She raises her blade to the sky, praying to Iomedae to guide her hand to stem the dark tide growing in the Mwangi and strikes at the evil priest.
,
Garruk lets out a grunt as he sees the felled creatures rise again. "How many times must we kill you?"
Attack & Damage: ,
Round 4
Loras seeks cover but fails to improve his wounded condition.
Brynden comes forward but is unable to reach a target for his wrath.
The first zombie takes a five foot step and tries to protect it's foul master by drawing its scimitar and attacking Jaine...
Attack ...miss!
Zombie #2 tries the same strategy...
Attack ...miss!
Zombie #3 attacks Garruk...
Attack ...miss!
Jaine's sword flashes brilliantly as Iomedae grants her divine blessing, but even so she is unable to hit her tiny enemy.
The halfling priest cackles and screams in a shrill voice "Go forward, my people, and wipe these non-believers from our lands! The glory of Walkena has been bestowed upon you!" And a ripple of dark energy flows outward from him in a circle.
The Ekujae, frustrated by the mists and unable to find viable targets without running the risk of hitting their new friends, run to Loras's aid and give him a small bottle, indicating that he should drink it.
Garruk attacks the nearest zombie but misses.
Round 5
Loras
Brynden
Zombies
Jaine
Halfling Priest
Ekujae
Garruk