As Orphax takes yet another blow that should have hit him, Herac shouts:
Allich chuckles to himself, as if only involved in some light exercise. "On this big sod? We might be a bit soft lately, but-"
He pauses a moment, taking an opening to stab quickly. "Ha!"
"this bastard isn't gonna stay standing- Hya! - much longer."
First attack
Damage , plus cold
Second attack
Damage , plus cold
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Only one blow has hit the giant. The huge beast is now completely lost in the bloodlust and rage and completely ignores its wounds. Suddenly, seemingly from nowhere, an arrow strikes the giant in the head, penetrating it completely. The beast stops, drops the club and falls to the ground, like a felled tree.
The soldier in the center simply watches the giant fall. As the dust setles he walks forward and puts one more spear thrust in it, just to be sure.
Taking off his helmet, he looks back at his companions.
"Well, that was a bit anti-climactic."
Shield up for a moment or two longer, Allich nods to Orphax's comment, his eyes scanning the area for the archer.
"Maybe. Although the whole thing seemed a bit random to me in the first place." He turns his gaze to the new arrivals. "Thanks for the assist, folks. That might've gotten a bit more painful than we'd like if it lasted much longer."
Rasina walks slowly towards the soldiers, still scanning for whoever had fired that arrow. Not seeing anyone present themselves for the moment, she focuses on them. Giving them all a smile, she says "Actually, I think it is us who should be thanking you. Without your teamwork skills, I fear that brute would have torn through this place."
She looks over at the giant corpse, and adds, "My name is Rasina, a pleasure to meet you all." She glances at Mikka, and murmers quietly to her, "It may not be a bad idea to check the corpse for any diseases. He seemed to be...afflicted by something."
"I'm Orphax, my men here are Allich and Herac" the older of the three says, wiping his spear free of blood and gesturing to his right and left. "We were happy to help, though if anything like this happens again you should be aware that we have a strict "no heroics" policy. That's the kind of stuff that gets folks killed, you know? If you run out again while we've still got people behind us to guard, you're on your own. No offense meant, just the way it is."
J'Larky approached the talking group, eying them carefully as he approaches the corpse of the fallen giant. He takes a moment to kick at the corpse seeing if anything is unusual about it.
Perception
Heal check.
He silently finishes his inspection then turns and sternly faces the gathered party.
"Well"! "I suppose that went as well as could be expected under the circumstances". "What in the gods names did you do to provoke that creature to attack you so vehemently"?
"Still...I guess explanations can wait till the wounded are healed". "Here son let me take a look at those wounds...Hmm that's going to leave a nasty bruise".
J'Larky begins to treat Orphax's wounds, calling upon the serene power of Sarenrae to shine down and knit his wounds.
Cure Critical (Converted from Holy Smite)
"I am called J'Larky". "The wisdom of Sarenrae brought me to this forsaken place...and not a moment too soon I see".
Diplomacy
Orphax stands a little straighter, broken ribs and battered flesh popping back into place. He claps the healer on the shoulder and grins.
"Indeed. Your patron seems to gift you with the power of damn good timing. Another swing or too and I'd have had to let one of my boys take the hits. That's just undignified."
Allich leans casually with one hand on his spear. At Oprhax's comment, he smirks and throws a wink Herac's way. "Oh no, we couldn't have that, could we?"
Privately, he files away the god's name for future reference. Sarenrae, hm? Melodic, that. Wonder if it...she? Hm. Wonder if the name's elven.
Rasina watches the approach of the cloaked figure cautiously. She responds warily, "Thank you for your assistance, it was timely indeed. Can you shed any light as to why this giant went crazy, and decided to go on a killing rampage?"
Heal
Mikka walks over to the fallen boddy sorting out the damage of the recent battle from anything that may indicate previous activity
Rasina watches the approach of the cloaked figure cautiously. She responds warily, "Thank you for your assistance, it was timely indeed. Can you shed any light as to why this giant went crazy, and decided to go on a killing rampage?"
"My guess is he's an evil giant". "They typically don't need reasons to attack...still he did seem very angry at the three warriors". "Do you guys know anything about this thing", J'Larky says looking at the Giant.
"for those of you interested I'm going to step over hear in this clear area and give thanks to Sarenrae". "She may offer additional healing".
Channel Positive energy x3
"And whom might you be", J'Larky asks addressing the new arrival.
"Do you guys know anything about this thing", J'Larky says looking at the Giant.
"Naw, never seen him before. Herac just has that effect on everyone."
"My guess is he's an evil giant". "They typically don't need reasons to attack...still he did seem very angry at the three warriors". "Do you guys know anything about this thing", J'Larky says looking at the Giant.
"And whom might you be", J'Larky asks addressing the new arrival.
Rasina turns to look at the newcomer, and responds with a note of aspersion, "Yes, I know it is a giant, but generally giants don't walk into well fortified towns, and start to slay things wantonly. They would be banded together, at least half a dozen, if this was a typical raid."
"My name is Rasina, by the way." She turns her attention to Mikka, who is busy examining the giant corpse. "Have you found anything yet?"
"My guess is he's an evil giant". "They typically don't need reasons to attack...still he did seem very angry at the three warriors". "Do you guys know anything about this thing", J'Larky says looking at the Giant.
"And whom might you be", J'Larky asks addressing the new arrival.
Rasina turns to look at the newcomer, and responds with a note of aspersion, "Yes, I know it is a giant, but generally giants don't walk into well fortified towns, and start to slay things wantonly. They would be banded together, at least half a dozen, if this was a typical raid."
"My name is Rasina, by the way." She turns her attention to Mikka, who is busy examining the giant corpse. "Have you found anything yet?"
"Pardon me lady". "Did not mean to offend you...but this place is hardly well fortified, and things don't work here is the desolation like they might elsewhere". "But let's don't get off on the wrong foot". "I have a feeling we're all on the same side".
"I am called J'Larky...humble servant of The Dawn Flower".
"Pardon me lady". "Did not mean to offend you...but this place is hardly well fortified, and things don't work here is the desolation like they might elsewhere". "But let's don't get off on the wrong foot". "I have a feeling we're all on the same side".
"I am called J'Larky...humble servant of The Dawn Flower".
Rasina nods at J'Larky, noting his unusual name, but responds politely, "You are certainly much wiser than I am, Dawn Flower servant J'Larky. I am honored to meet you."
Perception
Allich finds himself standing off to the side a bit, still leaning on his spear with a casual air. Those looking closer, however, might notice a calculating look on his face as he watches and listens to the exchange.
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The woman lowers her hood and long blond curly hair spills out all the way to her waist. Her high cheek bones, slightly slanted green eyes and pointed ears mark her as an elf of some kind. "Welcome to the end of the world. My name is Alleria. You have done well to survive this brute, although you are lucky. He didn't have his ogres with him."
Rasina nods in acknowledgement to Alleria, "You do us honor, Alleria, thank you." She looks at the giant corpse, "Do you have any idea why he would take such a suicidal action against us?"
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Rasina nods in acknowledgement to Alleria, "You do us honor, Alleria, thank you." She looks at the giant corpse, "Do you have any idea why he would take such a suicidal action against us?"
"Well, this one lead a band of mercenary ogres. And it seems to me that he was wounded before he attacked you. Who knows, maybe he did some work that ended badly for him. I really don't know. So, where are you headed?"
"Well, this one lead a band of mercenary ogres. And it seems to me that he was wounded before he attacked you. Who knows, maybe he did some work that ended badly for him. I really don't know. So, where are you headed?"
"Well, we have just arrived here." Rasina looks around her at the desolateness and shudders inwardly. She could tell she did not like this place. "For right now, we just need a place to rest. Could you recommend a place for us?"
Rasina nods at her companions, "Well, should we check this place out, then?"
"Sure". "I could stand to freshen up a bit".
Sense Motive
"A place to rest indoors would be advisable. I sense violence in the air that s almost perpetual in this place. If this one leads a band then we should be wary."
"Tavern. Excelent. Lead on. We'll follow"
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Alleria leads you to the center of the camp. Along the way you encounter several people of various races, but no one approaches you, although everyone are obviously curious. After several minutes, you reach a strange building. This old structure appears to have been rebuilt several times. The bottom third of the outside walls are of stacked stones and apparently remain from the original building. Above that the walls and roof are a mud-splattered wattle and daub construction with numerous chinks through which tiny plumes of smoke escape. Directly in front of the entrance is is a bent, old gallows, crudely constructed and leaning with age. Dangling from this by a frayed rope is a desiccated corpse, its broken neck askew and its leathery face frozen into a rictus grin beneath empty eye sockets. Nailed to its breast is a sign bearing the words “Dead Man's Inn.”
Allich gives a low whistle as the inn's 'sign' comes into view. "Stone's heart. It's attention-getting, I'll say that for it."
"How about this...Stump...place you mentioned". "It's got to be better than this place"
Rasina shudders as she looks at the corpse swaying in the breeze. "I think I have to agree with you here, J'Larky. Where do you suppose that place is located?"
Rasina nods at Alleria, "Well that explains...things." She stares at the sign, and the corpse hanging next to it. I'll bet the two are tied together somehow.
She motions to her companions, "I suppose this will suffice, as I am hot, thirsty, and tired."
Mikka looks both unsettled and disgusted as she follows Rasinia in, the breeze nodicingly shifting to blow the scent of the hanged man in the other direction as she passes.
Orphax bites into an apple as he walks through town, pausing with the others as they slow before the gristly inn sign. He looks at it as if considering, eyebrows raised in amusement, chewing slowly. After a moment he chuckles to himself, rolls his eyes and follows tossing his apple core in a scraggly bush near the gallows.
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The common room is large, L-shaped chamber with a small kitchen open to the guests. A menu on the wall sells assorted drinks and meals of roast pigeon, horsemeat, turtle soup, and coyote, along with whatever breads and vegetables. An old orc stands behind the bar, looking a bit surprised when he sees you. His head is hairless on the left side with a missing eye and ear and massive scarring there also. His right arm ends in a stump above the elbow, and his left hand has only a thumb and two fingers.
Orphax glances around doing the old soldiers instictive check for threats and exits. He pauses as he scans the bartender. leaning to his brothers in arms he says softly "What do you bet his name's Lucky?"
Herac grins as he looks around the tavern, his gaze sizing up the aging Orc before shifting back to Orphax as he responds "Not even enough to buy a drink at the Lost Cause."