[Game Thread] Chapter One - Weathered

[Snicker]

Rana https://www.deviantart.com/len-yan Rana Dulik | Character sheet | Character page | AC: 15 | HP: 30 / 30 | Hit dice: 3 / 3d10 | Insight: 12 Investigation: 10 Perception: 14Passive senses | Parry Precision Attack Trip Attack Superiority dice: 4 / 4d8 Maneuvers | Rustic Hospitality Defense combat style Sharpshooter Second wind: 1 / 1 Action surge: 1 / 1 Features | None Passed death saves: 0 / 3 Failed death saves: 0 / 3Conditions | Common DwarvishLanguages Rana stashed the whip at her hip and pressed the business end of the crossbow to the cave floor. Fancy words, she thought. She'd never had patience for fancy words. Her youngest brother loves books - he's probably read every one in Cilsie. He'd recommended some of his favourites to her (and anyone else that would listen), but they were full of metaphors and symbolisms and such. She never understood why people couldn't just say what they meant. Loading a bolt into the crossbow, she pulled back on the string with both hands. "You talk too much," she said curtly, raising the crossbow to her shoulder and sighting the giant's face. "The dogs are lost. We're taking them home. Try and stop us and we'll take away your hunger for good, understand?" Without turning her head or crossbow away from the giant, she pursed her lips and whistled high and long, calling the dogs to come.

Mechanics Rana readies an action to shoot the giant if he takes offensive action against them or the dogs.

[Cheshire]

Kirra sat on the ground trying to calm herself down. With shaking hands she lifted the snowy owl mask to her face. "I can't sit here and do nothing while they try to rescue the dogs...." Still breathing heavily, the monk slowly rose to her feet. There was still fear in her eyes, but the direction things were headed, there seemed to be only one outcome. Kirra could not hear what the giant was saying, she could only hear her breathing in her ears. She had to try to focus, it was just the three of them and if she froze in fear they would be killed. "The village needs me....My friends need me....I can't let them down." The barmaid opened and closed her hands, it helped her focus. She was trying to keep her blood flowing, she had to keep warmed up for when the fight started.

 

Stat Block Kirra | CLASS=Monk | Level 3 HP: 20/20| AC: 14 | Speed: 50ft Stats: Str (8), Dex (14), Con (15), Int (8), Wis (15), Cha (10) Languages: Common Ki points: 2/3 Weapons: Fists, Darts

[97mg]

Skinning Interrupted Thus far it had been a battle of words, and threatening motions with weaponry. A great start! It seemed the dog rescue team had noticed the strange big fellow's unusual use of words, and wisely proceeded to hope that this altercation might just be a verbal one. Kirra meanwhile was trying to pull herself together. It would be okay! They had the numbers! Would she get back on her feet and recover her composure? "Mmmmff..." The would-be dog eater didn't like a lot of what he'd just seen and heard, but with his attention focused on the intruders to his lair, maybe the dogs would have a chance to escape!

OOC Just thinking here. Snicker, can you make an animal handling roll for me? Then I'll work out how the dogs react

[97mg]

Dog Whistle Rana's dog call was a whistle that cut right through the cold air, reverberating off the surrounding walls and piercing quite a many sets of ears. Would it work? Well, all the dogs surely heard it, as their heads darted left and right and they started panting in anticipation. One of them, perhaps the bravest, then blinked, and began to run towards the gap in the makeshift barricade. He was just approaching the the large axe-man's rear when the dog thief turned, glared, and growled. "Grrrrraaaaawwww!" Oh no. With a whimper, the dog began to retreat, tail between its legs. With the escape dealt with, the large foe turned back to the bipedal visitors. "Go now! Go home to village all snuggly! Either that, or things get... ugly." He raised three fingers into the air. "I have warned thee! Now I warn you with counting three. One!" He was raising two fingers now, and it wasn't a particularly nice gesture from the pair of phalanges either.

[Snicker]

Rana https://www.deviantart.com/len-yan Rana Dulik | Character sheet | Biography | AC: 15 | HP: 30 / 30 | Hit dice: 3 / 3d10 | Insight: 12 Investigation: 10 Perception: 14Passive senses | Parry Precision Attack Trip Attack Superiority dice: 4 / 4d8 Maneuvers | Rustic Hospitality Defense combat style Sharpshooter Second wind: 1 / 1 Action surge: 1 / 1 Features | None Passed death saves: 0 / 3 Failed death saves: 0 / 3Conditions | Common DwarvishLanguages Rana's grip tightened on the crossbow, readying herself for violence. She didn't enjoy fighting...or rather, she usually didn't, but now she was spoiling for it. Her anger over the dogs had her off-kilter. She took a deep breath - not dropping the crossbow - and tried to think. If this giant was telling the truth, their dogs had invaded his home. He'd seem intimidated, or at least cautious of them when they entered, so that was probably true. She and the others were trespassing too, though accidentally. He definitely wasn't the one to sabotage the kennel, and if she took even a moment to think about it, that was what really made her mad. If she killed him now, it would be because she'd invaded his home and lost control of her anger. She'd regret that for a long time, assuming she survived. She still wasn't leaving the dogs, though. "Alright, hold on." Her voice was firm but just a bit apologetic. "We don't want to fight, and I figure you don't, neither. Let's talk..." She frowned as she remembered the giant's fancy words. "...before...anyone...gets on the chopping block. "They're our dogs. They lived...behind the logs...of our walls. They only left our lands because they were freed by evil hands. They entered your home because they...they didn't know where else to roam. "We'll fight for them, even one of your height...for them. I don't want to die and neither do you. Even if you win, you'll have to fight the dogs, too. What can we say to fix this without fighting...today?"

Mechanics Make no mistake, Rana still readies an action to shoot the giant if he takes offensive action against them or the dogs.

[97mg]

Negotiation The large cave-dweller listened to Rana with his full attention, head tilting left to right at times as though thinking. An excited look, then squished lips whilst in contemplation, and finally a nod of the head. "Ah, and now you show-et! Though not some poet, I hear you try, you strong one, one willing to die." He took a breath before continuing. "Dogs. Logs. Home. Roam. Arrr..." He scratched at the side of his head. "The anger goes. Smother. Can we fix this with something, other? Yes! Food! Something nice. Or something lewd! A..." A hand was raised, palm upwards. "A trade."

[Snicker]

Rana https://www.deviantart.com/len-yan Rana Dulik | Character sheet | Biography | AC: 15 | HP: 30 / 30 | Hit dice: 3 / 3d10 | Insight: 12 Investigation: 10 Perception: 14Passive senses | Parry Precision Attack Trip Attack Superiority dice: 4 / 4d8 Maneuvers | Rustic Hospitality Defense combat style Sharpshooter Second wind: 1 / 1 Action surge: 1 / 1 Features | None Passed death saves: 0 / 3 Failed death saves: 0 / 3Conditions | Common DwarvishLanguages Rana lowered the crossbow and sighed softly. This was not her area of expertise, but she'd started this talk, so she supposed it was up to her to see it through. Neither of her companions were gifted negotiators either, so far as she knew. "I wish Lili were here," she muttered. She reached up and pulled the scarf off her face, then looked over Thornton. "Look away, boy. I'm going to embarrass myself." "We don't even have enough food for ourselves. There's no way we can fill your pantry's shelves. If you want something lewd..." Rana paused. Not because she was offended or embarrassed - she was no blushing virgin, and even she was a virgin, she rarely blushed - but because the logistical difficulty of satisfying the giant's lewd desires. Doing so personally could be unhealthy. She was also struggling to come up with rhymes. "...it can't be us," she finally continued. "You must have someone else in mind for your lust. Is there some other twenty-foot girl or guy? And you want us to help you look good in their eyes? "We can also trade some other deed. I just don't know what else you need."

[97mg]

Negotiation "Mmmmm" The giant fellow was clearly thinking for a moment. "I live alone, in a man's own canyon. I'll give you the barking ones, if you promise, to find me... a companion." He took a step back then, and turned to look at the assembled dogs, as though contemplating. Then, he turned back to Rana and the other "intruders". "You promise? You have five days."