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#106
Aug 22nd, 2014, 11:02 PM
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After a few moments, things began to clear. The ringing subsided, colors turned to forms, but the pain remained. He saw the image of Thias standing over him. He seemed to be appling bandages to the various cuts and punctures to his body. Wait... How was I injured. Trent thought as he gazed upon a sight of blood soaked clothes and grass. He could see the Elder Tree and it hadn't moved from the last place Trent had seen it. "It was a tatzlwyrm. How are you feeling?" asked Thias. Trent mind sparked at the mention of the draconic lizard. He suddenly found a new source of energy that opposed the pain that wracked his body. His arms and legs moved as though of their own accord. Up he sat despite Thias's protests. "Trent, no. You need to rest." "Rest? When we are in the presence of a dragon? Ha." An excited smile spread across Trent's face and his beard tentacles starting wiggling again. He looked around for where the creature might be hiding only to find a slumped creature lying on the ground a few yards away. His face crumpled into a frown that was more creased then usual. He raised himself off the ground despite his wounds pleading him not to. "What happen? Did you kill it?" Trent spotted Griff cleaning off the gore that was on his vicious blade. "Oh, what a shame! I should have liked to study it. Oh well. Probably for the best. They are quite hostile I am to understand. Unable to be trained apparently. Which is a shame. Say, where is Arthos?" he said absent mindedly as he went over the creature that lay broken in two pieces.
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I have taken the Oath of Sangus. Will you?
Last edited by Solid Minotaur; Aug 23rd, 2014 at 11:01 PM. 
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#107
Aug 23rd, 2014, 04:33 AM
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As Thias had begun working on both Trent and Arthos, Griff stood off to the side, feeling pretty damn useless. Griff had to give the half-elf credit, he sure did know his way around a healing kit. He himself knew how to cut down and prepare a tree trunk, but apart from fighting, there wasn’t much else he could do. Thankfully, Thias soon asked Griff if he could track down Petals. Griff knew there had been some bandages inside one of Trent’s packs. There was definitely scraps of cloth bearing a heavy flower pattern, and a fluffy purple fur along the edge; a similar piece was wrapped the wound the hobgoblin’s arrow had caused.
"Thias, for the meantime, there is a waterskin with water in my pack. I will try track down Petals, she shouldn’t have gotten too far. I’ll keep an eye out for Z’Anî while I am at it." As Griff was departing to leave, Trent managed to rise and make his way over to the corpse of the Tatzlwyrm. Griff was surprised by this. He had always heard that Wizards were of a weak constitution, what with all the study they did and all. But here was Trent, barely even alive, his curiosity at examining the Tatzlwyrm overriding his health, or even the half-elf lying in a similar condition to himself further across the clearing. Griff shook his head, I guess whatever curiosity drives one to study magic must pervade other aspects of their lives too he thought to himself. Whatever the case may be, even if he was a wizard, Griff was impressed by Trent’s ability to take that kind of a beating and still get back to his feet – what warrior wouldn’t be impressed by that. He gently placed his hand on Trent’s shoulder. "Take it easy now Trent, don’t strain yourself too hard; its corpse will still be there in morning. I will try hunt down Petals, but I don’t want to see you moving about just yet. I’ve never met a wizard before and I want to see what other magics you are capable of; so don’t you go and die on me just yet!" With that, Griff slapped Trent on the back and winced at the involuntary groan that escaped the Tiefling after being pounded on his still wounded torso by a well-meaning lad who doesn’t know his strength at times. "Sorry… " Griff picked up the sling that had been used to carry Z’Anî and made his way back to the entrance of the grove knowing that Petals had run past this way in fright. Griff knew his wilderness survival skills weren’t that great so he hoped that Petals wouldn’t be too hard to find. Thankfully she was just past the first bend in the trail her body pointed down the trail, but her head looking back over her shoulder. You couldn’t see the grove from here, so it made sense for the donkey to stop here but still be capable of running away should a threat come from behind. Her ears were almost plastered to her skull and her eyes were wide; Griff would have to be careful not to spook her. "Hey there princess, it’s me, your good friend Griff. Do you remember me? I was the poor chump who had to hack away at all the undergrowth so you could follow along with us. It’s okay now, the big scary dragon snake guy is dead." Griff made sure to keep his voice low, calm, and cheerful as he made his way to the frightened animal. "I chopped him up I did. And I got him wit’ me javelin too I did." At this point, Griff was just saying anything that came to mind to distract Petals so that he could grab her reins. "And then I chopped his big ugly head off for scaring such a pretty girl like you." With that, he grabbed her reins and slowly and gently patted her head to keep her calm. At his familiar touch she seemed to visibly relax, so he slung Z’Anî’s sling back on her back. He looked around and saw Z’Anî not too far away, also frightful and shaking. Unfortunately, Z’Anî didn’t know Griff as well as Petals did and as Griff approached, scooted backwards until completely pressed against a tree. The closer Griff got, the more agitated the fox got, but this was his one chance to grab it before it ran away. He leapt and managed to get his hands around its small body but got a small scratch across the chin for his troubles. At this, he held the fox at arm’s length and was definitely grateful he hands and wrists were gauntleted as Z’Anî was certainly giving them what for. As he placed Z’Anî back into the sling on Petals back, the fox seemed to settle down. The familiar place on Petals back was enough to calm the fox down. With all of their animal companions now in tow, Griff made his way back to the grove and his adventuring party.
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#108
Aug 23rd, 2014, 02:11 PM
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Thias tore after Trent, a mixture of concern and the slightest bit of anger in his features. “Is this some sort of jest? You were nearly eviscerated Trent. You have injuries that need to heal and stitches that could be torn with any movement. Are you mad or just Daft?!”
Thias wrapped the cloak about the tiefling’s shoulders and guided him back to a spot close to Arthos. “I realize a wizard’s insatiable thirst for knowledge, but we need you fit and in form if we ever hope to succeed in this venture.” Thias pleaded with the wizard. “Griff and I barely dispatched this wyrm without you and Arthos. If we die, so does Falcon’s Hollow.” Thias heard Arthos call out and saw the bloody gurgling spray that preceded it. Trent took a comfortable position (as comfortable as his wounds would allow) next to Arthos, his eyes narrowed with concern. Thias lifted and cradled Arthos’ head, tipping the water skin into the rogue’s dry parched mouth. “He hasn’t responded as well or as quickly to the berries as you have. He has not yet reached consciousness and he calls out to ghosts.” Thias voice was thick with pity.”It is a battle for him to stay on this plane. Whoever calls to him has, on more than one occasion, nearly accomplished their successful reunion, but still the grey man fights.” Arthos had overcome this round of fitful delusions and settled back into a place of relative comfort. “He is truly haunted and yet he fights.” Thias laid Arthos’ head back down. “Between the stitches and the berries we have stabilized the wounds received here this day. I have not yet administered the potion for fear of how these gashes and tears would heal. If they gather incorrectly you could possibly have had to live with more than just scars. I had fear of potential disabilities, but I think that we are past that. Let’s get a dose into each of you and let you have your evening’s rest, let it work its magik while you sleep. The less movement the better.” Thias joined Griff a few short paces away from their wounded comrades. The giant warrior had slipped a bag of grain over Petal’s head and was still attempting to calm her fractured nerves. Thias reached in and retrieved Z’Ani and placed him onto his shoulders. The fox wrapped itself into a place of contentment and lay like a stole before drifting into sleep. Thias unwrapped the greasy razor crow and began de-feathering it iin preparation for the fennec’s meal. He saved the flight feathers to use as fletching. It was a foul bird but it would fetch a fine meal for his little friend. “My thanks to you Griff. I could not have done any of this without you. I do believe are efforts will be rewarded, we will know for certain come morning.” Thias drew his knife and began cutting small strips of crow flesh for the fox.”A fire would do our friends good, but I fear that it would advertise our position for miles around so we should probably forego that. We should each take our turn at watch through the evening and review our circumstance and inventory at first light.” Thias and Griff watched over their wounded friends for an hour or so before Griff ordered Thias to get some rest. It was an order that Thias could offer no argument to, especially coming from the intimidating giant. Thias settled into a restless and fitful slumber, awakening several times with a panicked start. Each time he would find Z’Ani curled up nearby. The fox’s ears twitched and turned of their own volition and Thias was confident they would provide ample warning of any uninvited guests to the glade. Griff awoke to find Thias standing in front of the elderwood staring at its vast and expansive form. Z’Ani stood atop his shoulder cleaning its wound. Perception: 1d20+6(24) and knowledge nature: 1d20+5(11) Thias searched amongst the thicket the wyrmling had had exploded from for any items of interest. His eyes then ran up the trunk and to the shaded branches far above desperately searching for any sign of their objective. “Gods above and demons below. That is going to be a nightmare of a climb.” Last edited by LWAGNER; Aug 23rd, 2014 at 02:14 PM.
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#109
Aug 23rd, 2014, 06:36 PM
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Arthos awoke feeling tired, but oddly refreshed. His chest still ached from the wound he had suffered during the horrific massacre, but he didn't really recall the ordeal completely, so his mind was calm, which undoubtedly sped up the healing process. The excellent bandage work that Thias had performed didn't hurt either. He still lay on his back, covered with his ragged grey cloak. His scarf was wadded up beneath his head as a makeshift pillow, which eased the throbbing headache he had felt when he regained consciousness the first time.There was a murmuring off to his right in the direction of the stoic Elder Tree. He turned his head, still laying flat against the scarf, and saw Thias standing at the base of the tree with the fennec perched on his shoulder. He was inspecting the base of the tree, presumably plotting out the group's next move once the injured had healed sufficiently.
Trent was laying on his side facing the opposite direction from Arthos; he had no idea whether the Tiefling was awake, but he could tell that he was at least alive. Griff stood a few feet from the ranger, watching him work out the puzzle that was scaling the massive tree. Darkness had fallen profoundly across the expanse of the clearing. The dim light of the glowmold that had been in Arthos' backpack illuminated the area and bathed it in a soft green glow. The scene was surprisingly peaceful, despite the events that had heralded their arrival. He Perception: (17)+8 = 25 looked around the area once more before he decided to rise. Arthos attempted to sit upright; he winced in pain, at first, then steeled his resolve and rose to his knees, using a nearby stick as a support. The pain returned like a bad habit, however. It coursed through his chest and down along his arms and legs. He gritted his teeth again and tried to focus on the tenuous point of light of the glowmold. He grunted abruptly as he forced himself to stand and the Great Tree before him split in two, each half a ghost of its former self. The halves spun around each other in a dizzying dance. He stood quietly for a beat, and the two trees became one, once again. Thias and Griff turned when they heard him rising. They rushed forward to try and help him to stand but Arthos waved them off with a shaking hand, "I'm fine...gents..." He coughed loudly and a fresh batch of phlegm rose from his lungs. "Nothing a little Avistani wine wouldn't cure." He could see the concern on his friends' faces, so he tried a smile as he spoke. They protested at his insistence to stand unaided, but eventually they stepped back a few feet to see if gravity would claim him once again. He held his ground, albeit shakily, and touched the wound at his chest gently. "I can't say I remember what happened, but it looks as if I'm slightly worse for the wear. The beast is dead, then? Good work, my friends. I owe you my life. " He gestured to his open backpack on the ground beside him, "I have some rope that we may use to make the climb easier, Thias. And a flint and steel to make a small fire. Perhaps a bit of roast Tatzlwyrm would make us feel better." He tried to remember if the creature would be edible, let alone tasty. He could at least Survival Check to either roast the wyrm, or gather other food : (15)+2=17help gather food and water for the group before it was time to search for the moss. "At the very least, a flame will give us the advantage of sight, should another of the beasts be lurking at the edge of the wood." "Did you find anything of interest at the Tree's base? Wyrm's are hoarders by nature, so perhaps it has left us a parting gift that will help us in our endeavors."
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Info: Pathfinder Combat Cheatsheet | Helpful Formatting Guide | Dice Rolling - A Layman's Guide | Characters: Ariawyn | Arthos | 7D-3X3-GE3 Last edited by PercyHux; Aug 23rd, 2014 at 06:48 PM.
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#110
Aug 23rd, 2014, 07:16 PM
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Forest Elder
 Taking a large clump he wrapped it in a couple of the huge leaves from the giant tree and put it carefully in his backpack. Z'ani looked much brighter after a nights sleep and was even hobbling around for short distances sniffing all the days news and leaving his own signature in all the relevant places. Wandering around the glade chomping on the thick grass Petals was as stoic as ever. Aside from running away the day before she was one of the most easy going ponies they could have hoped for, and nobody could blame her for running when being charged by a snarling black monster. The rest of the camp was beginning to rise and the milling about that always occurs first thing in the morning had begun. Each of them took a little breakfast, Arthos heartily tucking into a cooked slice of the deceased wyrm with a satisfaction that reeked of revenge. One by one they commenced the tasks of putting their things in order ready for the day ahead. They took inventory of their possessions and checked over their wounds, preparing for what was likely to be another very long day. The mood in the camp was a quiet and fairly somber one as each of the party came to terms with the enormity of their task and gave a thought for those back in Falcon's Hollow suffering from the disease, counting on their success. The question nobody had raised was the one they were discussing before yesterdays mayhem began, who was going to climb this massive tree. There were plenty of branches and handhold's but they were not a party of climbers and there seemed to be some reluctance to make the ascent. Standing at the foot of the trunk looking upwards dense foliage blocked nearly all their vision but Arthos's keen eyes and his diligent searching noticed something hanging through the canopy. Macabre as it may be it appeared to be a mans legs swinging limply high above their heads. They were not the first adventurers to encounter the viscous wyrm it would seem, the thing kept a larder of sorts high in the branches. They mused over what else they might find up among the thick boughs, someone was going to have to take a look. Last edited by Zany; Aug 23rd, 2014 at 07:46 PM.
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#111
Aug 23rd, 2014, 10:53 PM
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Trent became incredibly disheartened by the prospect of having to sit and rest. Right there, not but a few yards from him, lay a creature that had fascinated him for many years. But due to the wounds that he suffered, and which also worried those who held him in their care, he was forced to take a seat and helplessly watch the others. Many years locked in his fathers library saw Trent read many fascinating things about dragons and their kin. One of the things that Trent wanted more in this world then anything else, was to meet such a creature and learn more about them. Now it is so close to his grasp, but so far away. "No Trent, you need to rest." Trent had never heard those words before, but they were painfully familiar. "No Trent, you must remain here." His fathers words were like a shackle, holding him in place and preventing him from exploring the world. His father's fear of people kept Trent from experiencing the world.
He always respected his father and found wisdom in his words, however the experiences of the last few days had shown Trent that maybe his father was wrong. After all, many had accepted Trent for who he was and not how he looked. Perhaps Thais was wrong too. "Are you mad, or just daft?" Thais's words echoed those spoken by his father, as he caught him in the castle halls one night. Trent as left with a bitter taste in his mouth that not even the sweet fruity taste of the good berries could remove. A good night's rest is needed, he thought to himself as he rested his head and attempted to sleep though the pain of the wurm's attack, now that his excitement had now left. A new morning greeted Trent, and he rose with brighter mind and only a faint sting where Thais's bandages were. As much as he was disappointed at the lost opportunity last night, Trent was impressed by the ranger's first aid skills. The Elder Tree stood in front of Trent like a judging figure, as though asking him what he planned on doing next. The tree began to unsettle Trent, and not just because he thought it attacked him earlier. Wait... The dragon. Trent turned excitedly to were the beast lay. Surely there would be no objections to me studying it now. Only the creature was not there. Trent looked around for the dragon wondering what had happened to it. To his horror, he found Arthos with a slice of strange meat in his hands and a goofy grin on his face, obviously pleased with his accomplishment of cooking the tatzlwyrm. Arthos waved at Trent and held up a piece of the browned flesh in an offer of a hearty breakfast. Trent turned away from the scene, stunned at what has transpired. With a lost appetite, Trent moved back to where he had rested the night and sat in silence. Nail emerged from his hiding place an approached his master, a look of worry on his face, if it were possible for a rodent. Trent could feel his pets emotions either way, and appreciated his friends concern. Nail moved over to Trent's pack and began tugging at one of the pockets. At first Trent thought he was searching for a meal, but to his surprise, the rat was attempting to pull out his spellbook, despite the tome being way to heavy for him. But Trent knew what Nail was thinking. "A welcome distraction. Thank you Nail." Trent found some small crumbs of travel biscuits to give to his familiar before reading his book and preparing his spells for the day. Going over the arcane cantations in his head helped push the recent events from his mind and focus on the task at hand. Closing his spellbook, Trent noticed Thias wrapping some moss into a leave. "Perfect. One piece down, two to go. It would seem that the witch is next. Is there something else you wish to do, or shall we depart?" Trent went over to his donkey, Petals, who was busy and content munching on the lush grass of the forest floor. "Sorry girl, we can't stay here forever. Others are counting on us. Eat your fill now but we must leave soon." Nail rushed up Trent's sleeve and took his riding position atop Petals head. Trent smiled and looked back to the group to find them staring up the massive trunk of the Elder Tree, looking for the best way to climb to it's heights.
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I have taken the Oath of Sangus. Will you?
Last edited by Solid Minotaur; Aug 23rd, 2014 at 11:02 PM.
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#112
Aug 24th, 2014, 02:01 AM
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The morning brought with it not only a renewal of the day, but a renewed vigor for the wounded Arthos. The goodberries and Tatzlwyrm meat he had devoured for breakfast did hurt his mood either. He felt infinitely stronger than he had the night previous. The makeshift bandages wrapped about his torso were stained with the black of dried blood, but the wounds themselves were no longer seeping, and were healing nicely. Thias had done a remarkable job at patching him up, and Griff's berries sped up recovery time to a remarkable pace.
His arm was still sore, but he felt that he needed to make himself useful. "I'll take a go at the tree, lads. I know we have our ingredient, but a quick jaunt up the boughs to see if there is anything useful wouldn't hurt. In the light of day, the old Tree doesn't look quite as scary." He stared at one of the rotted corpses he could spy hanging from a low branch, aware of the irony in his sentiment. He looked up into the tree from under its massive trunk, Perception: (4)+8 = 12searching for the best place to take hold and haul himself up. Arthos reached up for the nearest branch and took hold of it with both hands. He Climb: (8)+1 = 9attempted to pull himself up, but his chest arced with pain from the still tender gash beneath the bandages. "Gah!" he cried out as he let go of the limb and dropped to the ground. "Well, so much for that. Does anyone else want to have a go? I'm not quite ready, it would seem." Arthos was a tad disappointed that he had failed again at what should have been a simple task, but better he fall before even getting a foot off the ground than tumbling from thirty feet up. "Here is the rope if anyone needs it; if not to assist in ascending, but for lowering down anything that is found up there." He dug into his pack and produced the 50-foot silk rope that he always carried with him. He gathered up his belongings, making sure everything that was still functioning was accounted for. The grey cloak was a lost cause, he decided, so he wadded up the bloody rag and stuffed it into his bag. It may still come in handy as bandages should they face another threat like the Tatzlwyrm. The rest of the creature's roasted meat was tucked safely in his backpack, as well. It was surprisingly tasty, and seemed to make him feel stronger, though he was sure that the effect was imagined. Revenge, he decide, had been a dish best served with wyrm jerky.
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Info: Pathfinder Combat Cheatsheet | Helpful Formatting Guide | Dice Rolling - A Layman's Guide | Characters: Ariawyn | Arthos | 7D-3X3-GE3 Last edited by PercyHux; Aug 24th, 2014 at 02:03 AM.
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#113
Aug 24th, 2014, 06:02 AM
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Trent watched as the others struggled with the Elder Tree. It did look to be an imposing obstacle. It's roots seemed to create a barrier that said "You shall not pass". Arthos was still suffering the effects of yesterdays attacks, Thias seemed like he wasn't sure on how to climb a tree, and Griff simply stared at the mighty tree with a look in his eyes that said his girth was not built to sustain such heights and gravity would become his enemy. Trent looked at the gnarled roots and could see the claw marks that the wyrm had used to scale such a thing. While the dragon had claws to aid it, it's path still followed an easy path with adequate footholds. This might be the only thing I can get to learn from the dragonkin, Trent thought to himself as he gathered up the bulk of his courage. "Ok boys. Let me tackle this one. I need to put some use into this expedition."
Before his companions could protest his enthusiasm again, Trent planted his feet in the foot holds, grasped the claw marks with his fingers and pulled his slender frame up the tree. He heard a squeak come from the top of Petals head. Trent turned to see yet another look of concern on Nails face. He just smiled with confidence at the rat and kept climbing. He was surprised at how well his clawed fingers fell into the practiced claw marks of the tatzlwyrm. It wasn't long before he reached the top and Trent was feeling quite proud of himself of his achievement. And then he looked down. The ground suddenly slipped from his sight as he saw just how high he was. His hands gripped the bark of the ancient tree, and good thing too as his feet lost their conviction and slid from the branch they were planed on. Convincing himself to gather the courage and confidence he possessed before, Trent willed his legs back into motion and back to the safety of the branch. He gingerly walked out to where several bodies were hung to rot, presumably as a tasty snack for the lizard dragon at a later date. Drawing out his knife, Trent cut the fragile fabric that was strung though various thorns and broken branches to hold up the corpses. One by one the bodies fell and Trent began to realize that that could be his fate. He winced and prayed to any of the gods he could remember for their aid in getting him back down. The trip back to earth was a longer one then the trip to the sky. He was a lot more careful and found that placing his fingers in the claw marks not as easy this time round. Eventually Trent's feet found solid ground and his legs turned to jelly. Griff helped him down as he sat and looked back up at where he had just come from. How stupid of me. Why would I do that? He thought as he stared wide eyed at the Elder tree. He turned and looked at the others as they gathered up the bodies. "So, anything of interest?"
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I have taken the Oath of Sangus. Will you?
Last edited by Solid Minotaur; Aug 24th, 2014 at 06:03 AM.
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#114
Aug 24th, 2014, 08:03 AM
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Griff was honest with himself, he was thankful that Trent was making the climb up the Elder tree and not himself. He knew if the time was right and he wasn’t wearing this heavy chainmail and this wasn’t the Darkmoon Vale, he could probably have climbed the tree. But unfortunately, it was all of those things. He could easily have made the climb without the chainmail, his strength more than making up for his size. But he wasn’t going to go and lose its protection while he was in the Darkmoon, so he will have to support Trent as he was the one to make the climb.
The next thing Griff knew, a corpse was falling down to the ground and Griff had to leap back to prevent the rotting bulk from landing on him. "A head’s up next time would be preferable please Trent!" Figuring he could put his strength to some use, Griff began pulling the corpses that Trent dropped down into a central location so that searching them would be a little easier. Figuring he could search the corpses as Trent was climbing down, Griff bent down to begin Perception check: 1d20(1) + 7 = 8examining them. What he didn’t account for was the smell that a neat line of rotting corpses would make. As he bent down to examine them, the smell overpowered him and he had to get out of there, and get out of there quick, lest he lose his breakfast. Amidst coughing, Griff managed to squeeze out the words "By the Gods… The stench… Overpowering… One of you… Guys… Will have to… Search the corpses." With that, Griff hurried to the edge of the grove, his hand trying to cover up his nose as he hoped to get away from the smell. He feared he may never be able to get it from his nostrils.
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#115
Aug 24th, 2014, 09:15 AM
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Ulizmila's Hut
Back down on the ground Trent saw the others gathered around the three bodies he had cut down from the tree. Wandering over to join them Griff pushed passed him holding his hand over his mouth and gagging, he headed of into the open area away from the tree. The half eaten corpses were not a pretty sight down here on the ground especially after the fall. Two of the three appeared to be hunters or fighters of some kind but the third looked a little different, rather than armor it looked like a tattered robe was all the protection it had worn against the ferocious wyrm, whoever they were they wouldn’t have stood a chance.
All three corpses had much of their equipment still intact and the party salvaged everything that still functioned or seemed to have value. The possessions of the robed figure indicated he had been some kind of druid, perhaps the very same druid that had visited Milon at the lumber camp. They carried out the task very quietly and the air of grief and sadness was almost palpable, it was one thing to be handling anonymous corpses but even though the connection with the druid was a very slight and tenuous one it still made his death here all the more real to them. Each one was reminded by the decaying forms just how easily it could have been them hanging rotting from the tree had the battle gone differently and Griff not managed to bring down the savage beast. Looking at him now pacing back and forth across the glade pausing only to retch into the grass it was hard to believe that this was the same warrior who'd stood his ground and beheaded the nightmare from the day before. It was certainly easy to forgive him his weak stomach under the circumstances. Putting all the equipment in a pile they buried the three bodies, perhaps the dead had been good people, perhaps not, but they had surely suffered enough in this world at savagery of the Tatzlwyrm, they deserved some peace in the afterlife. Once the gruesome work was complete their attention turned to the pile of equipment dividing what could be used between themselves and leaving what couldn’t behind if it had little value. Taking a last glance at the peaceful glade and the giant tree they were all quite pensive as they considered how close they had come to death in this little slice of heaven. With Z’ani firmly secured in his sling on Petals back once more they headed out to continue their journey to the witch Ulizmila's hut without a word. This was one place they would all be happy to leave. ________________  Once on the road the mood lightened and they resumed talking and joking in an attempt to wash away the memories of the battlefield. The forest in this region was very dark and intimidating, the trees not as dense as the earlier areas they had passed through but obviously much older. It was hard to imagine how long some of the huge old growth giants were or what wondrous sights may have passed beneath their swaying limbs. A loud shrill screech from overhead startled Petals and she pranced about in anxiety but Griff held her lead firmly. As they moved quickly under cover of some of the bigger trees a large dark blue wyvern passed overhead hunting low over the treetops. Fortunately they were well concealed and the beast didn't appear to notice them but it still unnerved the whole party. The rest of the journey was uneventful but everyone was on edge after the wyvern, having experienced the damage the much smaller Tatzlwyrm had wreaked the day before they could only shiver at the thought of a battle with something far larger and considerably more lethal. ________________  They had been traveling for about four hours since leaving the Elder tree when the sounds of the forest became suddenly distant and the trees parted, opening into a small, almost perfectly circular glade. The nearest stands of pine, eyln, and darkwood, all typically sturdy woods, twist away from the clearing, as if bent by some impossibly strong wind or seemingly in an attempt to flee despite their paralyzed roots. At the glade’s center squats an dark and ugly cottage. From the shingle roof dangle bundles of gnarled roots, old dried beast carcasses, and knucklebone bangles, all clattering together like gruesome wind chimes. Fourteen unnerving 3 foot tall scarecrow like effigies are propped up throughout the glade.  Last edited by Zany; Aug 24th, 2014 at 10:00 AM.
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#116
Aug 24th, 2014, 08:09 PM
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The forest once again opened into glade. Where the area in which the Elderwood ruled was majestic and overwhelming in is grandiose glory, this vale was its polar opposite. It was dark, foreboding and the air was stagnant and heavy. Sunlight was sparse and what little had managed to fall into the glade was filtered and diffused in the decaying canopy and the grey hanging lichen that hung like macabre curtains from its branches. It gave the feeling as if one were marching through a lost and forgotten grave yard at midnight.
The twisted garden’s accoutrements did nothing but intensify the cemetery considerations. Wicker scarecrows stood in defense of their property, their corpse like structures issued a strict warning to those that plan on a purposeful trespass. The wind rattlers served nothing more than to intensify the general feeling of dread and anxiety. “Not my idea of a summer cabin.” Thias couldn’t help but comment.”If I were a witch that wanted to keep up with appearances for the sake of my reputation, I would take up residence in a home very similar to this one. It seems we have found our next destination my friends. What approach do we wish to take here?” With the worried look worn on Z’Ani face caused Thias take note of the animal’s general state of being. A second set of eyes that may warn the party of incoming danger. His strained his own senses to 1d20+6(26)locate any sign or hint of imminent threats to he and his friends. Last edited by LWAGNER; Aug 24th, 2014 at 08:26 PM.
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#117
Aug 24th, 2014, 10:44 PM
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"It may not be a luxury vacation spot, but if you want to remove yourself from the machinations of daily life, you could pick a worse location, " Arthos said as they stood before the old wooden shack. The scarecrows scattered about the yard were odd, to say the least. They stood only 3 feet tall, and were planted in a sporadic fashion, with no discernible pattern. He Perception: (20)+8 = 28scanned the property for anything else peculiar.
"I don't like the look of these effigies; Trent, do you detect any magic among them?" Arthos Knowledge Local: (2)+7 = 9searched his memory for any recognition of this specific type of ward, but he couldn't remember anything particular.
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Info: Pathfinder Combat Cheatsheet | Helpful Formatting Guide | Dice Rolling - A Layman's Guide | Characters: Ariawyn | Arthos | 7D-3X3-GE3
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#118
Aug 24th, 2014, 11:29 PM
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Ulizmila's Hut
Both Arthos and Thias applied their keen half-elf eyes to the area around the hut, it was apparent from the state of disrepair that it had long since been vacated. The grass was overgrown and the forest beginning to make an attempt to return to the area albeit seemingly somewhat reluctantly.
Even from this distance the two could tell that the door to the hut was broken and in bad condition although it still stood barring the way into the hut. It didn’t look to be very strong though, the wood mostly DC 10 Strength checkrotted; a good push or kick would probably have it in. The scarecrows looked to be intimidating but as far as they could tell they served little other purpose. Arthos was just about to report this to the rest of the party when Thias pointed at one of the straw men. Following the line of his finger they could just make out a small movement from the scarecrow he was indicating. Once they knew what to look for other small movements caught their eyes from some of the other wardens. It was difficult to know what exactly was moving for a while and they simply watched quietly, eventually their foe revealed itself. ”Rats.” one of them said in a whisper  Last edited by Zany; Aug 24th, 2014 at 11:46 PM.
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#119
Aug 25th, 2014, 01:16 AM
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He wasn't sure if he had seen any movement through the windows of the shack, but he definitely spotted the rats milling about the yard, and they clearly hadn't noticed the interlopers yet. Finally, Arthos mused, things might be going their way. He set his sights on the rat closest to the front door of the ramshackle building. It was digging in the dirt next to one of the creepy scarecrows, then it preceded to defecate into the newly created hole. The creature was clearly distracted, so he knew it was the perfect time to strike. He took a quick step to the right to get a better view and drew his shortbow from his back and notched an arrow. Arthos aimed for the rat's head in hopes of making its death quick.
He released the arrow and it flew true, Sneak Attack: (15)+2 = 17ripping through the rodent's skull, nearly Total Damage: 4+2 = 6separating it from the body. Before the skewered creature even hit the ground, Arthos had already loaded another arrow just in case another opportunity to attack presented itself.
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Info: Pathfinder Combat Cheatsheet | Helpful Formatting Guide | Dice Rolling - A Layman's Guide | Characters: Ariawyn | Arthos | 7D-3X3-GE3 Last edited by PercyHux; Aug 25th, 2014 at 01:27 AM.
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#120
Aug 25th, 2014, 05:23 AM
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Trent had never had to bury someone before. He stood uncomfortably as the others said rites and paid respect. He didn't know what to say, or if he should say anything. So he stood silent, back from the others, in the shadows of his surroundings, where he felt comfortable. After the impromptu funeral was completed, they moved over the gear left behind. Trent looked over the treasure that was left behind from the unfortunate souls of the previous adventures. Trent never felt comfortable wielding a weapon, holding trust in his spells, so left the crossbows and swords. He decided to take some of the goodberries and one of the healing potions, keeping them in his belt pouch. With the rest of the gear safely stowed away in the saddle pouch, the adventures headed out to find the next part of the puzzle.
A few hours pass, the road taking it's usual toll that Trent had come to expect. The guidance supplied by Thias was a welcome change to Trent's smuggling runs though. With him at the helm, it wasn't long before the witches hut came into view. The decrepit cottage left a feeling in Trent that was strangely similar to the attack from the kobold. A sense of dread came over Trent as he could see what awaits those who practice magic. First a curse of unlife and now a death, even if only seemingly, that is mourned by none save the rats. Rats! Thias pointed the nest of them out and Trent now began to feel real fear. There were many, and seemed incredibly vicious, at least compared to Nail anyway. Thinking quickly, Trent relied upon a faithful ability that has served him well the last few days. He pointed at one of the Rat 3rats with his middle and fore finger, and with a snap, a transparent Force Missile = 5 force damagemissile of force energy shot out and guided itself towards it's target. Trent heard a faint squeak emit from the resting place of the scarecrow it was hiding in.
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I have taken the Oath of Sangus. Will you?
Last edited by Solid Minotaur; Aug 25th, 2014 at 05:34 AM.
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