[Game Thread] IV. The Ruins of Archeebald Mountain

[HenryLockwood]

Karla finally jolts into motion, as Silas' arrow narrowly misses her. She screams furiously, "Leave him!", and makes it clear who she means as she slashes both swords at Tasha.

Unusually for her, she leads with her left hand - and though the big man bats the blade aside almost contemptuously, doing so creates enough of an opening for her other blade to bite deep.

OOC Dice Attacks: 1d20+8 (20)+8 Total = 28 1d6+4 (4)+4 Total = 8 1d20+8 (2)+8 Total = 10 1d6+2 (3)+2 Total = 5 Dice Crit: 1d20+8 (11)+8 Total = 19 1d6+4 (6)+4 Total = 10 5-ft step, entering rage and then full attack on Tasha.

[mountainbound]

Coming to stay Olaf's blow, Fahd utters quick words of surprise and restraint, and tries in vain to reach the hammer. But it's Lynx that does the real talking. The animal, more attuned than anyone else to the powers at Olaf's command, willingly throws itself at the Bear Shaman just as the hammer falls. Shining faintly, the weapon glances off the giant sloth's head, elliciting a wail of pain and sadness at Olaf's spiritual betrayal, but it comes far short of a killing blow. Lynx tears into Olaf's leg, reddening the snow with the shaman's blood. Ignoring the pain, Olaf does his best to salvage whatever power might be left in his spell, and smashes his hammer down again in a plume of snow, just inches from the sloth's retreating head.

Silas, his head a swarm of pecking birds, launches a bolt toward the huntsman whose foot is still planted on Dan's back, but the magical arrow flies wide. Just behind Tasha, Karla dodges the ranger's errant shot and then dives in, her swords blazing. With the winterwalkers on her feet, it's hard to avoid stepping on Dan's prone body as she and Tasha's blades ring in the air. The woman's sword hits first, finding Tasha's thick neck and causing a gush of blood to spurt forward. Quick and powerful as he is, Tasha is unable to get through Karla's defenses. In another moment he stops short as the barbarian woman begins to grow. Miraculously, she's now a head taller than Tasha, her swords with even better reach.

Taking in the scene, Rip considers his options. He was a woodsman from the north, his skin weathered by sun and frost alike, and he had seen many a skirmish like this. Motionless one moment, the quiet ranger suddenly raises his bow and fires a volley of arrows in his master's direction. Even with Fahd harrying Olaf, and the confusion of movement with the sloth, Rip has an uncanny eye, and anticipates Lynx's movement. The animal is still connected to Olaf when the first arrow buries in its neck. "Put your weapons down," Rip says in a low voice. "You don't stand a chance against the three of us."

Lynx hisses in pain as Rip's second arrow lodges in its back. The animal cries out and seems stunned from the shafts. "One more should do it," Rip mutters, nocking a third arrow to his string, eyes on Lynx. From the woods behind everyone, another cry echoes Lynx's. It's a voice deep and angry, though its owner can't yet be seen through the trees.

Combat Notes Enemy Status Sloth: AC 17, Undamaged. Retreating from Olaf. Olaf: AC 16, Wounded for 3 hp. Misses sloth on this attack. Rip: AC 18, Undamaged. Attacking at range. Tasha: AC 14, Wounded for 18 hp. Attacking Karla. Party Status Silas: -2 to attacks due to the distraction of the birds. Dan is rising. Karla is now under the effect of Enlarge Person, cast by Dan and delivered as she stepped on him. Lynx takes 10 damage from Rip's arrows. Please list your current and max HP, AC and any other pertinent information in your post.

[HenryLockwood]

AC 14; reach 10ft; HP41/41Status

Karla wavers, surprised as her body shifts into a larger form. It's not what she's used to, and she takes a step back from Tasha in startlement - but as she expands, her longer limbs give her the reach necessary to attack the big man again. Perhaps he is not used to facing a larger opponent, but neither is Karla used to this new problem. Her first blow swings wild, almost off-balance, but her second is more measured and opens another wound.

 

OOC 5-ft step back, then a full attack on Tasha. Also activating rage power Reckless Abandon, for -1 AC and +1 attack. Dice Full attack: 1d20+7 (5)+7 Total = 12 1d8+5 (6)+5 Total = 11 1d20+7 (20)+7 Total = 27 1d8+2 (1)+2 Total = 3 Dice Off-hand crit: 1d20+7 (18)+7 Total = 25 1d8+2 (1)+2 Total = 3

[Krimchee]

Cursing at his missed shots, Silas swats again at the harrying birds, and then deftly hops a few steps to the side to give himself a better shot without the distraction of the fecking birds. Drawing a desperate breath, and still off balance and unable to plant his feet firmly, Silas fires two more shots at Tasha.

rolls Attack Dice Roll: 1d20+2 (2)+2 Total = 4 Dice Roll: 1d20+2 (4)+2 Total = 6 Damage Dice Roll: 1d8+1 (1)+1 Total = 2 Dice Roll: 1d8+1 (4)+1 Total = 5

[Tangler]

Fahd: Current HP 20/20, Spirit Healing 6/6 remaining, Cloak PSP 5/5 remaining
AC17, AC12 flat-footed, AC16 touch, Fort/Ref/Will +6/5/5
+10 Fire resistance (Ichvaali Cloak)

Lynx: Current HP 6/16
AC 21, (AC13 flat-footed, AC18 touch, AC25 vs OA (Mobility), Fort/Ref/Will +4/9/2-status/defenses-

Despair threatens to suffocate Fahd. Though he had feared that conflict with Olaf was inevitable, he had not expected it so soon. Now his spirit companion is badly injured, impaled by two of Rip's arrows, and the beating of grackle wings fills the shaman's ears. He barely hears the answering roar from the forest, counterpoint to the sloth's desperate cries; on some level he recognizes the roar for what it portends, an angry mate coming to the defense of the sloth, but if Olaf is not stopped the sloth might be dead before its mate arrives.

"No," Fahd replies without looking at Rip, his resolve hardening. "I will not allow this." Even if it means my death. The shaman draws his aklys as he steps back from Olaf. Fahd flings the hardened femur at the bear shaman. "Lynx, flee!" he adds.

The Lynx spirit, however, perhaps reaching the same conclusion, refuses to retreat. The lynx bites Olaf again, and attempts to rake the bear shaman with its claws.

ooc I rolled 24s for Fahd's attack and Lynx's bite (5 and 4 damage respectively). Lynx's claw attacks were less successful, and Lynx's crit confirmation on his bite failed.

[mountainbound]

As Fahd's aklys bites into Olaf's shoulder, and Lynx rips into his leg, the Bear Shaman roars in anger. He swings his ritual hammer at the spiritchaser, crying, "Fool! You reject the power I offer?"

Some ways through the snow, the rest of the party struggles. Karla siccors a blade into Tasha and the huge man returns a brutal stroke, just as two of Silas' arrows whistle through the air between them. One arrow sticks into a tree not far from Dan's head -- the wizard rises a split-second after the arrows fly. "What the hell is that?!" he shouts, looking past Tasha and Karla skirmishing nearby. A word muttered and he sends two motes of energy streaming from his hand.

A thunderous bellow physically knocks into the combatants as the giant sloth's hide is pierced by Rip's arrows. The quiet huntsman had already turned his sights from the interfighting and was backing up to get some distance between himself and the huge beast crashing into the scene from the deeper trees. Answering his mate's cry of distress, the sloth roars again, it's tiny eyes blind with rage. A tree splits in half as the bull sloth rams past it and barrels over Silas. In a moment the ranger from Leyman's Hollow disappears beneath 4 tons of flesh and claw. The young man's only hope is that he avoided being impaled by the maddened creatures razor sharp tusks. "Idiots!" Rips shouts at Karla and Tasha. "Stop fighting and kill it! It will trample us all!"

Olaf turns from Fahd with a scowl just as Rip fires a second arrow at the raging sloth -- though this one doesn't seem to penetrate the thick hide. "This is what I'm paying you for… do as you're told and attack!"

Combat Notes Enemy Status Female Sloth: AC 17, Undamaged. Successful retreat out of melee range. Bull Sloth: AC 17, Wounded for 6hp from Dan's magic missile and Rip's arrow. Attacking Silas. Olaf: AC 16, Wounded for 12 hp. Attacks Fahd with hammer. Rip: AC 18, Undamaged. Attacking bull sloth at range. Tasha: AC 14, Wounded for 24 hp. Attacking Karla. Party Status Silas: The giant sloth is trampling you. Per Trample rules, you can make an attack of opportunity this turn, but at a –4 penalty. If you forgo the attack of opportunity, you can attempt to avoid the trampling creature and receive a Reflex save to take half damage. Reflex DC is 23. You can also attack if you attempt to save. You take 17hp damage (unless you opt to save for 1/2 damage - if you pass the save, take 8.). Dan takes no damage. Karla is hit by Tasha's longsword for 12hp damage. You are still Enlarged. Fahd is hit by Olaf's hammer for 8. Lynx takes no damage. Please list your current and max HP, AC and any other pertinent information in your post.

[HenryLockwood]

AC 14; reach 10ft; HP29/41Status

Karla, wary and distrustful, steps back from Tasha, trying to make her way towards Rip's position. If she can trap the archer, perhaps he will be less dangerous to her... allies? friends?

Still furious, still feeling cornered and half-panicked, Karla carries on lashing out at Tasha. Olaf's orders were quite audible, of course: the man had never been soft-spoken: but right now Karla has more pressing concerns. Fortunately for her, so does Tasha: both Karla's swords, heavier than they would normally be, open deep wounds.

 

OOC 5-ft step back, then a full attack on Tasha. Continuing Reckless Abandon, for -1 AC and +1 attack. Dice Full attack: 1d20+7 (10)+7 Total = 17 1d8+5 (2)+5 Total = 7 1d20+7 (14)+7 Total = 21 1d8+2 (6)+2 Total = 8

[Krimchee]

Distracted by the flapping birds and the frustration of of missing three shots (three!), Silas didn't even notice the angry sloth's approach until it was too late. Trees crashed around him with thunderous cracking and snapping. Already filled with the adrenaline of combat, Silas' instincts suddenly screamed. Desperately Silas tried to get out of the way. Silas took one frantic leap to the the left, but it was too little, too late. The monstrous creature was suddenly upon him and Silas' world became a swirl of claws, panic and pain.

Status HP: 10 AC: 15

Reflex Save Reflex save Dice Roll: 1d20+6 (9)+6 Total = 15

[Tangler]

Fahd: Current HP 12/20, Spirit Healing 6/6 remaining, Cloak PSP 5/5 remaining
AC17, AC12 flat-footed, AC16 touch, Fort/Ref/Will +6/5/5
+10 Fire resistance (Ichvaali Cloak)

Lynx: Current HP 6/16
AC 21, (AC13 flat-footed, AC18 touch, AC25 vs OA (Mobility), Fort/Ref/Will +4/9/2-status/defenses-

Fahd winces and grunts in pain as Olaf's hammer smashes into him. He draws the aklys back into his hand, though, prepared to continue the fight with the bear shaman. If this is the path to your power, if it requires the slaying of an innocent creature, then yes, I do refuse, is the reply that flashes through his thoughts; the reply remains unvoiced as the forest explodes behind him. Olaf turns his attention from Fahd, who steps away and turns his head to find that Silas has disappeared under the sloth's mate, a creature even more enormous than the one Olaf had tried to kill. Spirits fend! Fahd hesitates, aklys now in hand, undecided about what to do next. The young shaman doesn't want to harm the bull sloth, for it is doing nothing more than defending its mate. Still, it is Silas that is being attacked, and Fahd can't just let the sloth continue to trample the ranger. Reluctantly the shaman flings his aklys at the bull sloth's head. "Flee!" he shouts at the bull sloth. "Your mate is safe!"

Lynx, meanwhile, its purpose fulfilled with the successful withdrawal of the smaller sloth, backs away from Olaf, keeping a wary eye on him as it does.

ooc I rolled 12 for Fahd's attack.

[mountainbound]

Avoiding Fahd's attack, Olaf's eyes glint when he appraises the giant sloth. The huge male lumbers forward, seeing the threat in Olaf's approach. It roars, and then cries all the louder as Rip buries a few more arrows into its neck. "STOP!" Olaf shouts to his huntsman. And then the bear shaman begins to sing -- hasty and unsure before the giant creature bearing down on him. Olaf knew power when he saw it, though, and the male sloth had twice the strength of the female. If only he could master it… make it his…

The bull sloth stops short, recognizing as all animals do that haunting melody borne straight from the world between worlds, the world that unites all living things, the spirit realm. It stares at Olaf, menace in its eyes, but its will is held back by Olaf's tenuous song. Any disruption could set the creature into another bloody rage, but for the moment, the bear shaman's beguiling magic had the upper hand.

"Bitch!" Tasha growls with his rough accent. Blood from Karla's blades pours freely from many deep cuts. The huge northerner reels a bit on his winterwalkers, drunk with sudden bloodloss. "I should killed you when had chance!" Changing course from the sloth and back toward Karla, he cries out as two bolts of energy smash into his chest. Dan, standing courageously behind the swordswoman, grins as his magic forces the breath out of Tasha.

But it's not enough to stop the warrior, and he hefts his longsword at Karla. Though she was strong, Tasha's attack quickly overpowers Karla's twin-sword finesse. In a moment she's forced to decide whether to keep hold of the sword in her right hand, or drop it to stem the river of blood and guts leaking from just above her right hip -- a laceration that gapes wider with her every move. Tasha grunts, watching the pain play across her features. "Now you feel alive, heh?"

Silas, finally freed of the sloth's bulk, breathes as if for the first time, but the air is like fire in the ranger's crushed lungs, his organs pinned by at least three broken ribs. Still, he manages to turn on his side and stand, crawling from the deep depression in the snow mere feet from the sloth's hindquarters.

All the while Olaf's song grows stronger as the sloth sinks into his spell.

Combat Notes Enemy Status Bull Sloth: AC 17, Wounded for 15hp. Staring down Olaf. Olaf: AC 16, Wounded for 12 hp. Preparing to ensorcel the bull sloth. Rip: AC 18, Undamaged. Attacked bull sloth at range. Tasha: AC 14, Seriously wounded for 43 hp. Attacking Karla. Party Status Silas: You didn't take an attack last round. Take two attacks this round to make up for it if you wish. Tasha and Rip are both in range, as is the sloth. Dan takes no damage. Karla is hit by Tasha's longsword for 9hp damage. You are still Enlarged. Fahd takes no damage. Lynx disappears into the woods. Please list your current and max HP, AC and any other pertinent information in your post.

[HenryLockwood]

AC 14; reach 10ft; HP20/41Status

Karla staggers under the heavy blow, but does not retreat. To do so would only be to invite the big man to attack her further; he is not the sort to let a beaten enemy live. Besides, he's faring worse than her - and another few seconds ignoring the pain, another few seconds all-out attack, might end this.

The blade in Karla's right hand, swinging fast and furiously, cuts deep, but the force of Tasha's blow keeps her from using her left hand to any effect. Indeed, it's all Karla can do to hold on to the hilt.

 

OOC Full attack on Tasha. Continuing Reckless Abandon, for -1 AC and +1 attack. Dice Full attack: 1d20+7 (13)+7 Total = 20 1d8+5 (6)+5 Total = 11 1d20+7 (1)+7 Total = 8 1d8+2 (2)+2 Total = 4

[Krimchee]

Silas pulled himself to his feet, drawing a deep, panicked breath. All he could taste was the smell of unwashed sloth. He spat, trying to clear the taste from his mouth. Glancing up at the terrible beast Silas took a few steps away, hastily checking the status of his bow. He was relieved to see that it hadn't been reduced to tinder. I just got runned over by a gods-blasted fecking sloth! he thought with incredulity. For a moment there, he'd thought that was going to be the end of him. Wouldn't that be my luck to have it all come to an end in the smelly arse-crack of a wretched fecking sloth? He was about to bolt for cover when he noticed that the sloths had stopped attacking. What the..... Then he noticed that it was Olaf's magic that seemed to be keeping them at bay. He cursed profusely at the revelation, taking a moment to assess the situation.

Quickly deciding that maybe Olaf was not the best target at the moment (getting runned over by a stinky-arsed sloth once today was quite enough, thank you very much), Silas turned his eyes to Rip, that fecking son of a goat. Gritting his teeth against the pain of his injuries, Silas took a steadying breath and fired 2 shots at Rip.

Status AC 15 HP 10

Attack Rolls Attack Rip Dice Roll: 1d20+6 (11)+6 Total = 17 Dice Roll: 1d20+6 (14)+6 Total = 20 Damage Dice Roll: 1d8+1 (4)+1 Total = 5 Dice Roll: 1d8+1 (8)+1 Total = 9

[LupusRegalis]

"I Reject you Spirit-Thief!" Fahd cries out, and charges Olaf with the aklys held high. The two of them, Olaf and Fahd, were opposite in every way and Fahd could do no less that his utmost to stop Olaf's betrayal. To coax a willing spirit or to bind a dangerous one are as much a responsibility as an ability. To bind, and slay, a beast to claim its power as your own is a perversion of the Shaman's gift.

Fahd cuts across the ground he'd just put between them, bound by his own belief of what is right and wrong. Though it mean his own death, he would see Olaf stopped first. He swings the bone-club down with all the force he can muster, face a grim mask of determination.

 

Actions Full Round Action: Charge Olaf, Dice Attack: 1d20+8 (20)+8 Total = 28 1d6 6 Melee attack +2, AC -2 Crit Confirm failed

Combat Stats Fahd: HP 12/20 Spirit Healing 6/6, Cloak 5/5, +10 Fire Resist AC17 (12FF, 16 Tc) Fort +6/Ref +5/Will +5 Lynx: HP 6/16 AC 21 (13FF, 18 Tc, 25 vs OA), Fort +4/Ref +9/Will +2

[mountainbound]

The senior ranger draws his bow to take aim at the sloth when he’s suddenly pierced in the chest by an arrow. Lucky for him, his boiled leather armor stopped the shaft from penetrating completely through. Rip falls backward, his winterwalkers making a plume of white around him. In anger he looks about. But Silas already has another arrow nocked, and calmly his movements outmatch Rip’s. As Rip pauses, Silas plants another arrow into his thigh. But the sheriff of Jessup is too disciplined to cry out, and instead focuses his energies on the sycamore overshadowing the scene.

Not far from the huge tree, Karla and Tasha square off. An experienced fighter, the woman knows her opponent, and knows that Tasha would slice her to ribbons if given the chance. So the barbarianess comes on strong. But her assault is not as powerful as it might have been… if only there wasn’t intestine leaking out of the laceration in her side. Still, her blow is incredibly well timed, and Tasha, dizzy from bloodloss himself, catches her sword on his forearm. CRACK! Bone pieces and blood spray everywhere as Karla’s blade nearly severs the man’s arm an inch below his elbow. It takes two fierce pulls before she’s able to disengage her weapon from the ulna and radius bones of Tasha’s forearm. The northerner explodes: “F—K!!!” in excruciating pain. In a moment, Karla’s sword is free and Tasha’s left arm flops down uselessly. There’s blood everywhere.

Dan pauses, staring at the snow at Tasha’s feet. There’s blood everywhere. The young wizard can see, for just a moment, the white of Tasha’s armbone before the blood envelopes it like a living sheath. Looking away, he catches a glimpse of Olaf falling, Fahd standing above him. But in an instant both men are blocked by the incredible bulk of the sloth. An unearthly cry – the cry of one betrayed – shatters eardrums as the creature lunges at Olaf.

In a moment there’s not one, but two huge monsters rolling in the snow. Bloody jaws clamped about the sloth’s neck, a bear appears where once Olaf might have been. The two roll and tumble in the snow, narrowly missing Fahd as the spiritchaser leaps away, losing one of his winterwalkers in the process.

Oddly, amidst the gore of battle and the bizarre appearance of a giant grizzly, Dan’s mind presents an image: a wine flask. Wine, sweet red wine. “Just like Dad used to make,” he says. If there were less in the group, there would be more for him to drink. "Screw it,” he mutters, and in an instant, a blue ray jets out from his fingertips, directly at Tasha. The huge northerner stumbles back another pace, his woven snowshoes creaking beneath his feet. Then with a sigh, Tasha falls. His nearly severed arm landing beside him at an unnatural angle, the wound pours forth the last of the warrior’s life.

Silas, his attention drawn by the huge bear attacking the even bigger sloth, fails to notice the 8” diameter sycamore limb swinging down toward his head. In a moment the ranger is flat on back, his scalp a mess of tree bark and blood. Vision swimming, it’s all Silas can do to see another branch moving overhead, swinging down in his direction.

Combat Notes Enemy Status Bull Sloth: AC 17, Wounded for 15hp. Fighting with an oversized grizzly. Olaf: AC 16, Wounded for 29 hp. An oversized grizzly? Rip: AC 18, Wounded for 14. Tasha: AC 14, Seriously wounded for 58 hp. Dying in the snow. Party Status Silas 5hp damage from the animated tree. Dan takes no damage. Karla is still Enlarged. Final round. Fahd takes no damage. -2 DEX until you find the other snowshoe. Lynx is gone. Please list your current and max HP, AC and any other pertinent information in your post.

[LupusRegalis]

Lying there in the snow where's he's fallen, Fahd gazes wide-eyed at the awesome battle taking place only feet from him. The force and thunder of the two raging beasts brings to mind the ancient stories of the Titans as they clashed in world-consuming war. Everything else except the fight between the Sloth and the Grizzly, Olaf?, is drowned out by the noise of it. Yet one word seems to float through, sensed not heard, drifting into his mind with the cold wind passing around them all.

Skin-Walker

It's not a word he's heard before, not from Aisha or his Father, and definitely not from Olaf. But it whispers through his mind nonetheless. The tone of word gives clues though, and none are good; Fear, Rage, Despair, Awe, Pain, and Power. They all seem to whisper through his mind at the same time. The unknown word pulls at Fahd, and he unthinkingly follows the tug without considering its consequences. Like being pulled through a lake while holding onto a rope, Fahd's Using See Spirits abilityvision changes to encompass the spirit world. His eyes dilate and then contract, as if refocusing on something in the distance, yet not. There, directly in front of him, he cannot but see the battle between the two great beasts as the spirits do...