[Respite] - Factions

1. Re: [Respite] - Factions

   #561

   "Coldblood!, Toboran shouted to Fafnir, "Aid our friends! I will tend to him", he motioned at the laborer, and then started over to see what help he could give.
   
   (OOC-Heal check, please)

2. Re: [Respite] - Factions

   #562

   Fafnir unsheathed his gleaming scitimar and charged across the stumpy ground. His tail splayed out to balance his body while he rushed over the uneven terrain.
   
   

3. Re: [Respite] - Factions

   #563

   Balin could have cast spells that would have hurt the creature now, but his spheres would do more damage in the long run, and there would probably be time.

4. Re: [Respite] - Factions

   #564

   "Don't you love it when they fight back?" Gideon ground his teeth together. Pain was meant to be passing, just the body telling him it was damaged. Like an annoying child, he chose to ignore it, and hacked away at the stump. "Get to safety, Estwick!" he added. "But you, stump, you'll be safe nowhere!"

5. Re: [Respite] - Factions

   #565

   "5월 곰의 힘은 당신의 사지를 채운다" Rajani shouted, the magic, divine heat and fire boiled out of her, she could feel it, more power into the flames. This was drawing strongly from the light side, from the living side, she would draw deeply from that well in the battle. She could see and overlay as the holy magic took form around Gideon. The strength of the bear, tireless and enduring, she gave it to him. The blessings of life and fire and courage...
   
   (OOC - Bear's Strength on Gideon, +4 Str for 1 min/level)

6. Re: [Respite] - Factions

   #566

   Toboran rushed over to the injured charcoal burner and checked him over quickly.  He was badly hurt, but looked like he might live.  There were no surface injuries that Toboran could see, only nasty bruises. He would probably recover with time.  Toboron's eyes drifted to the feet sticking out of the charcoal.  Not everyone was so lucky..
   
   Round the next!
   
   
   
   
   

7. Re: [Respite] - Factions

   #567

   Invigorated by the touch of the divine, Gideon redoubled his efforts. It was easy to be a believer when miracles were so close at hand; it could even be intoxicating at times.
   
   (I feel like gambling - let's put the to-hit bonus from the Bull's Strength into Power Attack, making the spell good for +7 damage - or more, if power attack adds a bigger damage bonus to bigger weapons)

8. Re: [Respite] - Factions

   #568

   As the man seemed to have no permanent injuries, Toboran hefted his spear and began moving towards the rest of the group.
   
   (OOC-Normal movement speed)

9. Re: [Respite] - Factions

   #569

   Fafnir continued his reckless charge straight into the tendrils of his foe. He trusted his balance to keep him upright while he focused on getting to his comrades. When he nears he raises his scimitar high for the kill.

10. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #570

    As the sapling scurried up his arm, Jaegarmond came to a realization: with his hands free, he could attack the monster in close quarters. Unfortunately, he had left his quarterstaff leaning against the tree he had been examining with his treeling companion. He had not, however, left himself unarmed. Grabbing the expertly crafted knife from his belt, he moved in to try to get an attack in against the wooden creature still attacking his companions.
    
    (OOC: attacking with Jaegarmond's masterwork dagger.)

11. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #571

    Jhoric again attempted to blast away with his Eldrich power, but unbidden, scenes from his escape from the demons came to the fore.  His confidence momentarily shattered, instead of a beam of force, a small puff of noxious smoke emitted from his fingertips...
    
    Jaegarmond took a swipe with his dagger at one of the roots reaching towards him, and was rewarded by a solid strike that nearly severed the appendage.  It was at that moment that Gideon gave a great shout and swung his blade like a splitting axe.  And, like a splitting axe, his blade came down on the thickest part of the thing, the crack of splitting wood filling the air.
    
    A few moments later, the split stump lay motionless on the ground, barely any different from the other debris in the field.
    
    "Took you long enough," quipped Estwick.
    
    At that moment, one of the flaming spheres rolled into the back of the thing, setting fire to several of its thinner roots.
    
    
    

12. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #572

    "You know, yelling 'take that, tree' doesn't sound half as awesome as I'd wish; so, everybody is alright?"
    Then, he helped the old man up, trying to brush away what dirt clung to his clothes. "Sorry for dropping you - that thing pushed me."

13. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #573

    Rajani paused for a moment, her face was grim, the tree stump thing was broken and burning, but there were still wounded to care for. She hitched up her dress and began tending to the wounded.
    
    (OOC - CLW on Gideon, then tend to the injured charcoal burners, Cure Minor Wounds orisons as required)

14. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #574

    Toboran was walking over to the rest of the companions, even as Fafnir came to a screeching halt just behind the fallen stump, an anticlimax after the mad dash across the clearing. He saw that Rajani began to walk in his direction, though looking past to the charcoal burner.
    
    Estwick climbed back onto Gideon's back.  Rajani's spell had taken much of the sting (9 hp) out of the injury, but the prospector's climbing made the half-ogre wince as he took up his perch.  "Didn't think I'd need straps up here," muttered the old man.  "Did you notice the hills yonder?", he said, pointing north.  Indeed, the faint outline of what could be hills or mountains could be seen, though their precise nature was cloaked by the haze of the day.
    
    Jaegarmond stood looking at the shattered stump with interest, almost expecting something to have been inside, giving it life like his earthen shell. But nothing emerged, and there was nothing to see but the heartwood deep in the massive stump.
    
    Rajani passed the ranger on her way to the charcoal burners.  One, by the name of Lund, was sitting on another stump, holding his middle and coughing intermittently. His lips were a little pale and flecked with pinkish foam.  Walking over to him, she came to much the same conclusion as Toboran had a little earlier, though she drew upon her energies and took some of the edge off his injury.  He looked at her and nodded thanks.  The other two charcoal burners still in the clearing did not need her healing arts, but her arts in aiding their spirits enter the next world.  One was deep into the charcoal pit, presumably half consumed by the fire below. The fire was flaring up now, both from the added air, and from the fluids of the unfortunate victim.  The other was in even worse shape, scattered as he was over a large area.
    
    
    
    

15. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #575

    "Death, still death even in the face of hope. Beginings, endings," Rajani said. She pushed back the edges of her black cloak and reached into the pit grabbing the dead man within by his feet. She pulled. There was no shame in cremation, but to be left to burn in the flame sof one's profession was a sure way to rise up a bitter ghost. Better to salvage what was left and fashion a proper pyre. The same would have to go for the man who lay scattered in pieces.
    
    "Friends, I will need a bier of wood, half again as long as a man, as wide as a bed and as high as this," she said, gesturing with her hand just shy of her bosom. "I think that this monstrosity can serve as the base," she said, scowling at the broken hulk of the shambler.
    
    

16. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #576

    "Yes, lady", Toboran said, dutifully moving to collect the remains of the tree thing and deposit them where she motioned.

17. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #577

    Jhoric stood a short distance away from the stump looking at his hand in dismay. He considered his brief failure to conjure his natural dark energy to be something of an ill omen, a sign of bad luck to come, and was slightly disturbed by the incident.However, it would be for the best to put the failings of the past behind us, he thought. Yes, the past isn't important anymore. If any of them knew what he had done before this new beginning... All the things he had done...
    
    But this was a new beginning, a chance for change, to put the past to rest.
    
    Jhoric snapped out of his brooding mood and tried to assist Toboran the best he could in preparing Rajani's requested bier of wood.
    
    

18. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #578

    As Jhoric helped Toboran build the pyre, he noted that there were runes carved into the bark of the  thing.  Though not of a language he knew - this world was alien to all of them - they had the familiar feel of magic.
    
    
    

19. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #579

    Extra hands make for lighter work. Jaegarmond did his best to help turn the wooden monstrosity into a fitting funeral pyre, after making sure his small tree companion was okay.
    
    (OOC: So. Hard. Not. To. Make. Happy Tree Friends. Joke.)

20. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #580

    Balin thought that using burnt wood for the pyre would not go so well, therefore he moved his spheres onto the nearest charcoal pit so that they wouldn't damage anything.

21. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #581

    "Okay, band, let's help the living and lay the dead to rest, then move along - there be hills yonder, we'll be finding no dwarves and no ore here. Except for the dwarves already present."
    
    Gideon couln't shake the feeling that if they dallied, the forest would come for them again.

22. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #582

    "Sleep, rest, be at peace," Rajani said, kissing the dead man between his eyes. She closed them with a gentle touch of her fingers. She ignored the scent of charred flesh, she really didnt notice it at the moment. As a priestess of the Endless Path, she had been around the dead for many years, both those in gentle repose, those killed in battle, and those unfortunate victims of circumstance. She looked at the gathered pieces of the other man, his face was now smooth, the final moment of terror smoothed away by diligent fingers. She kissed him too, between the eyes, "Find rest in your journey, sleep, rest, be at peace." She closed his eyes too.
    
    She turned to the remaining charcoal burner, Lund, she believed was his name. She bowed slightly to him, "Tend this flame, it would be inauspicious for the deceased to be left halfway. Render them into ashes so that they may continue on their way, and not return to trouble us." She paused, remembering his injury. The curative magic would have mended the worst of the tears, but he would still have to do the hard work of healing on his own. "Please, do take a care for yourself and strain not too hard." She took Gray's reins and pulled herself back up onto the gelding.

23. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #583

    Kou'rha leaned heavily on his staff as he crouched behind the brush, peering at the female Other as she rose to her steed.  He found how she acted toward the dead odd - something only shamans did.  Was she a shamaness, perhaps?  He'd never actually seen one: the Children of Uorlhan only had men as shamans, but his uncle had told him of other Alun tribes with women that led the council and performed the old rites.  His uncle had said they were mad, but then the terrible times that had befallen the Alun did not leave room for arguing such fine points.  The Others had strange ways, but he would need their help to find the great spirits.
    
    Now was not the time for greetings, though, not after what they had done to the tree beast.  These Others were jumpy, too quick to fight.  They lacked the patience of the Alun, especially that of the Children of Uorlhan.  Like a stone pillar, Kou'rha waited in the shadows just out of reach.  Kept in check by discipline and a touch of uncertain fear, he waited for the Others to move so he could follow, waiting for his opportunity to reveal himself.  He prayed that the magic of the great spirits would guide him.

24. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #584

    The group of horsemen left the city gates and moved swiftly northward.  Gevaris rode at the head of the detachment, a group of truly mixed warriors and self-styled knights.  Anyone could claim titles when they were the last survivors of their worlds.
    
    Their leaving was not unnoticed by interested eyes.  Coins changed hands.
    
    Gevaris noticed nothing, but simply looked far ahead.
    
    

25. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #585

    "A moment, Lady", Toboran said to the mounted woman, "My compatriot and I discovered something that may be of interest to Balin a little ways into the woods. If you'll just follow me and Coldblood", he motioned toward Fafnir and then started into the forest, following his trail but keeping an eye out for possible deception.

26. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #586

    Balin was not sure what it could be but there was nothing that he knew of to help the dead like the priestess so he followed Toboran and the lizard into the forest.

27. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #587

    "Gideon, the others have found something of interest," Rajani said, gesturing. She felt apprehensive around these others, especially the Cold-Blood. Elves and dwarves were strange enough, as was Friend Gideon, but his heart was unquestionable in her eyes now. but the Cold-blood left her feeling anxious. She didn't know if it was just the thing's mannerisms, it's eyes and the way it didn't seem to blink often enough. It must be strange to be unable to smile, or frown, and she wondered if he ever bit his own tongue. She banished such thoughts as silly. He was intelligent and ensouled, just as any human would be.
    
    "I hope it is something of importance, this forest produces nothing but mysteries and threats." she said, favoring Gideon with a smile.

28. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #588

    It did not take long for the companions to come to the stone that Toboran and Fafnir had encountered. The walk there had been uneventful and the normal background noise of the forest strengthened as they moved along.
    
    The stone object was most certainly unnatural - its 8' dimensions being nearly perfectly so.
    The prospector had climbed down with enthusiasm he had not shown for anything up to that point.
    
    "Why, I'll bet that be ore-bearing stone! And iron at that! Let me take a look..."
    
    
    
    
    

29. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #589

    "Neat!" Gideon did not conceal his joy, and peeked over Estwick's shoulder.

30. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #590

    Kou'rha peered at the prospector from behind a tree a few dozen yards away.  It seemed the Small One and the Scaled One had found one of the Big Stones.  There had always been debate among his tribe about what the stones were.  Some said they were sacred of Uor'lhan and should be protected as the stone flutes; others said they were foreign rocks, perhaps brought in by Small Ones from long ago; still others thought they were ill omens and should be destroyed.  Tenrir never much cared to speculate on them, nor did Kou'rha.  He still didn't like that they were snooping around it, particularly the Scaled One whose kind often clashed with the Alun.  But perhaps these Others would know what it was.

31. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #591

    When Balin spotted the boulder immediately went over to it to see if he could recognize any of the symbols.

32. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #592

    Gideon rubbed his beard.
    "You know, it doesn't look like it is from around here, true? We have to find out from where the dwarves hauled it! Perhaps the signs tell more?"
    
    

33. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #593

    Perhaps the signs told more, but Balin has having a difficult time of it.  The script was slightly different that then borne by the roadstone, and none of the words were repeated.  It seemed more to him to be words of magic - not a message.  Even some of the symbols were unrecognizable as the dwavish he knew.  It would take much more time to divine their meaning.
    
    "Bahrnswaggle!", exclaimed Estwick, "this looks like it'll open!". Estwick had found the rectangle that Toboran had found earlier. "Waddya think?"
    
    

34. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #594

    "Hmm, perhaps it may. Go ahead and try it carefully, these runes might be magic but I shall need a good amount of time to study them first for any definite guess."

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    #595

    "I think we should keep in mind what curiosity did for the cat, gentlemen," Rajani said. "And the story of the Sand merchant." she said, an admonishing tone in her voice.

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    #596

    "Yes, but you will never learn from lack of experience, and I doubt the cat had a mage and a massive, armored giant of a man helping him," Balin replied.
    

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    #597

    "Your words are wise Master Balin." Rajani said.

38. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #598

    "The massive armored giant of a man rejoices at your expression of confidence in his protective abilities! Let's move in and find out."
    
    Gideon applied the massive armored sole of his boot to the door. "Ready or not...!"

39. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #599

    "And your abilities of destroying giant, animated stumps."

40. Re: [Respite] - Factions

    #600

    Jaegarmond shook his head. This probably wasn't going to end well. "Is there a particular reason that the door can't simply be pushed open like a normal one?"

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