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[Respite] - Factions
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#161Scowling intently, Rajani tch-tch-tched her horse. At the sound of her clucking, the gray gelding, innovatively named Gray ambled towards the woman he had carried for the last few weeks. Scratching the gelding behind the ear for a moment, she grabbed the front of the saddle and a fistful of his mane and pulled herself up into the saddle. She wiggled a moment to find her seat, tucking the wand away in her belt. She was worried, the divinities of the blind beyond were not bottomless with their blessings, and she knew there was not much more she could ask of their grace.
At least with Gray she had several advantages. Sitting higher, she had a better view of the forest clearing. Secondly Gray wasn't the fastest horse, but he was certainly faster than any human on foot. Finally, she didn't feel nearly as vulnerable in his saddle as she did on the ground. She nudged Gray to flank behind Gideon. While she wasnt nearly as large as the man, whom she thought unnaturally huge, together her horse and she together were the same size.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#162As the party moved closer, they heard a sharp word of command, though not in any language they were familiar with. From the north end of the clearing bounded large, grey furred creatures.
]Not sure where my maps went - can anyone suggest a better location then Imageshack?
Couple rounds to contact, unless long range spells or weapons are used.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#163Jhoric stopped quite a distance away and fired a blast of purple/black energy out of his hand towards the first creature to enter the clearing. He smiled a wicked smile and seemed to be enjoying himself.
(OOC - I have a range of 250ft with Eldritch Spear. Probably move then attack each round, just to keep up with the group.) -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#164(OOC-I'll get close enough for my magic missile and then use it.) -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#165Toboran stalked through the woods toward the rear of the beasts.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#166Jhoric's blast caught the lead animal full in the chest, giving a loud tortured whine. At this distance, the two creatures appeared to be either wolf or dog, but oversize from either perspective.
The injured canine regained its footing and resumed it's charge with its partner.
Area where the beasts are is clear enough that stalking through the woods will put you out of the way..
Balin held his fire, holding his spell ready until the beasts came into range. Beside him Jhoric again outstretched his hand and unleashed a second blast of dark energy, just as the moment was right for his own spell to take wing.
Bolt of black and bolts of silver sped downrange and impacted against the two oncoming wolves- for there is nothing else that these could be. Twin yipes of pain marked their impact, but did not slow their pell-mell charge. A loud twang indicated the firing of a heavy crossbow, the bolt barely striking the leftmost wolf. Dimi cursed, hoping for a more solid strike.
Targets now at 100' and moving at horse-speed. Next actions please?
Jhoric - 13 points to Wolf A
Dimi - 6 to Wolf B
Balin - 7 to Wolf B
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#167"Whatever they feed to the beasts here to grow so huge, we -have- to feed it to chickens!"
Gideon stood in front of the group, ready to intercept the furries.
"The rest of you, look around for whoever yelled that command, and let him have a friendly punch or two." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#168"Giant pigs, now giant dogs," Rajani pulled her wand from her belt and flicked her wrist, sending a hissing spray of gold towards the less injured of the two giant wolves. "Is there anytihng here that isn't gigantic or in short supply?"
(Wand of Magic Missle vs Wolf A) -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#169Balin thought of another spell that would increase their strength in numbers even further. This particular spell could not go very far so he readied it until the hounds were close enough.
(OOC-Cause Fear as a readied action on the less injured one as soon as their in range, I think it's thirty-feet.) -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#170Tossing down the crossbow for the second time in the day he drew his scimitar and kurki and ran up Gideon, "But for one thing, a chicken that size could fight back." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#171"That depends on the cutlery you're using!" Gideon replied, sword ready. "Or, in this case, the skinning knife." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#172Once more, deadly black energy lashed out and struck the wolf, and all could see it was in pain, but still proceeded, driven by something strong to throw itself against the party. Unsupported by a pack, and outnumber, still it sought to close fang around throat as did its companion.
When it skewered itself on Gideon's sword, its eyes betrayed a glimpse of relief, even as they glazed over in death.
Balin unleashed a spell against the second surviving wolf just at it began a leap into the party. Mid jump the beast was engulfed with terror, but still it carried on its leap. However, a powerful scimitar strike threw it off and its jaws missed flesh, instead the wolf slammed bodily into Dimi. He was carried to the ground by the impact, but he lashed out with his second blade and opened the wolves' throat. He was drenched in the creatures hot blood and threw it off him, the pony-sized wolf now dead.
Toboran, circling around for a better vantage point saw what appeared to be a hastily built fortification at the north end of the clearing, with numerous smouldering piles of vegetation and corpses of both man and wolf scattered about.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#173"Comrades", Toboran called behind him as he stepped out of the trees to face the fortifications, "If you've finished with those beasts then you might want to take a look at this." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#174Balin looked down at the dead wolf, his brow furrowed. Though he had not done much combat casting in his life, he never the less cast a spell that worked but did nothing. He went over in his mind how it had gone wrong, it didn't have enough range, and was not worth casting at a charging opponent. He would remember next time.
After only a few moments Balin looked away from the corpse and began to walk toward where the creatures had come from. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#175Jhoric jogged to catch up with Balin, and the rest, heading towards Toboran.
"What do we have now?" He asked aloud. Then, looking behind him, he muttered, "Who was she?" -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#176Balin stopped after only a few paces, remembering something. He turned back to the wolf's body and looked down at the neck. He noticed some wounds at the hounds neck that were defiantly not made by Dimi, Gideon, nor Jhoric's blasts of magic. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#177"Well now, looks like these wolves fought with some plants before they fought us." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#178"Children shouldn't play with dead things. I've never known a beast or plant to rise from the cold earth hungry for flesh." Rajani said with a harsh edge to her voice. "Be quick about your poking and nosing about. I am ready to be back where there are not animals of unusual size. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#179"There is no necessity for such a tone nor such a choice of words. I merely noticed something that was out of the ordinary and it caught my eye. Now we know that there are at least plants with large thorns about, I certainly would not like to unknowingly run into one of those," Balin replied curtly. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#180"If I may word a comment priestess - we have to find that hussy. The one who commanded the beasts to attack. I believe she will not content herself with sending two wolves after us."
He took a large, round chunk of rock from the ground.
"This will be for her if she shows up agan." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#181"If you two are done squabling", Toboran called back to Balin and Rajani, "then you might want to come have a look at this". -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#182"Very well," Balin walked off toward Toboran after one last glance at the thorns. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#183Jhoric made his way quickly to Toboran, "Well? What do we have now?" He asked. -
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#184"Ah, it is obviously made to keep something out, but I can't tell if those wolves were attacking it when we arrived, or were sent from it." Toboran replied to Jhoric. -
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#185"Hello?" called a voice from inside the fortifications. "Is there someone alive out there?" -
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#186"Sure is! Come out, we're fairly friendly and to those of little villainy quite harmless!" -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#187"An ounce of prevention negates the need for a pound of cure Master Toboran, think on that." Rajani said, nudging Gray to head towards the thicket. It sometimes took a woman's touch to get things done. "We have food, drink, and I can tend your injured if there is need." Rajani said. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#188"Well, I'll be - they did send help after all!" came a voice from the wooden 'fort'.
Warily, a half dozen battered men emerged from the fortress, not one untouched by tooth and claw. One, wearing what once must have been fine wizardly robes, strode towards Rajani, extending his bloodstained hand.
"The name's Medrarh - I'm / was the leader of this fools errand. No matter. Most of us are a bit battered - though none seriously. Unless you consider being dead serious. " He sadly gestured to the few dead men scattered nearby. "The forest witch hightailed it just a minute ago, and sent some wolves your way to hold you up. We weren't sure she hadn't left more friends otherwise we'd have come out to help. Looks like you didn't need it."
"Though it looks like you don't need advice, I'll say this. She's got more then animals doing her work. I was surprised we didn't get attacked by bloody trees. Bleeding shrublike things attacked us, along with wolves, a few birds, damn huge pigs and a host of other things toothed and furry."
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#189"Well, we have met some pigs. Though I'm not sure what motivated them." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#190"And we have met a victim of the plants. He must have been one of your comrades, may he rest well", Toboran said to the men, "But to other matters. You mentioned a forest witch?" -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#191Not wasting a second, Rajani dismounted from Grey, taking a moment to pass his reins to one of the men who had traveled with her from town. She accepted Medrarh's extended hand, and gave him a pleasant smile. "As my companion Balin mentioned, we did encounter some swine of exceptional size, but by spell and steel they were dispatched. From what I understand some of the more choice cuts of meat were taken from them as well." she said, giving his hand one gentle squeeze before letting go. "Please, allow me to help tend to your injured."
(OOC - Cure Minor Wounds as permits, first aid for the rest.) -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#192After kissing the extended hand, Medrarh smiled and said "We would be much obliged - we expected a little trouble - these woods in this world have always been hostile."
Turning to Toboran, spoke a little slowly.
"That I did, lad. We think its a she, though its hard to tell. One of those things that you can only see from the corner o' yer eye. Mert here, " he gestured to a battered woodcutter, "says he sure it was a she, but won't say why. She's been a blur of green and black, stayin' in the shadows and goading things on. At least it seems that's what she' doing."
Rajani found a varity of minor wounds, many more then her magic could cure, and so she resorted to skills of the lay healer, a prayer on her lips but no power flowing. None here would die of their wounds for sure - Medrarh was correct on that point. One of the men did have a nasty thorn imbedded in his forarm he had not yet had the willpower to extract...
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#193"I caught a glance of her myself and, also, got the impression that it was a she. Whether or not she is the one who controls the pigs and wolves, I have no idea," Jhoric had a daydreamer's look on his face, clearly thinking back about the encounters.
"You guys didn't happen to cut a large tree that maybe stood out a bit from the rest? I've heard of fey creatures bound to certain object in nature. Such as waterfalls, large rocks, and especially trees. If you disturbed this bond we could have a powerful foe on our hands, and I'm not sure we're the good guys. Other than that, it could be one of those forest-loving green thumbs, the Druids. And in that fight, I wouldn't be all too sure we were the good guys either. I'm not saying I won't help, or fight to live, but we all have our priorities in this and I don't want to get killed over a land dispute."
Jhoric took a seat on the ground near the 'fort' and looked at everyone, expectantly. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#194Medrarh nodded as Jhoric spoke. "Well, that might be it - though forest has been hostile long before we cut down any trees here. We cut a few trees that were exceptionally tall - that was the point of this fools errand. Did you know that they wanted these for ship's masts? Barely a thing to eat and they want to build a damn tall ship."
"So yeah, we might have stirred a nest, but what can you do? Not like there is any place other then Respite to go now. We should get the hell out of here." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#195"Sounds like a plan to me; if there are no objections I suggest we get moving." Jhoric was about to walk away when another thought struck him.
"What about the trees?"
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#196"I asume you mean where are the trees?", Toboran asked him. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#197"How were you planning on returning the tall trees to Respite before?" Rajani asked. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#198"Well, I am a wizard and we have our secrets, " he smiled, patting a leather bag slung over his shoulder. "thats one issue you need not worry about. Getting back to the City, that will be the tough part."
He stood and thought for a moment. "We are going to get caught after dark, you know, its too far to make it back before sundown..."
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#199A twinkle was in Balin's eye, he had a good idea what the wizard had done with the trees but he was willing to let him keep his secrets. "Yes, we should find a spot to rest before dark and set up some defense measure in case that 'witch' returns."
"The question is, should we use this fortress here and waist the rest of the day, or should we start heading back now and find some logs or something to barricade us for the night? If we wait here the injured would get a chance to rest before the journey." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#200Rajani shook her head, wizards were wizards no matter where they were from. A man who used magic to light his fires for him would eventually forget how to start one without his trick. She remembered that old parable, it reminded her to keep a roll pack of medical supplies. Magic can only go so far, a packet of the right herbs, a stictch of horsehair or even a roll of plain cloth can do almost as much and last much longer.