Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

1. Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

   #1

   Scene One - Farmlands surrounding Halea's Reach:
   
   

   Your group has been traveling along the Maddox Trail for nearly a week now. The five of you have been together since meeting in Goggle Rock, a small Gnomish community and well-respected rest stop. The Maddox trail continued from there through the Faust Woods and finally, after a few mishaps and side adventures, emerges upon a scene of rolling green hills and scattered farm houses and pasteurs seperated by low stone walls.
   
   During your trials upon the Maddox Trail you had encountered a band of frightened farmers, fleeing Halea's Reach claiming invasion by multi-armed red demons. They were quick to go on their way, working towards Goggle Rock at a fast pace, but you did get that little information from them.
   
   As you crest the first green hillock, you can see what could only be The Jackal's tower off in the distance. A slender spiraling structure that glitters like alabaster in the setting sun, it looks odd, as if it wasn't quite there but is slowly solidifying. Might be a trick of the light and the odd materials.
   
   A scream pierces the quiet evening air, followed by others, and the sounds of general panic and chaos ensue. Removing your eyes from the glittering tower, looking towards the alarming sounds further down the road, you catch a glimpse of five red-scaled, fearsome humanoids, each with four arms. They are racing towards a farmhouse while the panicked country folk run for the relative safety of their structures.

   
   
   Welcome to Halea's Reach.

2. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

   #2

   "Either they have rather curious folk customs here and this is a part of the celebrations, or the frightful farmers were indeed scared by these creatures."
   Alejandro took a closer look - were those four-armed overgrown kobolds? Mutated lizardmen? Half-dragon naga-kin?
   
   He urged his phantom steed on, mist trailing behind its shadowy form, approaching the scene.
   
   "Hello there! You seem like unique creatures! Let me take a look at you before someone harms you in self-defense!" he called out to the furious reptilians.
   
   Erika just gave a hearty laugh: "That's certainly bound to catch their attention!" and ran after the scholar, ready to take flight.
   
   

3. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

   #3

   Gagaric had no illusions on how this would likely play out. His impulsive employer had pulled him down similar paths before.
   He simply sighed, slung his shield from his shoulder, readied his lance and followed the pair.
   
   
   

4. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

   #4

   Elrimm Ironmind stretched his stout fingers, sauntering slowly but steadily toward the crimson marauders.

5. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

   #5

   Grendo readies his sword and shield and slowly walks in the direction of the creatures.

6. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

   #6

   The frightened farmers run for their dwellings, three of them are nearly there. It seems a fourth, a young boy, has fallen in his escape attempt. There is one fearsome red-scaled being heading for him, and three others chasing after the fleeing farm hands, while the fifth prepares to fire his twin longbows at the approaching threats... You.

7. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

   #7

   is there any cover near our group?

8. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

   #8

   Sighing again, Gagaric spurred his horse to a charge and leveled his lance towards the red scaled thing menacing the boy. 
   
   

9. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

   #9

10. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #10

    His stout but swift feet carrying him ahead of his comrades, Elrimm spotted the boy and made straight for his pursuer. His jaw set in a tight grimace, he leapt upon the creature to grapple it. As a passing thought, it occurred to the monk that Kyn might have done well to bless dwarves with an extra set of limbs as this one had, but he wasn't about to question the wisdom of the gods.
    
    

11. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #11

    As Elrim swiftly bats the creatures arms out of the way of the child, he moves to put it into a grapple. Only to find the creature trying the same thing to him. The double bow wielding monster unleashes two arrow, aimed for those incoming on horses, Alejandro and Galgaric.
    
    Of the three beings chasing farm hands, two start to slowly disappear. Fading out of your reality. While the third moves to capture the fallen boy before he can stand and run.
    
    Elrim spots a keen opportunity to strike the incoming beast.
    
    

12. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #12

    Alejandro felt an arrow graze his face, leaving a shallow scratch behind - but cared little.
    The behavior of the beasts was curious - to attack, only to fade? Unless - they wished to capture, and teleported away with their prey!
    Their base of operations was what interested him - such strange creatures likely came out of a strange place. Alejandro loved strange places.
    What a find!
    
    Of course, unless his friends managed to beat the attackers into a bloody pulp before they could speak, or those made a hasty getaway.
    
    With a gesture, he urged Gagaric to assist with the boy's rescue, and prompted Erica to aid Elrim.
    
    He had another plan.
    
    In a rather leisurely way, no weapon drawn, he rode up to the archer. The shadow steed was steady, the ride smooth, and Alejandro's smile quite bright.
    "Hello there, buddy, we must have misunderstood each other - I wish to be your friend!"
    
    The onlooker would notice the air between the beast and the scholar being charged with magic as he reached out to Charm Monster.
    
    (OOC: the critter is not threatened by any of us, and him attacking is not sufficient to provide a plus +5 bonus to resist charm. Will DC 20, por favor)
    
    Erica was far less concerned with catching any one alive - they were raiders, and dead raiders were the kind she preferred. Ten feet of dancing steel erupted from her gauntlets, bathed in the fury of the storm, to tear into Elrim's foe.
    
    Claw +13, 1d6+8 slashing +2d6 lightning (10ft reach), +2 bonus for charging
    

13. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #13

    As Gararic rode up to the _thing_ which was attacking the boy, he checked his charge and instead began to dismount, letting his lance fall as he did.
    
    
    

14. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #14

    
    

15. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #15

    The monstrous archer, lowers his bows and regards Alejandro with a slightly slanted head and slowly moving mandibles, dropping with slime. Meanwhile, Erika leaves a gash across the back of the one battling Elrim, and Galgaric dismounts coming in to knock the kidnapper with his shield.

16. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #16

    Grendo is afraid, but tries to jump into action. He runs as fast as his little legs can take him towards the beast archer axe in hand.

17. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #17

    "No need to run here, Grendo! This is our friend now - try to settle the other two!"
    Shaking his head, he turned to his newfound best pal. "Some people can't tell who's on their side. Some don't really care. Mercenaries!" A sigh full of pathos escaped his lips, and Alejandro congratulated himself on his acting.
    
    "Listen, friend: I need you to go and sit under that tree. There's some flowers that need to be examined in great detail, if you'd be so kind. I'll come to join you, and we can have lunch later, okay?"
    The scholar pointed to a stout apple tree away from the skirmish and the village. "That one, yes."

18. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #18

    The three fleeing farmers manage to make it into a nearby building. A women who appears to have been the young boy's mother was last to enter, she was dragged forcefully inside by the other man and woman, as she tried to run after her son. She is clearly in hysterics as they bar the door against the monsters, leaving the fallen child's fate up to our heroic interlopers.
    
    The monster Alejandro charmed seems to be fully ensnared by the spell and quite willing to leave the battle and examine flowers in the shade of an apple tree.
    
    

19. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #19

    Planting his feet firmly in a Sacred Mountain stance, Elrimm twisted his body and brought his fist into the demon's torso with a powerful, crippling strike.
    
    

20. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #20

    Elrim slings two punches at the creature, landing a solid blow. He twisted just right to make it a punch that would temporarily cripple most men, but not this creature. It retaliated with a flurry of rending claws and an unsuspected bite, two of the claws left marks in Elrim's flesh and the bite sent a poison into his system. He was lucky to resist it, but it wasn't anything his body wasn't prepared for.
    
    Galgaric, after bashing the creature with his shield, found himself being attacked by three short swords. The boy on the ground was clawed and grabbed, as well as bitten, and is now seemingly unconscious.
    
    Of the other monsters, the two to the left have become even more indistinct and are rapidly fading away, while the final one walks away from the melee in order to go inspect some flowers.

21. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #21

    Alejandro waved a short goodbye to his new friend, then rode towards the fight. He applauded himself for teaming up with Erika - back when he could not call forth the might of her mistress, he rode mundane horses, and they could not compare.
    
    Positioning himself close to the rampaging beasts, he reached into the netherworld and called forth wild fae of the wind, translucent and capricious, which streaked towards the ruddy assailants, holding fast their arms, tripping their legs and distracting them through frenetic slaps to the face.
    
    OOC: casting Slow on the two baddies battling my pals. DC 18 Will save each, if they fail they are staggered and can make but a standard action or move action per round (no multiple attacks, yay!)
    
    "Picking on the little ones, villain?" Erica chided the beast, then tore into it with her blades, lightning striking from thin air whenever the divine steel connected with her foe.
    
    OOC: Power attack ON, 4x Claw +12, 1d6+12 slashing +2d6 lightning (10ft reach); as she can move freely, not being threatened by the critter, she will position herself to make use of the flanking bonus and give Elrim one too.

22. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #22

    Cursing loudly, Gagaric tossed his shield aside now that the boy was not in the creature's grasp. He reached over his shoulder for his greatsword and brought it down from its sheath upon the red creature.
    
    OOC power attack off.  Overhand Chop.  +14  2d6+14 dmg
    

23. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #23

    The slowing chill of Alejandro's spell nearly captured one of them, but both managed to resist its effects. It didn't see to matter much, as Erika shredded the foe on Elrim with blades and lightning. The spell of burnt ozone and foul, charred meat spreads through the air, as Galgaric brings a mighty overhand chop into the shoulder of the red monstrosity trying to steal away with the boy.
    
    The farmers can be heard gasping and yelling in shock during parts of the battled, assumed to be watching through the cracks of a shutter. They appear to be safe for now.
    
    Grendo is just now reaching the fight, he stubby legs carrying him and his axe towards saving the child.
    
    

24. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #24

    Grendo nervously watches Gagaric swing his sword. Reluctantly, Grendo moves as fast as he can towards the nearest creature that is not charmed. He swings his heavy ax with all his might trying to slay the beast.
    
    

25. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #25

    Grendo hastily stumbles towards the monster, barely containing his fear. He take a wild swing and misses, nearly toppling into the beast.
    
    

26. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #26

    The red-fleshed beast Erika had butchered had barely touched the ground when Elrimm stepped over it, swiftly moving toward the kidnapper. His fist arrived before the rest of him, striking in a powerful but controlled blow to the midsection before he jerked the forearm back and out again with an elbow to the jaw.
    
    (OOC: Stunning Fist with the first attack, then a standard attack)

27. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #27

    Elrim clearly caught the savage horror in a sensitive spot, as it gasped for air, doubled over, and dropped the child it seemed intent of escaping with. The two creatures that had decided to fade into nothingness exchanged worried glances, but finished disappearing none-the-less. Alejandro's new "friend" watches with concern as his kin are being beaten. He looks on with interest, holding a handful of dandelions.
    
    

28. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #28

    "Right in the family jewels!" Erica applauded Elrim's strike. "Here comes number two!" she called out as her wickedly barbed leg blades followed the dwarf's lead.
    
    OOC: Power attack ON, Charge, Claw +14, 1d6+12 slashing +2d6 lightning (10ft reach)
    
    "Finders - keepers, losers - weepers" Alejandro rode up, and snatched the dropped boy before the critter could recover, swiftly checking how badly beaten the child was; then, he laid his healing glove upon it to stop the bleeding.

29. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #29

    The last attacking monster's body goes limp and falls to the ground as its head, lopped off by Erika, travels a slight distance before making a rubbery plop and rolling down an incline.
    
    You hear a loud set of gasps from inside the farmhouse, and then a few moments of silence as you collect yourselves. A man yells, "Aren't you going to kill that last one?" While you hear a woman sobbing, "They killed my son... My son is dead!"
    
    The final monster is sitting in the shade of the tree looking somewhat confused, or at least with an expression you imagine is confusion. He points towards the unconscious boy and asks, in the common tongue, "May I have that when you're done with it?"
    
    

30. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #30

    Ignoring the shouts around him, Elrimm knelt next to the boy's body, laying an ear against his chest to listen.
    
    (OOC: Heal check to see if the boy's alive.)

31. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #31

    Gagaric looked at the scene with confusion as well.  He did not think that his employer could keep his new pet out of trouble for long, and now would be the best time to dispatch it.
    
    "So, what next?" Gagaric said simply. 

32. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #32

    Elrimm felt the boy's heart and lungs working strongly. He was satisfied until he rolled the boy over, seeing the seeping wound with bitemarks around it. His craggy brow furrowed into a deeper crag. He stood and waved Alejandro over, pointing down at the wounded boy.

33. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #33

    "Wait for me, we'll talk and have food in a while, I have business to do. Don't forget the flowers - I love flowers!" Alejandro called out to his "friend".
    
    To Gagaric, he just smiled: "Don't you know me? Red is ours for the next few days - so don't you go waving swords at him... and best keep the peasants from doing so - though I doubt they have swords. Pitchforks would do the trick too I guess. So or so, he shall be questioned in a very friendly way, to tell us what he has to say, about his buddies and his boss, and where their den of evil lay."
    
    Turning back to the boy, he asked Elrimm: "I stopped his bleeding, but do tell - why does he not rise? Some poison fell? I do have an antidote - one! - for emergencies. Do you think that we'll have to use it, or will he get better? Wait... idea!"
    
    He stood up and called to his new-found daisy-obsessed friend: "Hey, buddy, can you tell? Is your poison lethal, or will the kid recover on his own?"

34. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #34

    The brow furrowed over the insectoid eyes of the monster, "The poison causes paralysis which will last anywhere from mere minutes to about four hours." He looked at Alejandro, "Friend, do you intend to make me paralyze him again? It would be best if I got to him before he wakes up. Implanting eggs is very difficult to do with a conscious host, and I would hate to botch the process."
    
    The farmers have still not left the safety of their shelter, and don't seem likely to without coercion.

35. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #35

    "I'll come right back to you!" Alejandro called out to the critter, then hissed to his compatriots: "I'll try to get as much information from this one; you make sure the boy is well."
    
    Along with is shadowy horse, the scholar ascended the hill, and produced foods from his maic bag, laying tem out and dining with his new buddy.
    "I didn't know you were... expecting children. How is that working out for you?
    And do you have a cozy place to raise them? Yes? Praytell where! I'd love to come to visit you and them once they... hatch, perhaps bring a few presents!
    For certain, I hope you will not raise them alone - do you have many interesting friends to aid you? But forgive my manners - another cup of wine?"
    
    He chatted merrily for quite some time, trying to pry as much information with as little suspicion as possible.
    
    In the end, he just added: "As for that boy you were trying to take, I think he suffers from a rare ailment that is highly contagious to your kind, and I fear many of the other humans in the village do too. It might make your ... implanter ... swell and rot - very painfully! I'd not implant them if I were you. You best tell your buddies when you head back home."
    

36. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #36

    Elrimm gave a nod to Alejandro. He rubbed his bare scalp, staring at the wounded child. He'd been bitten by a venomous snake once, but it didn't have much of an effect on his dwarven blood; he didn't recall rightly how he dealt with it, aside from biting the snake back. Kneeling down again, he gently pushed against the boy's flesh, hoping to press some of the poison out at least.
    
    (OOC: Heal check to do something productive to the boy)

37. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #37

    Elrim manages to squeeze some of the poison from the wound, while Alejandro speaks with the red-scaled monster. It seems doubtful that the boy will wake up any quicker, but he will most likely be spared from suffering another bout of paralysis and the wound will be able to heal better without the venom inside. Anyone inspecting the boy now realizes that he really isn't unconscious or asleep, only unable to move anything. His eyes are closed from the fright of the attack, but you imagine he could see you if you opened them...
    
    As Alejandro speaks with the monster, he discovers a number of strange details.
    
    "Oh, yes. You know us. We are all females, I believe is your term, and quite capable of fertilizing our own eggs. We are preparing for an attack, so we must increase our numbers."
    
    "We will be raising our children in a nice cave on Gehenna, have you heard of it? We already have secured a number of hosts for the young to incubate in and feed of once they hatch, but none are mine yet. It would be nice to see my own spawn awaken within the stomach of a creature and devour their way out. Doesn;t the thought just make you giddy?"
    
    "I feel like we just met, but I really do need a host if I am going to return to my other friends. Would you be kind enough to let me have the honor of implanting my young in you? I know it's a lot to ask of your species, but I really do like you."

38. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #38

    "The thought of your kids makes me all kinds of blissful, but I am not yet ready for such a commitment, plus I believe you have to be extra careful, because I'm likely to be contaminated as well. And we wouldn't want any... enticing... part of your anatomy to rot. But if I were to be healthy again, how can I visit you? I cannot teleport like your kin do...."
    
    They shared some more smoked ham, then continued.
    
    "I think it is vital for you to return, and warn your fellows - the villagers look all infected to me, and conventional magic can neither detect nor cure this ailment. Some divine plague, I guess, very nasty. Don't implant before we check them all, and gather some curative herbs. I know how to treat it, then you can have all the kids you want."

39. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #39

    The red-scaled monster looked slightly sorrowful for a moment, then spoke again, "This is bad news for us, as we have many children already incubating in captured humans. I will warn my friends not to abduct any more until we see how these ones turn out." She pointed towards the tower in the distance, over-looking the small town of Halea's Reach. "I'm certain that you can use that to find me again. Now, as you said, I should be going. My friends are in danger of infection." She gave a slight chortle and started to fade away, "I hope to lay my eggs in your intestines someday, Alejandro." You imagine she may have been blushing, but it is hard to tell with insectoid reptilians.
    
    After the four-armed female faded away, the farmhouse door was unlatched and a man poked his head out. "Are they all gone now?" He asked. His aging face is sun-beaten red with a thick graying beard, he looks like he has seen better days but is still strong enough to tend to the fields.

40. Re: Pieh's Pathfinder - Game Thread

    #40

    "Apparently, they're gone, and will not be back in the next days" Alejandro informed the others merrily. "And, this one fine lady is our sleeper agent - not that I sleep with her, that could prove lethal."
    
    To their puzzled looks, and a no less confused comment of "Lady?" he just pointed to the fading reptilian. "That lady, red, all scaly. Though, can you call her a lady when she's also a gentleman? My mistake, forgive."
    
    Erika just shook her head: "Couldn't you have just told her to turn round and wait for a surprise - that being a blade?" but the summoner just shook his head: "This will be much better - I may have bought some time for the most recently captured, but we should hurry."

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