[Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

1. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

   #41

   Peregrina looked at the man who offered them his services. A merc? Peregrina knew about mercs, and knew of how... untrustworthy they were. Betrayal was the name of their game. But still, it was unlikely that he would betray the group in the bowels of a ruined hall, where their lives may very well depend on the person standing next to you. But then Geri whined, and looked towards the door, and Peregrina knew what she had to do.
   
   "I will not pretend that I'm a fan of mercenaries," Peregrina began, "But in this case I'll deign to consort with them. I'll leave the decision of whether you come or not to my companions here, for I must adjourn of all of your company. Geri here has to, ah, evacuate his bowels, and as it is getting towards evening, I'll go take up my quarters in the Citadel. Dr. Dreimond, Dr. Fynn, Priest Therdamin, Hastatus, I bid you good night."
   
   So saying she whistled for Geri, nodded her goodbyes to Neketh, and shouldered her backpack. She slipped past the soldiers and breathed in the crisp, twilight air. Peregrina and Geri strolled through the city. A mercenary proposed to join their group? Ha! She had thought that as likely as a catfolk joining, or even an half-elven thief!

2. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

   #42

   The group’s conversation continued for some time in the quiet inn.  The few regulars present eventually wandered off toward home and the inn’s guests retreated toward their chambers. 
   
   Despite the late hour, Doctor Dreimond was determined to hammer out all the important details of the planned expedition before returning to the citadel with his guests.  His “visiting scholars” and the other expedition members would join the morrow’s hunt, riding into the depths of the forest with one of several bands from the citadel.  They would set out for the ruins on the following day.
   
   Dreimond hoped that they could mix in with the entourages of Viridistani nobility, minimizing awkward questions from local courtiers.  Above all, they were to tell no one of the actual purpose of their journey, advising them that “If a hunting party happened to ‘accidentally’ stumble across elven ruins, there would be no harm in that, but the fewer that know the actual plan beforehand, the less chance of interference from the schemers of the court.”
   
   Once all the details had been hashed out (…with some party members distinctly suspicious of the way that the doctor urged secrecy, but glossed over details when questioned why), the party set out toward the citadel. 
   
   Trogol led the way, his torch held high.  The burlier of the two hobgoblin linkboys, he had finally managed to calm the angry cat in the basket and now carried the container from a sturdy cord looped over his shoulder.  An occasional hostile growl betrayed the animal's continued ill-humour.
   
   Behind him marched two of the guardsmen, their narrowed eyes suspiciously scanning every alley and doorway as they passed.  Doctor Dreimond and Therdamin followed on horseback.  The rest of the party strung out behind the pair, their baggage carried by a spavined mule lent by the innkeeper.  In the back, two more guardsmen flanked the other hobgoblin linkbearer.

3. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

   #43

   Therdamin was secretly excited with the impending events - things were so much more interesting in the outside world - but his face betrayed nothing as he casually stared back at onlookers. Had they never seen a dwarf atop a horse before.
   
   Wait, thats odd, he thought, his keen dwarven eye picking an oddly .. hostile .. figure in the alley.  No time to think, so ..
   
   "Thoth's Fury!" he shouted lamely as he yanked the reins of his horse to point him at the ruffians, and he slapped down hard on the horse's rump to eithr charge or at least stampede in the direction of the ally.
   
   And, lacking lance or other appropriate horsemans weapon, he simply let gravity unhorse him and tried to land on his feet.
   
   Crap, 5 on die roll if any needed..
   
   

4. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

   #44

   Exeta remained expressionless as only a masked man can do when Septimus approached, and once Peregrina made clear her thoughts on mercenaries, he glanced to doctor Dreimond. "And you fear the ears in the keep! Seems to be no conversation is sacred or unworthy of another man's opinion. Nevertheless," He peered over Septimus, "Your spear is sturdy, and our intentions are already known to you. Septimus Hastatus; another hand may prove useful. I have no objections with you joining us."
   
   Once the plans were made, Exeta retreated quickly to his room to collect his belongings before waving farewell to the owners of the Golden Trident.
   
   Exeta was deep in thought as he followed the party - A trip into the wilderness would be dangerous; it always was. But it was a good opportunity both chance upon something of value within the ruins, and also to get closer to Dr. Dreimond - Exeta was sure he had plenty of formulas he would be willing to share to an aspiring Alchemist.
   

5. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

   #45

   Night on Merchant Street
   In the midnight-black alley between a dye merchant’s storehouse and a weatherbeaten tenement house lurked two ominous figures.  The pair’s leader appeared to be a dwarven mystic, a stocky figure reckoned short even by the measures of his own kind.  Dozens of gewgaws and folk talismans had been woven into the swarthy figure’s sable beard.  He clenched a coiled scorpion whip in one hand, its barbed steel tip swinging back and forth as he impatiently waited for his targets. 
   
   The dwarf’s turbaned accomplice leaned casually against the alley wall, entertained by the sight of an angry rat squabbling with a wayward bone crab over a rotting fish head. The man appeared to be human at first glance, but jagged fangs filled his mouth and small black horns ran along his cheekbones, signs of demonbrood ancestry.  As he waited, he carefully wrapped a length of fabric around a gleaming steel chalicar ring. 
   
   Between the two sat a square wooden crate some two feet across.  Small holes had been drilled through its top and leather handles were mounted on each side.  The box’s inhabitants made faint scratching and cawing noises as they restlessly moved around inside.
   
   A splash of approaching torchlight revealed an approaching party turning onto Merchant Street, its way illuminated by a hobgoblin linkbearer.  “Hsst!  They’re coming!” whispered the dwarf as he withdrew further into the shadows.  “There are more of them than I was told to expect:  The Shah’s ‘Doctor’ must have recruited allies!”  His accomplice grimaced as he willed magical darkness to fill his unusual weapon. 
   
   Alert to their commander’s warnings of potential trouble this night, the Shah’s guardsmen carefully scanned each rooftop, alley, and doorway they passed.  Only human, they couldn’t make out the ambush that waited in the darkness.  They continued forward without spotting the hidden menace. 
   
   With a grim smile, the dwarf prepared to yank open the crate.  His demonbrood ally shifted in the darkness, about to open the fight by flinging his deadly chalicar.
   
   Unexpectedly, a mounted dwarf in the party jerked hard on his palfrey’s reins, drawing his mount toward the alley as his voice rose in an unexpected battle cry!  Not fully trained for battle, the dwarf’s high-strung mount skittered suddenly toward the alley entrance, where it caught the unfamiliar scent of the creatures in the box.  Suddenly filled with fear, the palfrey desperately fought against its inexperienced rider’s control.  Rearing and plunging wildly, it forced him to cling to the saddle’s pommel lest he be unhorsed and trampled beneath iron-shod hooves.
   
   “By the Eight Demons of Despair, darkness will devour your souls!” cried the demonbrood ambusher as he yanked his weapon’s covering cloth off and heaved it at the doctor.  Caught flat-footed, the scholar tumbled headlong from the saddle, seriously injured.  As the weapon flew, darkness blossomed around it, drinking all light from its surroundings. 
   
   His swarthy ally pulled the front from his box, cracking the scorpion whip to drive forth its inhabitants.  A pair of odd birdlike creatures leapt out, their raucous cries further upsetting the frantic horse.  One flew clear over the mounted dwarf, while the second leapt to attack his mount. 
   
   The opponent's sneak attack was successful, as was the charge by one of the cockatrices.  The horse saved versus its petrifying touch.  The area in front of the alley has been enveloped by magical darkness:  Those with darkvision can still see there.

6. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

   #46

   Therdamin decided being ontop the unsteady horse was perhaps not the best plan and made to dismount.  His attempt nearly ended in abject failure as his foot caught and he nearly landed face first. 
   
   Looking about, he saw the black-shrouded dagger with his dark-sight though one of the birds was nearby.  Chancing it, he reached for the ensorcelled dagger.  The bird gave a malevolent squawk and lunged at him, though its aim was thrown off by the frantic horse. 
   
   A moment of triumph and Therdamin grasped the dagger, barely pausing as he tossed it, and hopefully the darkness, clear of the battle.
   
   
   
   
   

7. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

   #47

   Having caught the mood of nervousness from the guards, Septimus had his polearm resting over his shoulder, and in the crook of his arm, the black leather cover of the blade only resting over it, rather than secured, his eyes lightly scanning the area.  As the light before him drained away, and the noise of battle began to erupt about him, he began to flow forwards, and as the light returned, and the grounded bird-thing struck towards Therdamin, he struck for it with the butt of his spear, trying to crash the heavy bindings into it even as the sheath flew from the tip of the spear... 

8. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

   #48

   The heavy, iron-shod butt of the mercenary's spear-staff slammed down against the hideous bird-thing with an audible 'crack' of shattered bone and torn tissue.  The injured creature bounced back several feet, its serpentine tail flailing angrily as it hissed its fury.  Septimus' rush trapped the vile creature between himself and Therdamin, sheltering the fallen doctor from its attacks.  On his right, Therdamin's frantic horse still reared up in terror, kicking ineffectually at the second serpent-bird. 
   
   The attackers' magical darkness had momentarily confused the two leading guardsmen, but now they could see the nature of the ambush.  Yanking his blade from its sheath, one leapt to aid Septimus while the other moved to protect the doctor.  A veteran of previous brawls named Vaqqas, the guard gruffly commanded the nervous hobgoblin slaves to stand fast.  Aftraid of the savage punishments given for disobedience, the hobgoblins uneasily eyed the foul things that had erupted in the party's midst, shuffling back a step every time the beasts squawked or hissed.
   
   Near the alley's mouth, the dwarven adversary watched his well-planned ambush becoming a shambles.  These stupid cockatrices were impossible to control!  Even worse, the chalicar should have kept their foes in darkness for enough time to ensure their defeat!  Fortunately, he had more arrows in his quiver than these lackeys of the Shah could ever anticipate.  Cracking his whip to keep the cockatrice clear, he chanted a brief, almost soothing incantation, a summons known to many desert folk... And water rained down on the hobgoblin linkbearer, extinguishing his torch!
   
   As water cascaded off of him, Trogol the hobgoblin dropped his sodden torch, shuffling backward and uttering high-pitched yelps in the goblin tongue.  An immediate outburst of angry yowling came from the cat in his basket, adding to Trogol's fear and misery. The furious feline unleashed an angry cacaphony of yowls and hisses, amazing all present with its volume and apparent malevolence. 
   
   With the other hobgoblin standing over thirty feet away, the sudden gloom gave the second ambusher a chance to take the offensive.  Tumbling past the angry cockatrice, he drew a short sword and lunged at Septimus!  His shadow-hidden strike would surely have been driven home if it weren't for a tiny bone crab struggling victoriously from the battlefield with its stinking fish-head prize:  The attackers foot shifted from beneath him as he struck, so instead of delivering a lethal stab, the man found himself flailing awkwardly for balance. 
   
   Unfortunately, this distraction was all that the cockatrice needed!  It struck at Septimus at the same time, its bite tearing viciously at his leg behind the armor's protection. 
   
   At this point, we still need Ren's action, but I didn't want to hold things up.
   
   Septimus, DC 12 Fort save!

9. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

   #49

   Peregrina had long since learned to grow detached in combat, and a certain aloofness overtook her. Making a quick decision, she murmured so only Geri could hear "Disarm," accompanied by the appropriate hand motion. Geri immediately took to the shadows that surrounded the combat to the enemy dwarf to attempt to disarm him and bring the whip back to Peregrina. She also quickly took out her trusty bow.
   
   Deciding that the cockatrice was the greatest threat right now, she muttered about the ineptitude of mercenaries, and how they always relied on the halfling to solve their problems, she sent one arrow towards the bird-thing, and, while it was still in the air, followed it with another.
   
   (OOC: Should I roll for Geri now, or will it take a round for him to Disarm the dwarf? Also, for my first arrow: (15:00:46) Minion: caesar193 rolls 1d20 and gets 20. My confirm crit rule: (15:13:18) Minion: caesar193 rolls 1d20 and gets 4. And my second: (15:02:42) Minion: caesar193 rolls 1d20 and gets 4.)

10. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #50

    It was chaos! Exeta Fynn had been so deep in thought that he hadn't even realized assailants were upon them until the area was cast into an unnatural darkness which was then admirably stripped away by Therdamin. By the time Exeta thought to act, the area was a shambles; Cockatrice were flitting about, Geri was pelting towards the alleyway and most tragically, Dreimond had been struck and collapsed from his horse!
    Exeta peered over to study the fallen doctor - the man was wounded but standing up, and the fury on his face was apparent even from where the alchemist stood.  "Who attacks us, Master Dreimond?" Exeta hollered, his echoed voice ringing through the night.
    
    Knowing now that the doctor didnt need urgent attention Exeta turned to survey the situation. The two cockatrice were both engaged and the taller humanoid was In the thick of it. Even the dwarf secluded in the alleyway had Peregrina's faithful hound stalking it, it seemed. A bomb thrown now might risk injuring his newfound companions. Perhaps things should be looked at from a different angle...
    Up in the alleyway, the delapidated wall of the tenement building looked fragile enough. If the Shah would forgive a bit of light destruction, it could prove a more fitting target that would not jeopadise  the safety of his friends as much.
    
    Skirting back several feet to make sure he wouldn't be engulfed in the thick of combat, Exeta plucked a stoppered vial from his pocket and flicked the cork stopper up with a thumb. He snatched a sachet of that same chemical compound used just hours earlier at the Golden Trident, tore it open and poured the powdered Contents into the vial, restoopering it and giving it three brisk shakes. " 'ware the flame!" Exeta yelled in warning to his companions as he lobbed this vial...

11. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #51

    With the speed and dexterity of a jungle cat, Ren scampered up the side of the merchant’s hall beside her.  Peering toward the lightless alley, the Neamuan swordmaster softly uttered words of power, bringing a swarm of glowing crimson orbs into existence above the melee there.  The strange orbs flooded the area with unearthly blood-colored light, lending everything a strange and alien appearance.
    
    The Halfling Peregrina’s arrow tore into the freshly illuminated cockatrice, eliciting a furious cry from the monstrous serpent-bird.  The thing reared up angrily, furiously beating its wings and thrashing its serpentine tail.
    
    The dog Geri swiftly wound between the frantic combatants, rushing past Therdamin’s horse and into the ghastly red alley where its designated prey yet lurked.  The second cockatrice snapped swiftly at the massive hound as it raced by, but the dog easily eluded its strike.  With fanged jaws agape, Geri lunged at the whip-armed dwarf’s weapon arm.  Leaping back desperately, the dwarf momentarily eluded the dog’s attack, only to have it press him with renewed savagery.
    
    Exeta scanned desperately for a way to unleash his alchemical powers without risking allies in the blast.  Suddenly he noticed that the enemy dwarf had retreated beneath the decrepit eaves of the weather-beaten tenement.  Heaving powerfully, he unleashed his bomb’s explosive power against a splintering chunk of ornately-carven wood that hung above the dwarven adversary.  With a soft rush of flame and concussion, a massive chunk of the eave and the structure’s side collapsed above the beleaguered dwarf.  To Exeta’s frustration, the dwarf eluded the worst of the damage.
    
    Yanking a shortbow from its lacquered case, one of the rearmost guards sent an arrow toward the dimly-illuminated cockatrice.  To his frustration, the shaft instead fruitlessly lodged in the hard-packed dirt of the rutted street. 
    
    Unsure how long the catfolk’s eldritch globes would shed light, his compatriot yanked the torch from the hands of the quailing hobgoblin, sending it cowering back away from the fight.  He strode closer to the fight, moving next to the tenement house to prevent the enemy from extinguishing the band’s sole remaining torch with his water magic. 
    
    As Doctor Dreimond rose from the ground, his face was contorted with fury.  “Treacherous curs!  Your masters dare not strike at me within the citadel, so they hope to remove me from the board some other way?”  As he hurled his defiance at the pair, the scholar drew an oily, black-gleaming dagger from some hidden recess of his robes.  Flinging it at the half-blooded rogue, he watched the dagger sink to its hilt in the man’s leg.  “Villain! Once you feel the agonies of the crimson adder’s venom, you’ll wish my blade had struck your heart!" he hissed as sudden agony enflamed his foeman's wound. 
    
    Their riders dismounted, the two palfreys bolted into the night's darkness, stopping in fear again as they encountered the sphere of magical darkness where Therdamin had hurled it down the street.

12. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #52

    Exhaling sharply as the mystic poison of the filthy bird thing settled into his joints, Septimus wheeled half a step towards the doctor, gaining just a touch of separation between himself and the man that had missed him, while turning to better face the cockatrice. The wound itself would be irritating, but he could feel the sudden ague in his joints slowing the finely honed reflexes. It might make things a little more difficult. For just a moment, he permitted himself the slightest of frowns, and then let it go.
    
    The expression on his face settled now, the same professionally focused interest interest of a smith wielding his hammer over a horseshoe. Mystical darkness, surrounded by foes - just another day on the job, Septimus, and you know it. Tightening his grip around the spear with both hands, he took a jab at the beast as it reared up, hoping to impale it through the heart.

13. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #53

    Tonight on Wilderlands: Vaqqas the Guardsman will be played by Gossamer
    
    Seeing the doctor up and about, and in no apparent harm, the old veteran scans the battlefield for where he can be of the most use, he moves hastily to flank the cockatrice engaged with the mercenary.
    "Not on my watch..." He mumbles and with a grunt swings his scimitar almost in unison with the merc's stab.
    
    11+5 +2 for flank - (If hit, 4+2 damage)

14. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #54

    Therdamin was relieved to see the Doctor up and about, though noted with some distaste the poisoned weapon. 
    
    Though he hated having to strike a magical beast, he grabbed his staff and threw it, winging its way on a prayer to Thoth..
    
    (20:16:03) Minion: valadaar rolls 1d20 and gets 5.
    
    Though Thoth apparently was distracted, or Therdamin's faith weak and the staff returned to Therdamin's hand without effect.

15. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #55

    Torn by Septimus' spear, the cockatrice reared up angrily to strike at its foe.  The distracted beast failed to notice Vaqqas' curved blade as it descended to cleanly lop its head off.

16. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #56

    Ren
    
    From her vantage point above the fray, Ren could see the cockatrice fall. She had no good angle on the dwarf where it was hiding, but the rogue was standing out in the open. A sad state of affairs when a jungle cat was lurking above. Finalizing her target, the Neamuan feline took a flying leap towards the half-blooded rogue, intent on burying her blade in his neck. Unfortunately, the crack in the wall masonry that had so recently been a handy foothold gave way under the sudden abuse, and physics took over.
    
    The landing was harsh and left Ren lying dazed on the ground. Almost immediately the stink of sulfurous flesh and blood made her flinch and start recovering from the shock of the mangled pounce. Bad smells were bearable, but this was excessively harsh and made her sensitive nose twist in utter disgust.
    
    Terrible rolls on both the Acrobatics check ( 11 ) and the basic attack ( 8 ). Currently prone and HP 6/10

17. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #57

    Seeing the catfolk warrior vulnerable, the slender guardsman kicked out at the rogue, knocking him back against a stone pillar that butressed the tenement's crumbling upper floor.  His curved sword flicked out at the assassin's throat, barely blocked by his foe's hastily-raised blade.
    
    His breath knocked out, the demon-spawned rogue grunted in pain.  The poisoned wound from the doctor's thrown dagger had become a frightening, throbbing agony, its venom growing more painful with every beat of his heart.  Collecting his thoughts, the rogue suddenly lunged away from the fight, heading toward the two frightened horses and the pool of magical darkness waiting beyond them!
    
    Angry and confused by the swirling melee, the remaining cockatrice leapt back and forth in the alley's entrance, shrilly squawking and hissing.  Spotting Therdamin nearby, it launched itself against him, only to find its path barred by the cleric's swinging staff. 
    
    Beset by the furious war hound, the dwarf fell back a step and pulled out his most precious item.  An ebon crystal of frost-rimed quartz, the dark jewel glowed with sinister power.  Hurling it down onto the ground with a brief word of command, he laughed triumphantly as the shattered stone filled the alley with the sound of grinding stone and a blast of charnel stench.  The dust and litter in front of the dwarf began to boil and churn as a massive, skeletal shape rose from the ground, taking the form of a hulking, misshapen humanoid, a beast of death and befouled grave soil held together by strands of filth and dirt.  A timeworn gravestone sat in the thing's pelvic girdle, its inticately carven stone angels contrasting with the horror's otherwise clumsy form.  Raising an arm into the air, the horror's arm smashed down at Geri, sending the unfortunate creature hurtling through the air to slam unconscious against a stone wall!
    
    The dwarf's voice rose, uttering commands in a gutteral, inhuman tongue that assaulted the ears like the grating of stones on one another.  Ignoring Therdamin and the other combatants, the hulking horror began to lumber forward toward the Doctor...
    
    Therdamin, Septimus, Ren, and Vaqqas all get attacks of opportunity on the thing as it forces its way past them toward its assigned target!  AC 18...

18. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #58

    Gritting his teeth as the thing tried to force its way past him,  Septimus scowled, then struck with a mighty, wordless war cry, lashing with all his might at the thing's ankles with the haft of his spear as the monster tried to force it's way past him - and caught nothing but air, despite the speed of the blow.
    
    (... Well, I didn't critfail...)(17:06:30) Minion: Siren_no_Orakio rolls 1d20 and gets 2.

19. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #59

    Vaqqas
    
    After the initial shock Vaqqas's warrior instincts took over, he dropped to one knee and tried to hamstring the abomination. But despite what looked like a solid hit, the monstrosity seemingly didn't even receive much more than a scratch. He felt his heart sink as he saw the thing continue unhindered towards the doc.

20. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #60

    Peregrina looked up at the monstrosity before her, and made a quick decision. Knowing that her arrows would more likely shatter if they hit the thing than do damage, she decided to target the dwarf. After all, if he had enough magic and resources to have a bunch of cockatrices, some demon thing, and a golem, what else does he have to invest in this fight?
    
    "Exeta, bomb the gravestone! Its probably holding the thing together!" she called, as she slipped an arrow out of her quiver. Then, almost as an afterthought, she yelled out "Geri! Kill!"
    
    Peregrina lined up her shot with the dwarf, aimed, breathed, and fired, and watched as the arrow flew through the combat towards the dwarf.
    
    Arrow roll: (19:43:08) Minion: caesar193 rolls 1d20 and gets 16. That means a dead dwarf, right? Or distracts him enough for Geri to come in for the kill?

21. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #61

    "Abomination..." Exeta muttered hollowly as the hulking monstrosity of death arose from the ground and began shambling forward with deadly intent. "Protect the doctor!" Exeta yelled; the masked alchemist fell back to stand just before Dreimond, "Master Dreimond; now may be a wise time for you to fall back, and 'ware the shadows!" Exeta had not forgotten the rogue who made for the magical darkness - who knew what tricks that twisted individual had up his sleeves.
    
    Exeta Fynn was fingering a glass vial on his belt - it was filled with a  viscous green fluid and was labelled merely with an ominous 'X'. The alchemist could use this to even the odds against the horror, but there was a cost...
    Peregrina yelled out to Exeta to bomb the gravestone plate - a smart idea; but allies stood all around the creature and they could be injured in the blast! His decision made, Exeta grabbed the vial and popped it open. The contents sizzled threateningly as he lifted his mask and poured it down his gullet.
    
    The reaction was immediate and violent! Exeta's body warped and bent as the chemicals mutated his form. Arms and legs Elongated and stretched, as did his torso and neck - Exeta's cloak and gloves stretched to conform with the change in body, suggesting that his wardrobe was prepared for such occurances, and hidden beneath his garbs, skin became dotted with reptilian scales. A vestigial tail, scaled and only a foot long slid out of a slit in the rear of his cloak, and beneath the eye slits of his mask, reptilian eyes peered out.
    Exeta hunched forward in his new, spindly form. One hand reached the ground easily to balance his shifted body and his other hand unclasped the sickle hanging from his belt.
    Weapon in hand and still filly garbed and masked, Exeta Fynn looked very much like some kind of not-quite human, Voodoo horror.
    
    Mutagen imbibed: +4 alchemical bonus to Dexterity, +2 natural Armor bonus, -2 Wisdom for 10 minutes.
    Exeta has moved to stand between Dreimond and the incoming hulk; waiting to intercept and hopefully halt the beasties advance.

22. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #62

    “I thank you for your aid!” cried the doctor, his voice quailing as he stumbled back from the looming horror.  Although he seemed confident against mere assassins or even the threat of petrifaction, something about the unholy juggernaut driving toward him had seemingly unmanned him.  His terrified eyes were riveted on the thing as he drew forth a healing elixir with shaking hands and choked it down.  “You are right to beware the darkness,” said the doctor, “yet… yet… gods, forgive me!”
    
    Shifting to get a clear shot at the foul dwarf, Peregrina’s movements were swift and certain.  Few foes could resist giving ground in the face of Geri’s attack, so she was surprised to spot him moving forward, and still armed with his accursed whip.  Her arrow struck the dwarf solidly, sending him staggering back, yet she still couldn’t see nor hear Geri.  What had happened?
    
    Then she spotted her loyal ally, crumpled and bleeding.  Geri lay sprawled against one of the masonry walls, his blood smeared on the wall where the summoned horror had contemptuously smashed him.  She sensed that the war hound wasn’t dead, but lingered on the brink of oblivion.
    
    The grave-monster’s passage had drawn the entire company’s attention, leaving the remaining cockatrice unattended.  One of the guards waved his sword at it, muttering “I’ll get to you soon enough!” and turned nervously to attack the grave-thing.  His half-hearted swing glanced off the horror’s stony surface.
    

23. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #63

    The other warrior paused for a moment to assess the way things were going, then moved next to Peregrina and let fly an arrow at the dwarven spellcaster.  As he aimed, he softly voiced words from his youth… “Mitra’s light, bring justice to evil and mercy to the suffering…” 
    
    His arrow clipped the enemy’ shoulder, inspiring a joyful cry of “By Mitra, I winged him!”

24. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #64

    A thousand emotions, most of which centered on the defining characteristics of grief and fury, threatened to burst from Peregrina's small frame after seeing Geri, but she kept them locked within herself. She had learned how to cope after Freki's death. Instead of becoming furious, she turned cold, and calculating.
    
    Seeing Exeta turn into a repilitian monstrosity, she knew that he, as well as the rest of her companions, could deal with the bone thing. Besides, it was not its fault that it hurt Geri. It was but a slave, controlled by magic. The dwarf was the one that, if Geri did in fact perish, she would seek out and take vengeance upon.
    
    She sent another arrow flying towards the cockatrice, for it still remained a threat, and then moved to Geri's side to try and heal him, or at least stabilize.
    
    Arrow roll: (22:50:37) Minion: caesar193 rolls 1d20 and gets 20. Hurrah! Now confirm crit: (22:54:47) Minion: caesar193 rolls 1d20 and gets 12.

25. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #65

    Vaqqas runs ahead of the monster. Brandishing his blade, he steps in front of doctor Dreimond and throws his signal horn to him. "Master, sound the horn and get to safety! " He bellowed and braced himself for the onslaught sure to follow.
    
    Okay, so I move adjacent to Dreimond, drop the signal horn as a free action and use Aid Another to give him an AC bonus, I got a 17.

26. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #66

    As the charnal horror began to separate from him, the foreign sell-sword roared with the effort of pulling his missed swing with the bound end of his spear. A dexterous roll of his hands, and his grip reversed, allowing him to thrust once more, this time with all of his might, towards that gravestone pelvis... a thrust doomed to miss by inches, as the thing's next step carried the stone beyond his reach, drawing a word in what must be his native tongue, clearly a fairly vile curse from the tone and the spitting of it towards the beast.
    
    Power Attack: (23:03:38) Minion: Siren_no_Orakio rolls 1d20 and gets 3+3=6.
    
    

27. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #67

    The dwarf was the key to the monster it seemed, so Therdamin once again launched his staff to strike at the dwarf.
    
    (20:58:23) Minion: valadaar rolls 1d20 and gets 19 (+3 for wis) so 22 total.  1d6 damage - (20:59:16) Minion: valadaar rolls 1d6 and gets 4.
    
    

28. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #68

    Ren
    
    Shaking off the last of the stars dancing in front of her eyes, Ren rolled to her feet, eyes searching for the literally-stinking rogue. His absence was frustrating, since that meant her chosen prey had escaped. Annoyed at this turn of events, she slid closer to the remaining cockatrice with a gliding step, lashing out in a sweeping strike with her blade.
    
    (22:15:45) Minion: Chaosmark rolls 1d20 and gets 9. 9+2 = 11. Reasonably certain that's a miss. To the GameScience dice I go!

29. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #69

    Seeing the cockatrice turn its attention toward the catfolk swordmaster, Tall Hakanis leapt forward, hoping to intercept it before it could strike.  With a mighty swing, his tulwar clove the foul beast in twain! 
    
    A critical hit!
    
    Limping over to the fallen chalicar, the demon-blooded rogue lifted his magic-veiled blade.  The palace doctor’s poison was nearly as potent as the man had threatened, forcing the assassin to struggle with even the slightest task.  Shooting pain and cruel cramps filled the assassin’s shuddering frame as he staggered back toward the fight, barely able to focus.  If it weren’t for his body’s hell-spawned resistance to earthly threats, the assassin would doubtlessly have already fallen in a contorted heap of agonized flesh.
    
    In the party’s midst, the monstrous grave thing continued its rampage, heedless of the blows raining upon it.  Chunks of soil and bone flew off as the party’s weapons tore at it. Swinging one ponderous limb like a huge club of bone and soil, the hideous beast batted Vaqqas aside, still battling to reach the doctor.  Despite Vaqqas’ attempt to shield him, a second blow from the monster’s massive limbs slammed into the slender scholar with bone-crushing force, knocking him several feet sideways.  Pain and terror filled the doctor’s voice as he cried out incoherently, trying to get clear of the juggernaut as it bore down for the kill. 
    
    Vaqqas suffered 8 points of damage and the (already wounded) doctor took 13!  Another such blow would certainly finish him…
    
    With a heap of piled debris at his back, the assassins’ dwarven leader could not retreat further from Therdamin’s whirling staff.  “Priest of Thoth, you have chosen your allegiances poorly!  In the end, all shall bow before dread Armadad Bog!”  With a swift gesture of power, the vile dwarf sought to reverse his fortunes.  Calling forth a glowing orb of crackling power, he lunged at Therdamin, striking at him with a blast of electricity!  The eldritch strike knocked the priest to his knees as the electrical force locked his muscles.
    
    Therdamin suffered 8 points electrical damage from the enemy’s shocking grasp!
    
    As the stricken priest staggered back, Peregrina saw an opportunity and loosed her arrow.  The fell shaft flew true and straight, piercing the wicked dwarf’s throat and sending him to the ground, thrashing and choking on his own blood.  Dodging past the furious battle in the midst of the street, she made her way to her stricken dog’s side.

30. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #70

    After a PM about Exeta’s plans, a bit more detail…
    
    Doctor Dreimond's face wore a rictus of fear.  "Exeta, please stay by me!  The darkness... the formula can help!" he cried incoherently.  The doctor fumbled in a hidden pocket of his robes as he fell back before the horror’s onslaught.  Finding what he sought, his hand suddenly darted out, flinging an egg-like sphere down at the monster’s feet.  Stinking smoke billowed forth, surrounding Dreimond and Exeta in shadow and mist. 
    
    As the frightened scholar retreated through the obscuring cloud, Exeta remained beside him, trying to think of some way to protect him from the grave-thing’s devastating blows without getting himself crushed in the process.  Dreimond’s trembling hand clutched at Exeta’s sleeve, fumbling to find his hand.  Hidden within the smoke, he passed a tiny vial to the heroic alchemist.  “Take this!” whispered the doctor.
    
    Suddenly, one of the monster’s limbs swung out at the doctor, narrowly missing his head! The thing had capitalized on their distraction to press its attack! The doctor staggered clear, almost falling as he fled.  “Ye gods-cursed sending!  Instead of sight, it tastes… souls!” he babbled in his panic.
    
    An attack of opportunity, not the monster's turn...

31. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #71

    Dropping his bow, the fourth sphinx guardsman joined the struggle to preserve his charge.  Moving to protect the doctor, he swung fruitlessly at the beast, his scimitar glancing ineffectually off its skeletal form.  His brother stood beside him, dodging its flailing limbs as the steely arcs of his curved blade distracted it and knocked chunks of bone and graveyard soil from its lumbering shape.
    
    Some thirty feet down the rutted street, the hobgoblin eunuch whose torch had been extinguished had hidden in the narrow gap between two of the buildings.  Frightened and wet, he considered the punishments that the Shah's taskmasters might inflict for his failure.  Thoroughly miserable, the hobgoblin slunk away to hide. 

32. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #72

    Exeta let out a hollow 'yelp' as the grave beasts claw emerged from the smoke, causing ethereal wisps of the gas to curl mischeviously just where the doctors head had been - that had been too close! He had studied the grave creature as well as he could in the chaos but was certain he had not heard of such a beast. lore check failed :( and now, the doctor had placed a miscellaneous vial of a questionable liquid into the alchemists too-long fingers. Exeta grimaced behind his mask - he had a rule against drinking chemicals which he had not yet identified himself but there was no time! Another solid blow from the grave beast would surely end the doctor's life! Exeta lifted his mask once more, popped the lid and grimaced as he slid the concoction down - it tasted of  bitter aniseed. The alchemist's vision immediately became enhanced, all darkness now became as day! Even the magical shroud which enveloped the rogue faded - Darkvision! A concoction Exeta had not yet perfected himself! He must glean this formula from the doctor, should he survive the encounter!
    
    Exeta immediately spotted the rogue; the poison of Dreimond's dagger had taken its toll on him but the villain was still Standing - and he held his bewitched chalicar and another throwing knife with murderous intent! "Defend the doctor!" he yelled before breaking away from the smoke cloud and plunging into the magical darkness to intercept the rogue's imminent attack!

33. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #73

    "Aye!" came the response from the foreign sell-spear, as he did his best to interpose himself between the strange thing and doctor. This one would be a paycheck well earned, it seemed. Well, the contract was the contract - blood for gold, his or the foes. Even as the thing recoiled from the force of its own attack against the doctor, the mercenary spun along its side, hoping to come face to face with it, even as he struck once again with all his might towards that gravestone. Once more, the blow came to naught, deflected away from any useful target by the forest of bones.
    
    (Elan)... I got a 4!(/elan)

34. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #74

    Ren
    
    With the cockatrice out of action, all that was left was the foul creature attacking the doctor. It smelled of gravedirt, and that was enough for Ren to classify it as undead. The fickle fates were apparently against her using swordplay tonight, but she still had spellcraft. Quickly tracing arcane runes in the air, the Neamuan mage uttered words of power and sent a bolt of raw energy flying square into the summoned horror, sending a few unimportant bits flying off into the night. She cursed her luck and readied her blade again, inching closer to the monster. This miasma of bad fortune was getting truly frustrating.
    
    Ren casts Magic Missile. Yay autohit! "(22:15:51) Minion: Chaosmark rolls 1d4 and gets 1." 1d4+1 damage, so 2 total.

35. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #75

    Therdamin was shaking from the aftereffects of the lightning, and instead of catching his staff on the return arc, he sent it again into battle, striking against the rogue in the dark...
    
    (21:36:19) Minion: valadaar rolls 1d20 and gets 18.  Woo! 21 with wiz modifier..
    
    (21:36:43) Minion: valadaar rolls 1d6 and gets 2.  Crap...
    
    
    It did not strike full, but perhaps it distracted the villain.
    
    

36. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #76

    Seeing the lumbering mound of bones and debris distracted, a desperate Vaqqas quickly bent down to retrieve his fallen horn. He glanced regrettably at the gibbering doctor, now seeming a lost cause. He inhaled and blew mightily. The booming reverberating droning gave all on the battlefield pause and echoed off the buildings, the desperate signal could not be confused. Sweating profusely, he could only hope that the reinforcements would get here in time, but if not, at least he would not die in vain, he thought to himself, frowning at the monstrosity.

37. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #77

    The path to its target obstructed by other foes, the grave-thing seemed to shift and distort, its skeletal frame shattering and reforming.  The clinging grave soil that filled its chest rippled and boiled as additional bony parts unearthed themselves from within its ribcage.  Where once it had one massive skull, it now had five, a choir of children’s skulls joining the first.  Their bony mouths opened in a high-pitched keening, sending a nearly-palpable miasma of dread through the area, draining the courage and life from all around it. 
    
    Will Save DC 12 or be Frightened!
    
    Sinking into the ground, the hideous grave-thing briefly vanished from sight, only to rise again, this time adjacent to the terrified doctor!
    
    As the party gasped at the apparition’s uncanny resurgence, the demon-blooded rogue eyed Exeta and Therdamin.  These two foes seemed to be the only ones who stood a chance against him within his shroud of darkness.  The grave-monster’s keening seemed to unnerve him slightly, but he resisted the urge to run.  Instead, he loped awkwardly toward Therdamin, hoping to take out the less fearsome of his foes before the other could take him in flank.  Thrusting with his recurved short sword, the rogue managed to draw blood, but failed to strike the sturdy cleric’s vitals.
    
    2 HP damage to the already injured cleric!
    

38. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #78

    Rolled a 5 on the save, so bye bye Vaqqas
    
    Seeing the monstrosity's terrifying display all came to be too much for Vaqqas. He had fought in dozens of battles, but those were against mortal men, nothing like this! He dropped his horn and ran away from the scene, with shameful tears clogging his vision.

39. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #79

    Will save: (06:46:31) Minion: Shadoweagle rolls 1d20 and gets 8. (-1 =7)
    
    As Exeta loped towards the rogue within the magical darkness, he heard the sickening peal emanate from the grave beast. The alchemist made the mistake of glancing over his shoulder to investigate. The horror had transformed; five infant skulls chattered atop the beast now - a totem to the deprivation and perversion of innocence! Exeta attempted to steel himself, but the image was simply too much for him and the man felt a cold sheen of sweat upon his face and a chill in his body - he had to escape this thing!
    Exeta ran forth - no longer directly towards the rogue but loping towards an alleyway. If he could just get out of sight of the thing for a second, He was sure he could recover himself...!
    

40. Re: [Wilderlands] Chapter One: Hunters and the Hunted

    #80

    Will Save: (19:12:45) Minion: caesar193 rolls 1d20 and gets 10. Add my +2 for will, and 2 vs fear, and Peregrina breezes over the line
    
    Though the mutation of the bone thing proved frightening, Peregrina had seen worse. The things she had seen in the height of battle were far more frightening than some monster growing a couple of heads and crying.
    
    The monster had somehow magiked its way to the Doc, and so now Peregrina had a choice to make. Geri's wounds were fierce, and her heart screamed at her to apply first aid. But the doctor needed help too, and suspicious as he might seem, his public face was benign. Decisions, Decisions...
    
    Am I saving Geri or the party, Dice Gods?(19:22:28) Minion: caesar193 rolls 1d7 and gets 3. Crap. Guess I'm killing the bone thing.
    
    She turned from Geri's side to let loose an arrow. She aimed for a child's skull, perhaps that might help her comrades gain their wits. Saying a brief apology to the child whose skeleton she was about to disrespect, she let the arrow fly.
    
    For my arrow: (19:29:17) Minion: caesar193 rolls 1d20 and gets 4. Something tell me I don't need to roll for damage.

Moderated Freeform · All categories · Guildhall