Hungry Like Something Else
Log Info
- Title: Hungry Like Something Else
- GM: Telamon
- Place: Road between Alexandria and Myrddion
The Alexandros-Myrddion road, afternoon
Roads, it's said, are conduits of trade -- and trade is the lifeblood of many a nation. A good road can bring prosperity, and so the road between the Myrrish Kingdoms and Alexandros is always in use. But that means the road has to be maintained. Repaired. Even upgraded, if possible.
"We didn't have any troubles at first," the foreman tells you, as he's walking through the camp. A stolid, stocky khazadi by the name of Kriv Stonehammer, his black beard is shot with threads of gray but his step is still sure and there's a fire in his eyes. "Repairing cobbles, mixin' them with alchemical cement for better surfaces. Hard work in the hot sun, but manageable. But several days ago, things came out of measure in a big way."
Leading you to one of the wagons at the outskirts of the camp, he points to where a hole has been punched through the wagon's stout oaken flank -- as big around as a man's head. "Whatever it is, it's comin' in at night. Quiet, sneaky like. And smart. We've laid three traps so far with archers and staked goats -- never fall for it. Instead they hit a tent, drag off whoever's in there. And we find 'em later -- sometimes."
"Yeah," the Sunguard Andelena Donnelly agrees, "that sure as shit seems like it's out of measure in a big way all right." The redhead woman stares at the hole that's been punched into the wagon, steel-gray eyes narrowing. "And they're just... dragging out people in the dead of night."
She sighs a little. "Poor fucking bastards," she mutters. "Well, we'll see what's doing this to the good folks you've got here and take care of the issue."
Slixvah, a rust red and white egalrin woman in a simple looking brown vest and cyan pants, ruffles her rainbow ribboned wings as she takes in the foreman's report, taloned feet stepping through the camp.
Her brows shoot up at the hole in the cart. "Shoo'. Tha's lookin' like a straight bore hole tha's a gobber cooked up wit' a gnomish augur fueled by dwarven spirits," she comments.
She rubs her face, looking about. "Wells, they draggin', they makin' trails, yeah? Where you find 'em sometimes?"
This isn't the first time that Rune has taken on a job where the problem leads back to strange things that go 'bump' in the night. Dire wolves, ghosts, and all measure of other strange beings always seem to linger at the periphery around Alexandros.
Following the explanation from Kriv, Rune follows the Khazadi as she rests her hands at her sides, her head tilted and a low whistle following the sight of the damage done to one of the wagons. "So whatever it is, it's only targeting people?" She asks, raising an eyebrow.
With a quick glance towards the more healing-focused members of the group, Rune turns back to the man, "Not to ask for too morbid of details but... damage from teeth, claws, bludgeoning? Any obvious hints as to what we might be dealing with?"
The music coming from the violin is mournful and melancholic, very nearly a dirge. The Goblin playing the violin has a far away look, as if they were in another place and time.
As discussion focuses on the creature sneaking in at night and stealing people, Acedia sighs, and tosses the violin and bow into the air. After a moment, they disappear in a puff of smoke. "No one's seen the thing at all? Not even a shape or shadow? Any odd smells, or sounds heard. Did it leave any sort of trail at all?" The Gobbo rubs at her chin, and whistles at the hole punched into the side of the wagon.
Strong beasties, it seems."
"A smart creature with enough strength to crush this kind of oak..." Harkashan rumbles, as he stares at the wagon. He rubs the tip of his muzzle before looking at the others. "It must be pretty big." The Sith-makar rumbles.
"I imagine we'll have a bit of trouble getting good ideas about this creature as well, if it's deep at night that this happens." He offers, before sniffing at bit at the breach itself. Looking for any blood or residue.
"If needed, I could Speak with one of those you managed to retrieve." He offers to the man. "In case they might have identify what dragged them away at the time."
GAME: Slixvah rolls knowledge/nature: (2)+9: 11 GAME: Harkashan rolls Perception: (17)+10: 27 GAME: Rune rolls knowledge/nature: (9)+4: 13 GAME: Acedia rolls 1d20+2: (3)+2: 5
Harkashan then taps at the wood, tapping it a few times. Rubbing his hand over the wood itself. "I don't think it's a claw or the like. This... feels more like magic." He looks to the others. "Anyone know how to sense magic, in case we might get a residual aura from this?"
Kriv scowls. "Yeah, sometimes we find what's left of 'em. Clawed and bit and half-eaten, dumped a ways out from the camp. We bury 'em, say prayers as best we know how, but we're workers, not priests. Hopefully they'll understand and not haunt us." The khazadi's gruff tone underlines his unhappiness with the situation; he clearly feels responsible.
At Hark's comment, Kriv grunts. "We heard a great yelling and caterwaulin' last night, when they took three of the men on this side. Thought it was the horses at first, or... the men. But then we found that hole, like a breaching engine drilled into it."
"Fortunately for you, we got a Deathsinger here," Andelena replies, looking to Harkashan. "Maybe we could do something for all the deceased once we're through with what we've got going here."
She frowns at the mention of the hole. "The hell," she mutters. "I have not a damn clue what could have torn that thing into the wagon. Anyone else?"
Slixvah puts her hands on her hips, a holster of wands peeking out from under the vest on her side as her beak grinds against itself in thought. "I 'unno, ain't ran inta thi' befo'," she muses, peering over her party members. She steps to Acedia, putting a hand on her shoulder briefly. An errant wind drifts on by, and Slix winks at her.
She turns to the cart at Harkashan's mention of potentially magic. She bobs her head, raising a hand and twisting a few fingers before making a circle with middle finger and thumb and peering through it. "Ocem uto..." she hums. A little thrump of power shimmers in the space.
"Ya do what ya can, mista," she coos warmly before sighing and shaking her head. "Ain't no magic. Clearly looks like it tho'. Too symmetrical. Ain't no perfect spheres in nature. 'xcept th' moon. And eyeballs."
GAME: Slixvah casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 8 DC: 15
"Claws and teeth sound like a predatory animal... but that usually doesn't go hand in hand with magics and intelligence that lets them avoid baited traps." Rune walks around the wagon slowly, seeming to take in the sight with a slight shake of her head. "It doesn't look like anything I'm familiar with."
Just like Andelena, Rune's eyes shift towards Harkashan at the mention of possibly unsettled dead. "Our Deathsinger should be able to make sure proper rites are performed, but I think that's a lower priority than dealing with the source of the problem."
"It is kind and honorable of you to bury them and offer prayers. With luck, they will make it to Vardama's hall, and be guided to the afterlife awaiting them. We will do our best to find the beast and put an end to its predations.", Acedia says to Kriv.
She turns to examine the hole, nodding to Slixvah and offering a pat on the Egalrin's arm. "I would agree, it looks very symmetrical. It has to be some sort of tool."
Harkashan is earnestly surprised when Slixvah points out that the hole is not, in fact, magic. "Some kind of... machinery then? Of some kind of monstrous ability?" He asks.
He furrows his brow, before looking to Kriv. "Indeed, I will ensure - if needed - that they will receive their proper rites. But if any of them are still... 'in tact' enough, I can speak to them beyond their passing, and get an idea from when what happened."
The Sith-makar looks away. "But if it were a machine, it'd have to be pretty heavy. There'd have to be pretty deep tracks."
GAME: Harkashan rolls Survival+2: (4)+10+2: 16 GAME: Acedia rolls survival: (14)+1: 15 GAME: Slixvah rolls survival: (3)+3: 6 GAME: Andelena rolls Survival: (15)+3: 18 GAME: Rune rolls survival: (17)+11: 28
Andelena goes looking. The Sunguard eventually finds one of the flattened tents and she peers at it with narrowed eyes.
"There's some fucking... It's like lizard tracks? Bird tracks? And there's an awful lot of blood. But they disappear really quickly and appear really quickly, too."
She points in the direction of the tracks and frowns. "I think that fucker flew. So, bird."
Slixvah bobs her head. "Yuh, Harkie can totes make sure tha' sorted. Bu' methinks lil' spirits can hold off hauntin' fo' a bi' ta avenge 'em," she coos, far too engrossed in trying to wrack her brain to figure something out. She absentmindedly nods towards Acedia at the pat on the arm.
But she looks at the Sunguard. Then towards the sky. "... flyin'. Well shi'. Maybe lizzer bird. I hope ya'll got things to throw, and somethin' ta cut ya'self out if ya get nabbed."
At first, Rune seems to be focusing on the Wagon, but as some of the others start to break off to look for tracks, they seem to drag her attention with them. Not long ago, Rune was a novice in matters of this type, but she'd had some very good teachers. Crouching close to the ground, she touches her fingers to the earth in places where the ground seems torn up.
She raises her head at Andelena's appraisal, her lip quirking slightly at the way she puts it. "You're spot on. It's definitely a flying creature. It would have grabbed prey here, dragged them a little ways, then taken off." She explains, "I've seen flying lizards in Am'shere that hunt like that."
Her brows furrow slightly, "I've never seen these particular tracks, though. Bird, lizard, something else entirely that has features of both... whatever it is, it is big enough to carry off grown humans." Pushing herself back to a standing position, she looks to the others, "We'll want to look for a way to keep it grounded. If it takes off, there's only a few of us that might be able to give chase in the sky."
The Goblin also peers at the three-toed tracks, rubbing at her cheeks. She nods in agreement with Andelena. "Possibly someone riding a big bird, or itself is a big bird. If they had a drilling tool of some kind... that eliminates the part of the mystery."
The Goblin peers at Slixvah a moment. "Is it possible it is one of your kin? Do these look like Eagle-folk foot prints?"
Harkashan walks with the rest, following the same trail. "A bird, or someone or something capable of changing shapes." He bids as a possibility to the group as they proceed onwards.
But Rune seems to be more certain about what is going on. "I can get up there, but I am not exactly the most maneuverable 'bird' in the sky. I am uncertain if I could bring it down to the ground." He admits.
He then touches his muzzle for a moment. "Either way, it seems we may have to lie in wait if we cannot trail its tracks back to whence it came."
Slix stares at Acedia. Steps forward after the others make their observations, and sticks her grey, taloned foot into the print. Her foot is way, way smaller. "... Acedia, sweetie, I may be smaller than a lot of egalrin, but we ain't titanically ripped like this." She gets a thought. "... that'd be kinda coo' though." A giggle. "But yeh. Proll' gotta lie in wait fo' this."
GAME: Slixvah rolls stealth: (15)+2: 17 GAME: Andelena rolls Stealth: (3)+-1: 2 GAME: Rune rolls stealth+4+2: (4)+18+4+2: 28 GAME: Acedia rolls stealth: (6)+16: 22 GAME: Harkashan casts Magic Vestment. Caster Level: 9 DC: 18
"Hiding sounds like a good idea to me," Andelena replies, and she looks around to find... Something. Anything. She suddenly realizes a problem in that there's not really much in the way of things to go hide behind.
Eventually she's frustrated enough that she simply spots a tree. And she goes to hide behind it close to where the rest of the group is hiding.
The problem is: the tree is shorter than Andelena is. It's a sapling, really. She just glares, waiting with her hand on the hilt of her sword as she crouches behind the thin trunk. Waiting.
"You folk all hide. I'm just going to serve as bait." Harkashan remarks. "Since I can fly if need be." Of course, Slixvah can as well, he figures. But she might not enjoy having giant claws stabbed into her body. He's at least got the armor to protect him.
As such he settles down just a tiny bit away from the camp, and unpacks some food...
And begins to just very quietly eat and take his time. If things happen, they'll happen!
Somehow, it maybe stands to reason a Sith-makar of all races may be more comfortable in the midst of an area waiting for wild animals with the ability to just take someone out in one fell swoop.
Slixvah's comment about ripped Egalrin has Rune's head cocking slightly, as if she were trying to picture it, and then she shakes off the thought. "Well... time to find someplace to get comfy for a while." Stretching her arms out above her head, Rune seems to relish the ability to do so, which she might not have again before the fighting starts.
"I'll be close by, even if you can't see me." Rune notes, reaching for her weapons. As she steps away towards one of the trees nearest to where Harkashan is posting himself, shadows begin to flicker around her ankles, then her legs, and then she just seems to meld into it.
Those keen of eye might still see a darker form within those shadows, but once night falls, she'll be nearly indistinguishable.
Acedia goes looking for a spot to hide, pausing only to stare at Andelena for several long moments. "Uh.. you.. might want to find a taller tree, Sunguard." She scurries off nearby, finding a hole in a tree to climb into, and hunker down.
Slixvah bobs her head as others decide the old bait and stab is the best way to go about this. Once night falls, Slix goes around to each of the workers, her pulling out a tiny white plumed bird. They converse quietly, spying the workers having their nightly meal all together. "Ya sure?"
"Feel the ripples. Counterance. Adjust. Resonance. Repeat."
"You're just saying random adjectives."
"Am I?"
Slix squints, her looking over to the workers and focusing. A hand flits out, finding invisible strings. But instead of plucking them, she runs a finger along one. Two. Three. As many as there was. Like a wet finger on a wine glass. A dull hum rests in the air before fading away.
Slixvah ends up in a tree somewhere, or someplace high. There's a green, sickly light coming from wherever she was, and a dead branch clatters to the floor.
GAME: Slixvah casts False Life. Caster Level: 8 DC: 17 GAME: Slixvah rolls 1d10+witch: (2)+8: 10 GAME: Slixvah rolls alertness: aliased to perception+2: (3)+14+2: 19 GAME: Rune rolls perception: (4)+19: 23 GAME: Andelena rolls Perception: (17)+13: 30 GAME: Harkashan rolls Perception: (18)+10: 28 GAME: Acedia rolls perception: (11)+14: 25
The sun sets, the stars coming out. It's actually a very pleasant night, if a bit humid. The noises of night creatures sound across the cleared portion of land where the road is, and Slixvah's tree is close enough that she can get back into the action if necessary.
As the night drags on, though... all of the heroes hear it. A flapping sound. Like a sail in the wind. Or wings. It seems Andelena and Rune were on the money, as under the moonlit sky, a trio of huge, reptilian forms come swooping in towards you!
GAME: Acedia rolls weapon11: (14)+13: 27 GAME: Rune rolls weapon1: (19)+14: 33 (THREAT) GAME: Rune rolls weapon1: (17)+14: 31 GAME: Acedia rolls weapon11-5: (18)+13+-5: 26 GAME: Rune rolls damage1+damage1+1d6+5d6: aliased to 1d6+1+1d6+1+1d6+5d6: (3)+1+(5)+1+(5)+(18): 33 GAME: Acedia rolls damage11: aliased to 1d6+0: (3)+0: 3 GAME: Acedia rolls damage11: aliased to 1d6+0: (3)+0: 3
When darkness falls, Rune becomes nearly invisible in the shadows. Even the subtle shifts of movement from limbs kept at the same angle for too long simply look like the wind through trees. She is still and silent.
That is, until the sight of something moving against the moonlit clouds has her shifting forward, body tensing as she spots the creatures moving in from the skies. She doesn't call out immediately, since being hidden gives her an advantage against such beasts. Instead, she lies in wait like a predator of her own kind.
So, the moment one comes close, there is a flicker of shadowy mist and then Rune seems to appear out of nowhere. The leap brings her up, her blades coming down as they stab into the wing that is closest to her, tearing through flesh as she rips downward, leaving a trail hissing, bubbling acid behind in the wound.
"Incoming!" She calls out, allowing that warning to reach the others now that her 'trap' is sprung.
As the flying shapes resolve themselves into solid beasts, the Goblin tenses, pulling her pistol up and checking its action. One of the critters gets much closer, two loud bangs echo into the darkness, brief flashes of light giving away Acedia's hidey hole in the tree.
"Shit, look out, they're coming right at us!", she calls out to the others.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+17: (12)+17: 29 GAME: Telamon rolls 2d6+7: (9)+7: 16
The creatures look vaguely like the pterodactyls of Am'shere, but bigger... with a broad red crest on their heads and gray-green leathery hides. The one in the lead swoops down on Harkashan, its toothy beak snapping at the makari priest and drawing blood -- and then it screeches in pain and anger as Acedia and Rune surprise it with blades and bullets!
GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9: (20)+14: 34 (THREAT) GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9: (17)+14: 31 (THREAT) GAME: Andelena rolls damage9+6+1+damage9+1+1d6: aliased to 1d8+5+6+1+1d8+5+1+1d6: (5)+5+6+1+(3)+5+1+(5): 31
As the strange creature comes out of the sky, Andelena growls just a little. "Okay fuckers. Your luck with free meals has just run right out." The Sunguard rises up from behind her tree. "Livvie, let's do this. So no more are lost."
"I am with you," Deliverance says gently.
"Holy Knight, may I be the servant that delivers your judgment!" both Andelena and Deliverance say together. The element of stealth is abandoned because it was never Andelena's strong suit to begin with, and the prayer ignites the blade with silvered flame. Steel-gray eyes stare down the winged creature as she approaches.
A mighty cry rips from the Sunguard's mouth as it slams into the creature, Deliverance spilling a gout of fresh blood from the creature.
"Come for me, assholes!" Andelena challenges the flying creatures. "Daeus's judgment will be swift!"
GAME: Harkashan rolls Knowledge/Nature+5: (13)+4+5: 22 GAME: Harkashan casts Summon Monster IV. Caster Level: 9 DC: 19
"Flying Thunder Lizards?!" Harkashan is surprised. What are those doing in this region of Alexandros!? And why are these even bigger? It bites down onto his shoulder, digging in and lifting him up, causing Harkashan to dangle a bit as he grabs onto its beak and...
A flash before his eyes. A wave of heat.
"A Yrthak." He growls. "Be careful, these things have longer range sonic attacks!" He calls out. Stumbling back, grabbing at the bleeding wound at his shoulder, he splashes that same blood onto the ground!
It bursts into flame, forming a sigil upon the ground. "Andelena, Rune, whomever wishes for it. I am going to temporarily summon a Giant Wasp here! It'll stick around for about a minute at best. But I'll warn you when it's going to disappear." He roars out, as the gate begins to appear at his fingertips.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+12: (17)+12: 29 GAME: Telamon rolls 8d6: (20): 20
Another yrthak soars in, the screeches of its partner and the flash of Andelena's holy blade guiding it in. It beats its wings so it can land, and its scissor-like mouth opens wide... wider... impossibly wide. And an high-pitched -scream- blasts out of its maw, the air rippling tangibly as the sonic lance lashes through the air and slams into Andelena like an ogre's hammer!
GAME: Slixvah rolls alertness: aliased to perception+2: (1)+14+2: 17 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Slixvah casts Steal Voice. Caster Level: 8 DC: 17 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+12: (14)+12: 26
Slixvah cracks a grin as the bait is taken, and others jump to the fray and slice. "Yeah! Get 'em!" she cheers from her roost in the tree. Her attention sharpens at Harkashan, wings flaring out as those signature, ribbon-like feathers spread and waft. "They do what??" she yells before seeing one scream a blast into Andie's back.
Spying the other one, Slix pulls out a curvy knife. And puts it to her own throat. Her eyes turn dark. "Usth pu. Eorfrv." The blade lances across.
No blood. No cut.
But on the Yrthak, a red line appears briefly at their throat before fading away. "Awh, shite," Slix complains , coasting down to the ground to join her friends.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d2: (1): 1 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+17+2: (12)+17+2: 31 GAME: Telamon rolls 2d6+7: (11)+7: 18
The last yrthak coughs a bit, as if something's caught in its throat, but then it glides in to land near Andelena. The head -- which looks to be practically all beak, with only two tiny eyes -- opens up, and the toothy maw clamps down on her in a vicious bite, more blood drawn by the creatures!
GAME: Rune rolls bluff: (5)+20: 25 GAME: Rune rolls weapon1-2: (1)+14+-2: 13 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Rune rolls weapon2-7: (12)+14+-7: 19 GAME: Rune rolls weapon1-7: (5)+14+-7: 12
Seeing more of the creatures move in to attack, Rune no longer has the element of surprise on the beasts. She looks behind her as one moves to attack Andelena, and it seems that that distracts her enough that when focusing back on the wounded one before her, her attacks are not as successful as she might have hoped.
Moving to try to trick the creature with a slash of her blade, she instead finds it caught in the beast's beak, causing her to have to slash out with the other weapon in order to try to free her weapon. The less than coordinated attacks have her tugging hard, managing to free herself and her weapons, but without doing so much as scratching the beast's thick hide.
"Fuck. These things are smarter than I thought." They had been warned about that, but it seems Rune underestimated them.
GAME: Acedia rolls perform/string: (16)+12: 28
The Goblin pokes her head out from the tree she's hiding in, squinting at the battle as it plays out. From the safety of its case, Acedia pulls out Ihnar Kabira, the Golden fiddle. She begins to play a rousing song, something that inspires one to action, making fear sit down while one gets up to dance. A popular song in pubs from port to port, the Gobbo adds a spicy flavour by enunciating the swear words and saucy references. "Way hey and up she rises, way hey and up she rises, way hey and up she rises, early in tha mornin'.
She'd dance, but there's no room in her hidey place. She squeaks as the creature sticks its face and claws in to gnaw at her.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+17: (12)+17: 29 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+17: (3)+17: 20 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+17: (14)+17: 31 GAME: Telamon rolls 2d6+7+1d8+7: (8)+7+(8)+7: 30
The wounded yrthak screeches again, and scrambles away from Rune and Andelena, streaming blood. As Acedia starts up her epic violin solo, the beast's head turns directly at her, and then it suddenly begins snapping and flailing angrily with its claws -- tearing into the goblin adventurer as it snarls.
GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9+1+2: (7)+14+1+2: 24 GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9-5-2: (7)+14+-5+-2: 14 GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9-5-2: (16)+14+-5+-2: 23 GAME: Andelena rolls damage9+6+1+2+1d6: aliased to 1d8+5+6+1+2+1d6: (7)+5+6+1+2+(6): 27 GAME: Andelena rolls damage9+6+1+2+1d6: aliased to 1d8+5+6+1+2+1d6: (8)+5+6+1+2+(3): 25
Hearing that Acedia's being beset by the yrthak, Andelena growls. "Oh no you don't, motherfucker," she mutters darkly as she takes a few steps forward, bringing Deliverance down.
"FUCK RIGHT--" One massive carve into the beast.
"OFF!" Andelena snarls with the second, decapitating the beast and rendering its body useless. She spins around to face the other one that had snapped at her before.
She points at it with the tip of Deliverance's blade. "You're next, asshole!"
GAME: Harkashan casts Prayer. Caster Level: 9 DC: 18 GAME: Harkashan rolls 5d6: (20): 20
A Giant Wasp suddenly appears! "Carry my allies and do as they wish!" Harkashan commands of the Giant Wasp, before he throws a hand outwards, sending a wave of grey-red light out. It grabs onto their enemies, creating red lines of fate, that quickly bind them and draw their luck from them and into his allies, including the Giant Wasp!
"Keep it up!"
Harkashan points his hand forward, and a 'dome' of light begins to flare up from the armor he wears. His lava stones gleaming, refracting light in a rainbow like pattern within the night, before pulsing outwards, healing wounds on his allies while refusing to let the Yrthak feast from those same energies!
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+12: (20)+12: 32 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+12: (1)+12: 13 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Telamon rolls 8d6: (31): 31
With one of the yrthaks down, the other two seem to switch tactics -- which is disturbing, as it shows intelligence beyond that of a beast. One takes to the skies again, soaring overhead. Another horrible scream is wrenched from its jaws, the sonic blast tearing up the turf before slamming into Harkashan with brutal force.
GAME: Slixvah casts Enervation. Caster Level: 8 DC: 19 GAME: Slixvah rolls ranged+3: (5)+6+3: 14 GAME: Slixvah rolls 1d4: (4): 4
Slixvah taps her foot against the ground, Acedia's beat catchy as healing magics and prayers wash over the egalrin. The fight looked like it was turning one way, but quickly it rebounds back with song, blessing, and a big fuck off wasp. "Put 'im in a long boat 'til he's sober!" Slix caws back the next verse, her eyes darting around to get a bead on things. And Hark takes a blast from the skies.
The witch's wings flare out wide to their fourteen foot span as she bats them once, soaring over Hark and landing on the ground with stance wide. She deeply inhales. "Ofmr het reath ew iser. Ofmr het ysk ew lalf. Edef em thwa uoy gvei ntou eth reath!"
Many cyan ruins flare off of Slixvah, them collecting in a raised hand into a ball of white before she cuts a single ethereal string. It goes jet black. The grass around her shrivels and dies. And a sickening beam of black blasts into the skyborn creature, siphoning and rotting its life force.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+12: (5)+12: 17
The second yrthak hisses spitefully, and lets out another one of those horrible screeches, the sonic beam slashing through the air and tearing past Rune as she dives out of the way. Then the beast is airborne, leathery wings flapping as it soars in tandem with its partner, tilting its head to and fro as if listening for clues.
With both of the fliers taking off, Rune turns in a circle and curses under her breath, "I was worried about this..." While the rogue does have options to attack at range, none of them are quite so strong as her ability to use her dual blades.
And then, the buzzing sound of the insect draws her attention. "Fuck..." Yep, Rune is going to have to get airborne. So, against her better judgement, the half-sil clambers up onto the back of the insect, holding on to the creature's abdomen with her legs while trying to keep her hands free as much as possible.
"Andy, you coming?" She calls out, "I don't think we drive this thing, or at least I have no idea how. Hark, don't crash me into the ground!"
GAME: Acedia rolls weapon11+2: (10)+13+2: 25 GAME: Acedia rolls damage11+2+1: aliased to 1d6+0+2+1: (4)+0+2+1: 7
The violin continues to play, her voice carrying over the din of battle. She seems to relish the opportunity to swear. Ace's head pokes out from her hidey hole, and she lets out a huff of breath. Juggling the violin and her pistol, the Gobbo yells outs out "RELOAD!!", the bandolier around her waist responding by reloading her weapon.
"Just die you great big, stupid bird!" A puff of smoke, a flash of fire and a thunderous bang later, the flying beast sprouts a new, circular wound.
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+3: (15)+14+3: 32 GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1d6+3: aliased to 1d6+1+1d6+3: (2)+1+(4)+3: 10 GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9+1+2: (17)+14+1+2: 34 (THREAT) GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9+1+2: (13)+14+1+2: 30 GAME: Andelena rolls damage9+1+2+6+damage9+1+2+1d6: aliased to 1d8+5+1+2+6+1d8+5+1+2+1d6: (5)+5+1+2+6+(7)+5+1+2+(6): 40
As soon as the Andelena is on board and the wasp begins moving, Rune seems ever so slightly off-balance. "Oh sweet Skysinger I do not think I like this." She murmurs. It is very likely the first time the rogue has done anything that resembles flight. However, she does manage to keep one hand free and as they draw closer to one of the flying lizards, she swipes out with it, neatly catching part of one of the wings in the process, leaving a small bubbling trail of that acid behind.
"It's fucking weird, I know, but we'll make it work!" Andelena yells, her grasp on the wasp also somewhat precarious. Not the weirdest thing she's ever had in her arms, but that's the Sunguard's lot in life, it seems.
Andelena follows up Rune's quick strike with a grievous slash of her own, carving into the yrthak and making it rain blood down below. The flame of the blade winks away, however. "Gonna need to reactivate that here in a second," Andelena mutters. "Let's keep on the offensive!"
GAME: Harkashan casts Angelic Aspect. Caster Level: 9 DC: 20
"Just tell it where you want to go!" Harkashan answers Rune. "It'll listen." As he is assaulted by a fierce sonic assault that sends him down to one knee. Blood drips from his ears and maw as it pulps parts of his internals, causing some bleeding.
He chortles a bit for a moment, before stepping forward. Andelena and Rune clearly have this in hand. "Just don't let it peck too much at the Giant Wasp. It's not as sturdy as the Flying Thunder Lizard!" He calls out, before he throws his arms back and lets out a cry of a spell.
A set of feather-like scale-like wings suddenly burst from his back. Flecks of majestic embers flurry out from behind him, and red light rains from his back as the set of strange 'scaled' wings form there. Not a second later, he dashes towards Acedia, moving to cover her. Bleeding as he may be, he's a bit of a protector. A warping in the air making this thin outline of pale 'grey' flames rise along his body.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d3: (1): 1 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+17-5: (1)+17+-5: 13 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+17-5: (1)+17+-5: 13 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+17-5: (9)+17+-5: 21
The yrthak is horribly wounded, first by magical energies wreaking havoc on its life force, and then slashed savagely by Andelena and Rune. Reflexively, it lashes out with claws and bite, but the wounds and weariness have taken its toll, and it does little more than leave nasty marks and stains on Andelena's armor.
GAME: Slixvah casts Strangling Hair. Caster Level: 8 DC: 18 GAME: Slixvah rolls intelligence+witch: (20)+5+8: 33
Slixvah pumps a fist as the wasp riders make contact with the enemy. "Yeah! Get 'em girls!" she cheers on as they carve into the one that she drained. But her attention is drawn to Hark, his bleeding form and those wings! "I'll get ya after this is done, Harkie!" she shouts out to him as she flaps her wings hard, sailing forth and sliding onto the road to a stop.
Her arms and wings flare out wide. "ETG OWND OFMR HRTE!" she yells, more cyan runes wafting off of her before they suffuse with her wings.
Suddenly her feathers shoot forth across the space into the sky, intertwining with one another and becoming a large net before she pulls her arms in taut, and the steel-strong feathers snap shut. "HAH!"
GAME: Slixvah rolls 1d6: (4): 4 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+21-1: (7)+21+-1: 27
This is slightly less than impressive, as suddenly the feathers are inexorably spread open and the creature hisses balefully at Slixvah. But its partner's cries distract it, and so it flies around in a slow circle, coming in to flank with its packmate facing off with Andelena and Rune.
GAME: Rune rolls bluff+1: (10)+20+1: 31 GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+3-2: (11)+14+3+-2: 26 GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+3-7: (16)+14+3+-7: 26 GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+3-7: (6)+14+3+-7: 16 GAME: Rune rolls damage1+3+1d6+5d6: aliased to 1d6+1+3+1d6+5d6: (1)+1+3+(4)+(9): 18 GAME: Rune rolls damage2+3+5d6: aliased to 1d6+1+3+5d6: (2)+1+3+(13): 19
"Offensive, I can do!" Rune agrees with a nod to Andelena. At least the insert seems to be trying not to buck them off. "Alright, mister wasp. You just keep us in the air and we'll take care of the problem." As if it can understand her.
Though the second flyer turns their attention to the trio assaulting their friend, Rune continues to focus on her original target. "Hey, lizard-brain, I've seen more scary things at the night markets in Am'shere!" She sweeps one of her blades out towards it, causing it to jerk a leg away, but leaving some parts of the underbelly vulernable.
Both blades manage to slice into flesh, leaving long gashes behind before it manages to push her back into her seat atop the wasp, wobbling slightly as she clenches her legs to try to hold on.
GAME: Acedia rolls weapon11+2+1-4: (11)+13+2+1+-4: 23 GAME: Acedia rolls damage11+1+2: aliased to 1d6+0+1+2: (5)+0+1+2: 8
The bow is carefully dropped, as the Goblin switches to playing the violin with just the fingers of one hand. The song changes to another popular pub song, the ballad of Sir Quixote, and his famous battle with the multi-headed windmill.
"RELOAD!", she yells, her bandolier shoving another round into her pistol. "Hold still you big dumb bird! Lemme put another hole into you!"
Exception belches once more, a flash of fire and puff of smoke. The creature above jerks suddenly, flopping over to it's side, and crashing to the ground with a thunderous THUD.
"Whaheeeey, I got it, I got it!", she yells out, pleased as can be.
GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9+1+1+2: (6)+14+1+1+2: 24 GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9-5-2+1+1+2: (5)+14+-5+-2+1+1+2: 16 GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9-5-2+1+1+2: (4)+14+-5+-2+1+1+2: 15 GAME: Andelena rolls damage9+1+2+1d6: aliased to 1d8+5+1+2+1d6: (4)+5+1+2+(3): 15
One remaining. Andelena focuses. The wasp's in position and she can do something about the fact there's one yrthak.
"Holy Knight, may I be the servant that delivers your judgment," Andelena murmurs, and the blade flickers with light again. "Let's go--"
She grunts as she swipes out at the yrthak, the blade striking true, but going wide on the second. More blood blooming from the skies, even if this one's only a graze compared to her past attacks.
GAME: Harkashan casts Blessing of Fervor. Caster Level: 9 DC: 19
Harkashan coughs; "I'll be okay. Focus on taking care of these creatures!" He remarks to Slixvah, appreciating her concern. His wings then launch him again, noticing that the creature is ignoring Acedia for the time being. Flapping his wings to race across the ground as another spell of celerity breaches the field and touches everyone. Making their veins momentarily glow!
Only for the creature to begin to flee. "We could catch up to it and take care of it. But I think we've given it enough of a beating it won't return here in a long time."
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20: (8): 8 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+17-1: (8)+17+-1: 24 GAME: Telamon rolls 2d6+7: (8)+7: 15 GAME: Slixvah casts Screech. Caster Level: 8 DC: 18 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+12-1: (3)+12+-1: 14 GAME: Andelena uses an AoO! 1 remaining. GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9+1+2: (14)+14+1+2: 31 GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+3+2: (1)+14+3+2: 20 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Andelena rolls damage9+1+2+6: aliased to 1d8+5+1+2+6: (1)+5+1+2+6: 15 GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+3+2: (7)+14+3+2: 26 GAME: Andelena rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: Rune rolls damage1+3+1d6+5d6: aliased to 1d6+1+3+1d6+5d6: (1)+1+3+(3)+(11): 19
Slixvah curses in whistles and chirps as the creature easily slides out of her grasp. She relaxes her arms, letting the features reel back in as she looks up to the sky. The Deathsinger's blessing infuses her, buzzing with all the other magics ongoing. "You got it! Andh ell yeah, thankies Varadama!" she chirps, running towards the Wasp Winders and their prey. "Hey guys! Get ready for a window!"
A maw comes down, glancing across her side and only grazing as the necromantic ward takes the brunt of it.
The egalrin shoots skyward, getting around to the other side. "Hey! I can scream too!"
Inhale.
"SCRAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Magically infused bird screams are a mere annoyance for friends, but make the flying lizard flinch hard.
And the lizard DOES flinch -- which draws the blades of Andelena and Rune into it once more, deep wounds that make the creature cry out in outrage.
It's had enough. Two of its flight are crumpled on the turf dead, and these small pesky creatures have sharp teeth and sharper rage. With one last angry scream, the yrthak wheels in the air and flees swiftly. It's doubtful it will ever return.
The Goblin huffs and puffs, frowning at the last critter as it flies away. Eyeing the others, she comes to a stop. "So uh, I guess I need to learn fly, huh?", she calls out to the others.
Acedia yells "RELOAD" once more, and holsters her pistol. After which she retrieves her bow, and packs it and the Golden violin back into its case. With a sigh, she turns her back to a tree, and leans against it, crossing her arms, waiting for the others to return.
GAME: Rune rolls bluff+1-4: (14)+20+1+-4: 31 GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+3-2: (13)+14+3+-2: 28 GAME: Rune rolls weapon2+3-7: (4)+14+3+-7: 14 GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+3-7: (15)+14+3+-7: 25 GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+3: (11)+14+3: 28 GAME: Rune rolls damage1+3+1d6+5d6: aliased to 1d6+1+3+1d6+5d6: (6)+1+3+(5)+(15): 30 GAME: Rune rolls damage1+3+1d6+5d6: aliased to 1d6+1+3+1d6+5d6: (6)+1+3+(3)+(17): 30 GAME: Rune rolls damage1+3+1d6+5d6: aliased to 1d6+1+3+1d6+5d6: (5)+1+3+(1)+(19): 29
The moment the creature starts to withdraw, Rune's eyes narrow. She turns to Andelena, "We're going after it, right? Because if we let this thing go, it may come back and poach more workers the minute we leave." An animal might learn that these warriors are a threat, but it already learned that the workers are not. So it's a logical leap.
As soon as she has a nod from Andelena, she calls to the wasp, "Follow it, go!"
The quick movement has her crouched low against the wasp, treating it as much like her favorite horse as she can, while still fighting off her own anxiety about being up in the air and atop a giant insect.
She seems to shift, one leg against the wasp's back, readying as they get closer. Closer. Closer.
Then, she shines some moonlight off of one of her swords right into the beast's eye with one blade. A second later, Rune leaps up, slashing with both weapons, causing the lizard-bird to creel in pain before it falters, then falls to the ground with a dull thud.
When the last yrthak crashes to earth in a heap, there's a outpouring and babble of voices from the camp. Soon, torches and lamps are being lit, and dozens of workers are gathering to see the monstrous beasts laid low by the heroes. More than a few ask to shake your hand, and everyone seems amazingly relieved, Kriv most of all.
"Flying beasts. Hells, I never thought it'd be that," Kriv grumbles. "What are these... lizard-lookin' things?" He glances at Hark, double takes, and mumbles into his beard. "Erm. No offense."
"But are they good eatin'?" is a question called up from the crowd of workers, which yields a lot of laughter and more than a little good natured teasing.
"Heh. I don't know about that," Andelena says, more than happy to shake hands (she's got a hell of a grip). "They're something called yrthaks. I don't rightfully fuckin' know shit about them, but their screaming was a pain in the ass."
She smiles broadly. "Luckily for everyone, they're not gonna be screaming anymore. Knight's work has been done this day."
Slixvah flies in after the wasp, casting an apologetic expression to the goblin as she goes. But her wings flare out to stop, eyes wide as she sees Rune carve into the creature atop the large wasp. Ending the reptile. "You do the coolest shit every time we finish this!" she caws out, cackling as she coasts down to the ground. <Auran>
The egalrin shakes hands. "Ye ye, glad we could do somethin' 'bout it!" But question of eating them gets a laugh from her as well. "Dunno 'bout that, but-" she turns to the group. "-ya'll did great!"
Acedia seems quite happy with the attention and praise heaped upon the party, and it appears she aims to shake everyone's hand. She laughs at the thought of them eating the fallen flying lizard, but her expression sobers up. "You should probably just put them in a pile, and burn them. They've been eating people, and it would be bad juju to eat something what's been eating people."
"Yrthak. My people believe they are mutated Pterodactyls. We refer to them as Flying Thunder Lizards." He explains to Kriv as he steps out, flying down and landing on the ground.
"And no offense taken?" Harkashan adds, raising his brow. "And as miss Acedia recommends. I would avoid eating maneaters. There's some risk of diseases you don't want." He warns the man.
He then motions to Kriv. "Now, why don't you point me over to the remains of your lost, so we can give them proper burials."
After the fight is over, Rune seems all too happy to dismount from the wasp and get far, far away from it. "Oh sweet gods I am glad to be back on solid ground." The relief shows on her features. Maybe she'll get more used to the whole 'flying' thing when she has more experience with it.
The call out from Slixvah is met with a whistling click of a response. Bemused acknowledgement as she leans over a little, still trying to calm her racing heart once back on solid ground.
Eventually, she stands up straight again, "I would also pass the intel along to the hunters. There were three of them, which means there's a good chance that there might be a nest, or young somewhere nearby they were hunting for. If they're big enough, they could become a threat, themselves." It's possible this may be the only three, but... usually where there are three adults, there are more.
The point about them being man eaters does sober the men up, and soon work teams are dragging the corpses into a single spot to be disposed of. No one is curious enough to test the gods' beneficience by eating something that might make them deathly ill or worse.
Meanwhile, Kriv leads Harkashan and the rest of the party over to a spot a little ways from the road. Here, the earth has been freshly disturbed and replaced. A simple placard stands at the head of each grave, nailed to a post, and a few keepsakes or offerings are set around the base. A rude, even perhaps clumsy burial, but one no less heartfelt.
"At least no one else'll be prey for them beasts," Kriv grumbles.
"May Eluna's light guide their steps into the afterlife, may Vardama judge them evenly, and may they enjoy the afterlife in peace.", the Goblin offers as a prayer, her holy symbol glowing a pale soothing light.