Tainted Elves
The sun is setting now, but the sun never really sets for adventurers. The twilight is nice however, mildly warm with only a cool wind tugging at your clothes to remind you that soon it will be dark. The rumor is that there's something out in the woods. Not wild animals, but people. People that have been killing the local wildlife in droves. Destroying the plants and trees. Not just the ones tainted by the corruption that has been spreading like wildfire through this area, but everything. Anything.
You can see the trail of destruction now. You've been following it for hours looking for the source. Animals laying dead. Squirrels and other small mammals, birds, and even larger animals. Most of them twisted and warped by the corruption but still vaguely recognizable as what they were. Trees have been chopped down, bushes and vines uprooted and massacred. You can see no trail of footprints on the ground, but the trail is unmistakable nonetheless.
"Well, this is pleasant," Kore relays in a neutral tone as she picks her way through swathes of death and murder. She clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth as she walks, hands buried in her pockets as she uses slight shifts of her weight to keep her balance across the uneven terrain. The gray-skinned, blue-eyed Monk looks back at the rest of the group, those eyes studying the others approaching. Then she returns to looking about. "I expect we'll find it soon... Can't be hiding."
Murder walks along cautiously, her sword drawn. She sniffs at the air constantly, her eyes flicking back and forth. "I am really glad to be able to see in pitch darkness. Let me know if you're going to pull out torches or somesuch. I don't want to be highlighted."
GAME: Murder rolls perception: (1)+13: 14 (EPIC FAIL)
"Well... this is shit," says Nadara, helpfully, apparently not liking the look of things. She's got her gun loosely held in one hand, it would appear, and seems quite ready for whatever's going to happen next.
GAME: Kore rolls perception: (11)+17: 28
Hun'rar grumbles something unintelligible from his helmet, his fingers wrapped tight around the hilt of his sword. His deep breath and the set of his shoulders give away the anger that burns in his chest. "No words.."
GAME: Hun'rar rolls perception: (20)+0: 20
"Peasse to you." The voice, hoarse and broken, comes from up the pathway. Chay stands slowly from where he'd been crouching. Twigs and earth dust his clothing, are embedded in it. "Murder--" he says, and takes a DEEP breath. "It is good to sshare words, again. I..."
He looks back at them. "They are all dead, ssers." ...and they are. A plethora of dead squirrels, birds, line the pathway. They're sprinkled there, as though by a careless, giant child. He'd been crouched by one.
Kore suddenly halts in midstride, her head jerking up. Blue eye stare into the distance for a split second. "Chay! Archer!" She's pointing as she shouts, taking off in a dash toward the location of whatever camouflaged foe she thinks she may have seen.
Murder stares in surprise at Chay, and she runs over to his side. "Chay? What are you doing out here? Have you seen...", she gestures to the destruction around them. "Whatever did this? Are you okay?" The Gobbo bends down to sniff at one of the dead squirrels. "Ugh. A waste. That could have been a nice roast."
Hun'rar rushes ahead of Chay, raising his shield and standing to hopefully block any shot. "I am a Warden of Gilead, here to stop this. Come out!" he says to whomever is pointing the bow.
GAME: Nadara rolls Perception: (2)+7: 9
"..say what?" says Nadara to Chay, glancing at the others. Then she hears Kore speak and stops dead in her tracks. "What's this?!" Her gun is raised, "Rada... we're gonna have a hell of a time.."
GAME: Chay rolls perception: (4)+10: 14
"One was hun--" the sith-makar replies, his voice dead. And then Kore rushes past and he stares at her--stares, unreacting. Then, he /does/ react, with that same, unthinking quickness that comes from being raised hunter-caste--
--and being so far gone a person doesn't /think/ about it. He drops, rolls fastfastfast into cover. If he wasn't so far /gone/, he'd have never managed it.
GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+2+1: (4)+13+2+1: 20 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+strength+half+3+1: (8)+4+half+3+1: 16 GAME: Nadara casts Prayer. Caster Level: 9 DC: 18 GAME: Chay casts Invisibility. Caster Level: 7 DC: 15
With a shout Kore leaps over the first arrow fired, her slender form tumbling gracefully as she launches into a quick, brutal kick. Crashing into the Elven Archer, Kore punishes them with brutal blows as she blocks their path.
So, there you have it. That looks bad.
Nadara lets out a long breath and then says, "Oi. Rada. Yeah... let's help, you know? Do the thing?" She has a coin in her hand and she flips it off into into the underbrush. A former of sacrifice, perhaps, and then, well...
...and then there's the fresh smell of sea salt and brine on the breeze, a distant creaking audible for a moment before it fades away. Was it ever really there?
Chay looks upquick-wary from his crouch, his heart his throat and tension across his back. The others running, racing towards a figure, yelling archer! is enough to send him back, to better places than Charn. To that breath of freedom before the shadow dragon's claws.
The teamwork brings to mind Am'shere. It brings to mind the survival of the kin, of hunter-caste crying out, of warriors responding and forming ranks. He brings his right hand down, and forms a circle with middle and thumb, then draws the pointer through, in a prayer to the Hunter. The wild envelopes him, and he vanishes from sight--muscles tense, tight, the body ready to take on its part. Here, the body shuts the mind down, says, get out of the way. The mind, emotions, overwrought, are only too glad to comply.
GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon22+2-4-2: (3)+16+2+-4+-2: 15 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (19)+13: 32
The Gobbo seems quite surprised when the group is suddenly under attack. "What?", Murder says, sounding confused. She looks to Chay, who is suddenly not there. "Chay?" She stands up straight and looks around, then reaches into a pouch on her side. Popping a bright, yellow hot pepper into her mouth, she grins and begins to duck and weave through the battle, moving closer to their enemies.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (15)+13: 28 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (20)+13: 33
Hun'rar stomps across the foliage to attack the nearest elf, using the broad side of his sword, however the blade comes up just short. "Drop your weapons! I am a Warden of Gilead!"
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (14)+13: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (5)+13: 18 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (20)+13: 33 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (1)+13: 14 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (18)+13: 31 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+1: (7)+1: 8 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+1: (7)+1: 8 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+1: (4)+1: 5 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d8+3: (19)+3: 22
The lead... elf? He looks so warped that elf is a loose term. He has pointed ears and sharp teeth, vines growing around his arms and branches sprouting from his joints. Heavy claws pull back his bow as he steps back and fires dead into the center of Kore's chest. His companion's arrow misses her but the rest of the elves find their marks like they were born to pull back the string of a bow. The result is clear. These tainted elves haven't lost a single ounce of their ability with a weapon.
GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+1: (16)+13+1+1: 31 GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+1: (10)+13+1+1: 25 GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+1: (17)+13+1+1: 32 GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+1-5: (19)+13+1+1+-5: 29 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+strength+1+1: (1)+4+1+1: 7 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+strength+1+1: (6)+4+1+1: 12 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+strength+1+1: (6)+4+1+1: 12 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+strength+1+1: (8)+4+1+1: 14
Kore is rounding on the leader when the arrows come in. She spins and and deflects one of the incoming shafts, but another plunges into her chest, narrowly missing a lung. Blood running down the front of her midnight blue clothes, she grits her teeth and lets out a snarl. The leader of the corrupted Elves tries to step back to get some clearance but she lunges and then launches into a series of brutal punches to the gut and face, ending with an axe kick that sends the doubled over Elven assassin to the ground, unmoving.
Afterward, The Monk is turning, moving in a sideways fashion that would confound further arrows. She's way out in front, after all. And they're clearly unhappy with her.
GAME: Nadara rolls 3d6: (12): 12 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (11)+10: 21 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (7)+10: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (16)+10: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (20)+10: 30 GAME: Chay rolls 1d20+12: (9)+12: 21 GAME: Chay rolls 1d20+12: (7)+12: 19 GAME: Chay rolls 1d8+2d6+8: (8)+(7)+8: 23
So, there's this smell. It'z ozone. And then a moment later, lightning is called down from the sky with a simple gesture by a goblin who's eyes are crackling with that same energy.
For just a few seconds. Each of the elves, if one can still call them that, is briefly scorched with it.
GAME: Chay rolls 1d8+2d6+8: (8)+(9)+8: 25
Were his eyes not dead, his expression not flat--one might enjoy a hunter's task. Or, the chance to fulfill a role he'd chosen since youth, as all sith-makar were born and trained to do. The role of caste. The role within family.
The first arrow strikes, and wild's cloak fades. "Hunter-caste has found you, ssers," he says, instead, voice flat. Then fires again, with deliberate precision--and fells the corrupted creature. Oh, he's going to feel like shit. Right now, though...
GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon22-2: (19)+16+-2: 33 (THREAT) GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon22-2: (1)+16+-2: 15 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Hun'rar rolls 1d10+9+3+4+1d6 fire: (8)+9+3+4+(3 fire): 27 GAME: Hun'rar rolls reflex: (18)+9: 27 GAME: Murder rolls 4d6: (12): 12 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (5)+10: 15 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4: (4): 4
The electrocuted elves jolt in place, and as Hun'rar punches the one in front of him it begins to projectile vomit black goo which the warrior nimbly evades. Then, almost in unison they... explode. Blackened goo sprays in every direction and the stuff jiggles. Begins to clamor toward a central point in the middle of the clearing. Like something alive itself it begins to colese into the shape of something which is totally unnatural. A black slime easily the same size as the four elves that were just downed. It gives a wiggle, and then begins to move toward Nadara.
GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+2+1+1+2: (16)+13+2+1+1+2: 35 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+2d6+strength+1: (2)+(9)+4+1: 16 GAME: Nadara rolls 3d6: (10): 10 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20-3: (19)+-3: 16
More lightning!
That's what Nadara seems to be doing. It crackles at her fingertips, sure, but that's more an after effect. What it's really doing is coming down from the sky. "You know, the odds of getting hit by lightning are really low," she tells the elves, "Twice would be almost unheard of. You must be spectacularly unlucky."
"Sser," Chay responds to Murder. He's listening. He's--and then the timescene shifts, and it's no longer Am'shere, but the present. Terror wells up in him, and the sith-makar turns and PITCHES his waterskin at Nadara.
"WATER!" he howls. Did he remember to unscrew the cap? Hunter-caste didn't...tend to cover that. With no muscle memory, it probably bonks her on the head!
As the slime appears Kore moves to intercept it. "The corruption's emerged. I've seen these things once. Or something similar! What do you suggest we do with them?" That question doesn't stop her from darting into place not too far ahead of Nadara, attempting to fend off the slime with a vicious kick.
GAME: Murder rolls ranged: (15)+10: 25 GAME: Murder used a Alchemist's Fire. GAME: Murder rolls 1d6: (4): 4
"Do you have any sort of healing magic, Chay? I uh... have an arrow wound. And uh, I wish we could have words without there being fighting and screaming going on?" Murder says this to the Sith-makar while casually setting the slime ablaze with a vial of alchemist's fire.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+11: (1)+11: 12 (EPIC FAIL)
Almost lazily the ooze-thing reaches out, trying to reach Nadara, but it's tendril falls short of her; nearly hitting Kore instead.
GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+2: (4)+13+1+2: 20 GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+2: (14)+13+1+2: 30 GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+2: (20)+13+1+2: 36 (THREAT) GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+2: (9)+13+1+2: 25 GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+2: (11)+13+1+2: 27 GAME: Kore rolls weapon0+1+2-5: (10)+13+1+2+-5: 21 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+2d6+strength+1: (1)+(11)+4+1: 17 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+2d6+strength+1: (6)+(7)+4+1: 18 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+2d6+strength+1: (3)+(7)+4+1: 15 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+2d6+strength+1: (2)+(4)+4+1: 11 GAME: Kore rolls 1d8+2d6+strength+1: (6)+(9)+4+1: 20
Kore is starting to sweat slightly. She throws out another series of rapid kicks, but on the last her foot.. Sticks? It starts to sink in, but she pulls it free, and then gives the slime a knife-like chop. She's been known to shatter stone with those but this time the heel of her hand *bounces*. Still, the Monk is making quite a go of it nonetheless.
GAME: Nadara rolls 1d20+11: (10)+11: 21 GAME: Nadara rolls 1d20+11: (17)+11: 28 GAME: Nadara rolls 1d20+8: (16)+8: 24 GAME: Nadara rolls 1d6+3: (5)+3: 8 GAME: Nadara rolls 1d6+3: (5)+3: 8 GAME: Nadara rolls 1d6+3: (5)+3: 8 GAME: Chay casts Create Water. Caster Level: 7 DC: 13 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+11: (19)+11: 30
"WATER!" And no one seems to hear him. Chay shouts it, the words into the darkness. ...and.
Nothing.
Desperate--he grabs hold of his mind with his claws, and drags the thoughts-here-now to the forefront. The fingers move, the words form the prayer, and WATER erupts from above, from the breath of the wild, onto the globulous creature--and a large portion of it slags off.
Dissolves.
The half-formed and now half-sized thing wobbles. It looks almost pathetic now with so much of its mass destroyed by Chay's work. Even so it doggedly continues on in the mindless manner of such things. Quickly it lashes out again, this time nabbing Nadara in its grasp and sucking her into the center of itself!
GAME: Nadara rolls fort: (19)+10: 29
"..augh," says Nadara as she slime reaches for her. She stumbles back a few feet and then draws her pistol. With smooth motions, she unloads three shots into the thing's bulk absorbing the shots like, well... gelatin. She didn't quite move back far enough, however...
GAME: Kore rolls cmb: (5)+11: 16 GAME: Nadara rolls Cmb: (2)+6: 8
Well, that's no good.
Now that Nadara has been CONSUMED by the thing, she won't have the chance to cast any spells.
On the other hand, she's glubbing away at the interior of the thing and kicking and punching -- and it isn't doing the tiny goblin gunslinger any good.
GAME: Chay casts Create Water. Caster Level: 7 DC: 13
"--It dissolves, ssers! Water and ssoap! WATER AND SSOAP!" the sith-makar is yelling. Shouting into the darkness. Water erupts from the breath of the wild, and courses over the slug-like ooze.
More of it sloughs away, dissolves into the earth.
"If you touch it, you will. Get. The. Plague." The shouting fades to panting. He's left in defensive stance, arms raised in a block, after the shouting, the words, the prayers.
GAME: Nadara rolls fort: (10)+10: 20
Chay's words are a warning, and one that comes just a little too late as the ooze slides the remainder of its body /into/ Nadara. It climbs in through her nose, her mouth. It slips inside and then... it's gone. Gone inside her.
Kore is snatching at the slime, grasping after Nadara's hand as she leans forward. "A-almost..." Then the slime melts and she pitches forward, ending up tumbling down beside Nadara as the creature disappears... Inside of her? Kore is left staring around, vaguely bewildered, as she tries to right herself.
Nadara is sitting there, looking rather devastated and horrified by this. She sets about trying to make herself vomit. Messily.
BLERAAAAAAAAAAGH.
This probably won't work.
It doesn't.
The sith-makar stops, that stop-and-halt after the action had ceased, that stop-and-halt where a person catches their breath and not much else. He stares at Nadara. "...if you go into the arcane dungeons, it will sslow it for a time, sser," he says, voice just...
He rubs at his muzzle. There's ooze there, but less than there had been. He spits some of it onto the earth. Then, goes to fetch the water bottle he'd thrown at her earlier, in an attempt to communicate.
"...this one is going to go ssee Alba. Then, pray, ssers." And he is. He is going right there, with samples. He will not pass go.
-End