A Road Less Traveled
Log Info
- Title: A Road Less Traveled
- Emitter: Subduction
- Characters: Aryia, Seyardu, MAC-B1G, Jinks
- Place: Felwood Outskirts
- Time: October 21, 2021
- Summary: A group of adventurers hired by the guard meet with a captain on the outskirts past the way station. They get some vague information (carriage tracks and blood was found) from them before heading out, but not before some joking at the guard's expense. The party travels, Aryia, Seyardu, and MAC-B1G on foot, and Jinks on his pony Enness. Some hours pass as they search for said tracks, night slowly settling in before the war golem and Jinks take note of wagon tracks, with Seyardu confirming the scent of blood. They follow the trail, some prepping magics as they drew near the Felwood. In the open plains, Aryia catches the sound of horse rapidly approaching, and the group spreads out. Clattering and clopping down the open grass is a carriage helmed by two skeletons, pulled by two zombie horses, and the carriage itself was made of bones. MAC takes the brunt of a ride by swipe and hammers into the horses as Jinks bolsters the party. Seyardu channels, finding that all of them, including the carriage itself, is undead. Aryia leaps onto the carriage to destroy one skeleton while Seyardu continues flooding the area with holy energy to disrupt them. Eventually Aryia breaks the carriage itself and is flung off. The carriage, full of flesh and sinew, turns into a blob of bones and tries to lay into Aryia, as does the remaining skeleton while the remaining horse advances on Seyardu. Seyardu executes it with impunity, cleaving in twain with their bill, and Aryia beats down the rest into a pulp. Seyardu sees to giving the remains a pyre as Aryia fetches the guard captain.
It's a cold and dreary day, well into the autumn season. The trees are beginning to look bare, and the ground littered with their discarded leaves. On such a day, a group of adventurers have been rounded up by Alexandria's finest- though tensions between the guild and the authorities have been high of late, it seems that the city still has use for its most notorious resource.
The point of contact for the adventurers, waiting at a crossroad on Kulthari road this afternoon, is a middle aged human man dressed in the raiments of a captain of the guard.
In an attempt to ease tensions (despite how much they disliked the authorities), one of the adventurers arriving on foot was that of a scarred mul'neissa woman in a verdant green jacket, it buckled shut with her hands shoved in the pockets. A matching green scarf hangs around her neck with a tail end trailing behind her. Despite the dreary weather, shades rest on their nose, and she strolls up casually.
Aryia raises a hand in greeting to the guard captain.
Travel upon the road is easier than tromping through the vegetation, and so the large drab construct tromps along the road, instead. MAC-B1G scans the route ahead and makes note of the individual in the crossroads. It slows to a halt before said crossroads and individual.
"Travel advisory," it vocalizes in announcement to the presumed traveller (he is standing in the road),"Nocturnal transit recently deemed hazardous. Enforce additional caution and security measures during such activities until the issue is rectified."
The black pony cometh, his eyes dark and bored. His hanging grey mane drapes like waterfall frozen in time, its healthy luster catching the setting sunlight. His bit and bridle is glittering and bejeweled; white gold set with smoothed, oval onyx.
And on this pony was Death. No. No, that's not right. Not right at all. It's Jinks! The gnome sits comfortably in his high-backed saddle, reins wrapped loose around one hand and his longcoat slit up the back so it can hang to either of the mount's flanks.
"I have to say, Enness, you've already paid for yourself. If you fit better inside the taverns I might never walk again."
Tensions or not, when there was work needing to be done for the adventurer's guild, Seyardu was often one to join in, to see it done and keep those going safe. There were not many clerics she knew that went on them.
She joins the group gathering at the crossroad, offering a wave to those she recognizes, and the guard captain.
"I believe they are here to speak to us about the warning, Mac." She states. "Peace on your nest, do I have the right of it?"
The guard captain offers a cautious dip of his head as the adventurers approach, and he pushes away from the crossroads waymark he'd been leaning against. "You do." he tells Seyardu then, pausing to cast a glance across the eclectic group. "Well, I'll cut right to it. Folks have been going missing. And we've had no luck finding them. Whoever it is knows out uniforms, I'd wager, and steers clear of the patrols." he says.
"What we can say for certain, they have been striking on foggy evenings. And usually in the same place, in the vicinity of the road between here and the waystation. We've seen blood spatters and carriage tracks, but not found any bodies." he explains succinctly. "Frankly, I don't have the men to spare chasing ghosts, but 'course, we need to figure this out."
Aryia rubs her chin, giving a little nod to all. Recognizing the party. People go missing, no bodies...
She gestures to those that she knows can understand her. "Can you ask him if they find the carriages? Or is it just /nothing/." <Handspeech>
"The tallman wants to know if you find abandoned carriages or just the tracks." Jinks translate, tilting his head towards Aryia. From ponyback they're about the same height. The sith is still taller and the 'golem, towering. "I wonder how much blood you find. Incidental droplets or is it the floor of a butcher's backroom?"
The gnome leans forward in the saddle, fixing a stray strand or two in the pony's mane after a brief gust musses it.
"Seyardu nods, glancing to Aryia's handsigns and back to the guard captain. "Yes, if there is blood and missing carriages, there should be signs of what happened if the carriages were not abandoned. Was there any rhyme or reason to the bloodstains?"
MAC-B1G's faceplate rotates a full circle, pausing at each individual to identify and confirm fellow taskforce units. After the circuit is completed, it advises, "Lack of debris indicates high probability of disintegration and/or larceny."
The guadsman scratches at the short spiky whiskers on his pockmarked cheek as he thinks about the questions asked, "Well, most of them what went missing was travelling light. On foot, or with donkeys or mules mostly." he explains then. "So we reckon the carriage tracks belong to them what's taking 'em. As for the bloodstains..." he pauses for a moment, glancing towards Aryia for a moment. He rubs the back of his neck and then sighs.
"Don't seem right talking about this in front of womenfolk, but the stains looked... well. They was long streaks along the road. Like folks was dragged behind a horse or carriage. For some distance." he finally explains his guesome theories as for the fate of those that went missing.
Aryia gives the guard a flat stare, her tilting her head down some so a shimmering eye peeks over the glasses. The elf rolls her eyes to the back of her head after hearing the details, a the back of her hand resting atop her forehead before letting herself fall back some, clearly feigning passing out. Though she catches herself and shakes her head. "Oh no, my pure, wholesome look on reality is completely shattered," she dryly signs before turning to the party, unphased, "Sounds like they stuck them and tied them to a carriage to bleed them out." <Handspeech>
"You've done her in, sir; she's asked where the nearest fainting couch can be found." Jinks laughs, looking again from Aryia to the watchman. He tries to ask a question but snorts and starts laughing again, covering his face with an open hand. The gnome waves Seyardu and the golem on with the other, trying to get himself under control.
"I can assure you that Aryia will be alright. I fear more for those who perpetrated it when she shows up." Seyardu chuckles, though it is short lived. "But, not that much. If they are humanoids, I will attempt to capture them, but not at a risk of those here. That being said, if they use a carriage, that should give some manner of tracks to follow."
"Vehicular and biological search criteria loaded. Initiating search pattern Alpha." The construct announces before it begins to move again, now heading... further up the road.
The captain clears his throat and scratches his whiskers again at the chuckling at his expense, "Right, er, well then. You be on your way then." he offers the war golem as it begins to head off without delay. Turning back towards the others, "So far folks have only gone missing 'round twilight, an' on foggy nights. As for tracks, we've tried following 'em but not had much luck, on account of the fog and rainy weather recently." he explains.
Aryia doesn't correct Jinks's mistranslation, usually something she'd be a bit miffed about, but this time it was actually funny. A genuine smile cracking her lips. She gives a nod to the guard and snaps a finger gun towards him, her starting to follow after the golem.
She passes by Jinks and gives the short folk a pat on the shoulder. "Good one," she flashes to him as she resumes her gait. <Handspeech>
"If there are tracks we will see what we can do, otherwise we will make another plan." She states before continuing along. "I suppose I do not count as womenfolk?" Seyardu chuckles to Aryia as she follows along. "Do you have any suggestions for moving forward, any of you?"
<OOC> Seyardu says, "Also I'd like to sense motive before continuing on, just in case" <OOC> Seyardu says, "To see if they were trustworthy" <OOC> Subduction says, "Go ahead and roll roll" GAME: Seyardu rolls Sense Motive: (2)+8: 10
Jinks sighs the last bit of laughter away and twists in the saddle, plucking a bottle out of the bags. "All valued information, friend tallman," he says, attempting to relieve some of the unintended sting with stated appreciation. The gnome concentrates a moment and his form shifts; jacket fading, going ratty at the edges, and off-colored patches coming into shape. His hair goes a brownish green, grows longer to sag in a fuller ponytail, and fall around his ears. Facial hair shifts from a neatly-kept goatee into a fuller, scruffy beard. Cracked, heavy leather gloves sprout from his sleeves to hide his rings and his boots go brown, loose their shine.
"Ish a neish night for a ride alone, eh? *HIC*" The illusion-swaddled gnome waggles his eyebrows, offering himself up as bait.
GAME: Jinks rolls Disguise+10: (12)+13+10: 35
MAC-B1G continues to step and scan, step and scan. It will require many steps, thus will provide many scans! It does not travel quickly, as the danger they seek is inferred to occur at night. Also, it is slow, which is more the cause than anything else.
GAME: Aryia rolls survival: (9)+4: 13 GAME: Seyardu rolls survival: (7)+4: 11 GAME: MAC-B1G rolls survival: (16)+1: 17 GAME: Jinks rolls Survival: (17)+0: 17
As the group head down the path, the grey dreary sky overhead shows no signs of giving up to let sunlight through in more but the diffuse drabness of a chilly autumn afternoon. The road is well traveled, easy to navigate. It rains often of late, but the road is fairly firm- packed dirt not yielding easily to feet. Or carriages, unfortunately for the trackers. Any blood stains have been washed away, but keen eyes will eventually come upon carriage tracks.
Terra firma is an advantage when one is rather dense. The construct is not, however, quite so dense as to mistake its own disturbances in the road surface to be indicators of threat activity. Those are behind it, afterall; threats only ever manifest from the front.
They may maneuver to the flank, though, and MAC's faceplate pans to the roadside as it steps towards and then adjacent to a section of the road. "Alternate path of egress detected. Soil distrubances consistant with a median wheeled conveyance with dual mono-phalanged herbivoric propulsion."
Jinks actually dismounts to help look for signs of the carriage's passing. He started the whole affair leaning out from the saddle but a near-miss with gravity inspired the gnome to quit his perch. Better to have muddy boots than to fall and have muddy everythings. Getting down is still a slow, deliberate process, and he scritches and offers the pony an apple after the mount remains still through the process. "Good boy, Neighsayers." Pat, pat.
So now he's short again, looking down and holding the reins loose in his illusorily-gloved hand. He nods, near the wargolem and looks back to Seyardu and Aryia. "A carriage pulled by two horses leaves the main road, here, and takes this trail towards the Felwood."
Aryia doesn't have much luck in terms of searching. Her glowing gaze sort of backfires on her in this weather, akin to a lantern in fog, it obscures quite a lot of details for her. She gives up looking halfway through, instead focusing on keeping an eye out for anything dangerous.
She frowns slightly at the mention of the Felwood. "Great," the mute gestures sarcastically. "Into the creepy as fuck woods we go?" <Handspeech>
Seyardu was not good with tracking, and on more than one occasion she nearly face plants into the ground, but she manages to stumble and keep to her feet. She tries to look around but finds little, but thankfully the others manage to locate what she could not.
"A carriage and two horses? Most do not go to the felwood for no reason, we may have our path decided."
The makari sniffs at the air, seeing if she can pick up any of the mentioned blood on the air.
GAME: Seyardu rolls perception: (15)+5: 20 (Keen Scent)
Seyardu looks around, sniffs at the air some more, and sighs. "There is, or was blood here in the last few days." She states, and then she sniffs once more, and coughs.
"And, something else. Like a decayed body. one that is not fresh. Be wary, it may be a culprit, or another part of their plans."
"This may be unrelated..." Jinks begins, pausing to grab the saddlehorn, put his foot into the stirrup, and climb back into the saddle. He's getting better at it-- and he's not generally clumsy-- but it's still an unfamiliar process. So it takes a little bit of time. "A bit ago there was a Xianese noble who arrived in the city; family is a long-line of wagonmakers and lycanthrope hunters. He made a beeline for Altay's manse-- so he's most definitely a bastard. Maybe this is how he gets his kicks." He reaches back into the saddlebags and pulls the bottle out again, taking a drink. "Oh, and he didn't have a shadow."
"Well, he DID have a shadow but it was a fake one." The gnome addendums. "Illusory magicks."
Aryia pinches the bridge of her nose as they follow the tracks. "If this is connected Altay I'm going to be really pissed. I've given up on that dickhead." <Handspeech>
"Threat indications rising. Engaging pre-emptive defensive measures," MAC informs. With a ratcheting sound and rapid staccato pings of metal on metal, plates shift and telescope to cover its chassis before it proceeds down the alternate road.
GAME: MAC-B1G casts Toughen Construct. Caster Level: 10 DC: 14
The path leads off towards the Fellwood- that ominous, gnarled wood long in the distance but the looming ever present stormcloud that swirls above the cursed place marking its presence all the same. It is rougher than the main road, a beaten track by footfalls and wagon wheels, rather than the packed earth and gravel of the road.
Following the track thusfar has taken several hours, and the sun hangs low between its veil of clouds overhead. The light growing dimmer.
And the air is growing cool, clammy. It clings.
Jinks hums, blows pulsing light into his balled hand, and then flares his fingers to loose a quartet of glowing, multi-colored wisps that dance above and behind his shoulder. It won't be a subtle advance but he'll be able to see better, at least. Neighsayers remains stoic and plods ahead, rather well-trained for a pretty, failed racing pony.
Seyardu was not bothered by the cold, but she looks to the others to make sure they were alright. Just in case, she pulls her polearm out of her satchel and slings it onto her back, before continuing on.
"I do not know what to expect, but we should be wary. When we get close, we should sneak up on them, to see what we can, and what needs to be done. This one has magic which can aid with that."
She sighs, and sniffs at the air again. "I do not like the thought there may be undead in the felwood. They should be dealt with, if that is the case."
Jinks glances over at Seyardu when she suggests stealth. He sucks his teeth and shrugs, waving a hand curtly and causing the lights to wink out. "Fair enough."
As the darkness settles in, Aryia's eyes grow ever brighter. She cracks her knuckles and hunches down some. Tension settling in her frame. "I can be subtle if need be. But if we run into undead, I'll do what I can. Best to put them down if that's the case." <Handspeech>
"This unit," the construct notes as it crushes a branch with a *CRUNCH*, "is not designed" *STOMP* "for clandestine operations. Primary design considerations: anti-mana, anti-structure. Secondary design considerations: anti-personnel."
As the group continue on their way along the path, the cool clammy feeling grows more intense. Visibility begins to decrease- not because of the dimming light, though that certainly doesn't help matters, but because the air is growing thicker. Not so dramatic as a bank of fog rolling in, more as though the fog is simply coalescing, slowly, inexorably around them. As though what little warmth there had been in the air is being sapped away, and the water vapors trapped within are forced into this hazy suspension.
GAME: Jinks rolls Perception: (4)+7: 11 GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (4)+22: 26 GAME: Seyardu rolls perception: (2)+5: 7 GAME: Seyardu casts Blessing of the Mole. Caster Level: 8 DC: 17 GAME: MAC-B1G rolls perception: (3)+14: 17
Aryia suddenly stops, her glowing gaze sliding shut. Silver clad ears twitch as she turns her head one way. Then another. Then her eyes fly open as a soft gasp comes from her. A flurry of -emotions, fear, anger, determination- flash across her face as she cracks her neck and points off to the south. "Ttssh ttssh!" she hisses, getting everyone's attention. "Horses! Coming this way!" she signs quickly, frame tense. <Handspeech>
<OOC> Aryia uses Barkskin. <OOC> Aryia says, "+3 ac"
"Alright, Enness." Jinks leans forward, near the pony's ear as he offers a peptalk. "You didn't make it as a racehorse. They said you'd never be amount to anything but meat for a stew. What do we say to those naysayers?"
'WHEE-EIGH-EIGH-eigh, pfbbbbt!' says the pony.
"Coyote laughs," Jinks agrees, snatching his bow up from where it hangs by his bags.
MAC-B1G's forward progress grinds to a halt as others stop and Aryia calls her warning. It's faceplate rotates towards the indicated direction. It's starboard manipulator opens and a large metal barrel telescopes from the center.
Seyardu pulls the polearm off of her back, and she looks to Aryia, tense as well, with a nod. She reaches for her holy symbol, wrapping a hand around it.
"Celestial mother, shield us from sight, and give us sight to pierce through this darkness." She offers quickly, causing no discernible change to most, though the gnome and pony can both see much better than usual. <Draconic>
Jinks clears his throat, humming a bit more to himself as he maneuvers the horse along the trail, trying to loop around and position the other three between him and the direction the mul indirecated. He tries to sort out the oncoming conveyance from the darkness ahead, then glances over his shoulder to make sure there isn't something more subtle approaching from behind.
It's not much longer before everyone else can hear the hoofbeats approaching as well. The ground here- though not a proper road and wet with recent rains, reverberates with the noise of them hitting the ground, the occasional wet splash intermingling with the clipping of hooves. There's a rattling noise, as well. It sounds like... old dry bones clattering together.
"Potential threat incoming," the construct advises, helpfully. It then clomps forward, putting itself ahead and into a forward operation position of tactical superiority. This translates to ... closer to the incoming sounds and in the middle of the trail.
This gives Jinx more stand-off distance. It is possible that MAC, at some point, had some systems 'upgraded' by a gnome.
<OOC> Aryia to 12,3 and tries to lay low <OOC> Subduction says, "Give me a stealth roll." GAME: Aryia rolls stealth+2: (4)+16+2: 22
Aryia blinks as the golem puts themselves in harm's way. She briskly gestures to the others. "Get in a position out of the way!" she motions to the two before rushing off to the side. She slides on her knees into the fog, her keeping low in the grass. The dark greens and browns she wears helps great in the dim light and obscuring fog. <Handspeech>
Jinks watches the three take up positions, taking a moment to look through the Weave and sense the threads wrapping between them. There's the one he wants but it doesn't stretch... The gnome blinks and flips the reins lightly, his bow held in the other hand at his side. "If I can spoil the road before it I will... but it might not be able to stop cleanly in that case," he warns.
Seyardu scatters at the motions Aryia makes, running off to the side with her weapon readied, but still close enough that she could help if needed. She nods to the others, and turns her attention to the source of the noise, preparing herself for what might be coming.
Finally, the group can put an image to the sounds as a pair of horses emerge from the fog, trailing wisps of vapor that plume from their noses and cling to their shoulders. Their pale eyes are wide, locked in a visage of terrified exhaustion. Their ink-black manes are matted and tangled and they are lathered and over-driven. Open wounds persist in places, the muscle beneath their skin laid bare and oozing. They are locked in a harness, which extends backwards into the mist behind them, and seems to be fashioned from lengths of bone and straps of leather.
Finally, the carriage they carry along is dragged out of the fog as well- a large stage coach, crafted from dark gnarled wood and twisted bones. It's wheels have scythe-like blades of fashioned bone protruting from their spokes. Sitting atop it are a pair of hooded figures- one holding the reigns of the nightmarish animals, the other trailing a length of viciously barbed chain which drags through the muck alongside the coach.
Aryia's heart drops down to her gut at the sight, face paling. Her lips move silently, "What. In the actual. Fuck."
She clamps down on her spiking anxiety, eyes locked on that barbed chain. Her back aches.
Slowy. She creeps forward. Body tensed to leap the hell out of the way. Or to leap in soon enough.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Carriage double moves straight ahead, provokes an AoO from MAC who I believe is AFK, and the passenger will attack him with the chain whip." GAME: Thurid rolls 10: (8)+10: 18
The carriage picks up speed now- the cowled driver bringing up a skeletal hand and reaching out to whip the already exhausted and possibly undead horses into further frenzy. The carriage rattles along the bumpy track towards the spreading group. The other one leans forward in its seat, its hood falling back to reveal a bare skull. It lifts the chain out of the dirt, whirling it around and whipping it at the golem as it draws near.
GAME: MAC-B1G rolls weapon4: (5)+13: 18 (AoO) <OOC> Subduction says, "What are you aiming at? Carriage, Horse or Passenger?" <OOC> MAC-B1G says, "Excellent point. I will go Conan and strike at the horse." GAME: MAC-B1G activates its Titan Armor, gaining: +4 Str GAME: MAC-B1G rolls weapon4: (8)+15: 23 GAME: MAC-B1G rolls weapon4: (19)+15: 34 GAME: MAC-B1G rolls weapon4: (11)+15: 26 GAME: MAC-B1G rolls damage4: aliased to 2d6+8: (6)+8: 14 GAME: MAC-B1G rolls damage4: aliased to 2d6+8: (4)+8: 12 GAME: MAC-B1G rolls damage4: aliased to 2d6+8: (9)+8: 17
The carriage moves to pass and the spiked chain skitters off of its chassis. Having one manipulator prepared as a cannon means that its passing blow at the veganated herbivore is a backhand with the other manipulator. "Pull over!" MAC directs the highly suspect vehicle and crew.
It's cannon-arm configures back to a tri-lobed fist that is then hydraulic extended into the nearby hebrivore propulsion unit repeatedly.
<OOC> Jinks says, "I will begin to bardic perform (move) Inspire Courage +2, I will guide with knees (Ride, DC5) the horse a 5' step (free), and I will Ready (standard) to cast Haste when Aryia joins melee. GAME: Jinks rolls Ride: (15)+3: 18
"Now that's grim." Jinks remarks, eyes going wide when he sets the bone parade arrive both pulling and riding the grizzly carriage. He drops the reins as he nudges Enness forward, doing his best to immitate the basics taught to him at the joust those weeks ago. It seems to work?
His whistles sharply, glancing to Aryia with his empty hand already pulling through the air, knocking motes of light out of their static place to wrap his fingers around the threads of reality. "Get in there, tallman!"
And then comes the song, his voice rising to echo through fog, strong and triumphant. It one note, blasting with vibratto that resolves into a word. It must be gnomish; nobody else understands it.
<OOC> Seyardu says, "Moving to 6,11, and casting channel energy, targetting undead" (DC 17) GAME: Subduction rolls 3: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Subduction rolls 3: (16)+3: 19 GAME: Subduction rolls 3: (19)+3: 22 GAME: Subduction rolls 5: (3)+5: 8 GAME: Subduction rolls 5: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Seyardu rolls 4d6: (11): 11
Seyardu sprints out of the way as the carriage comes barreling towards them, sliding to the side while pulling out her holy symbol again. Holding it upwards, it releases a burst of healing energy that washes over the carriage, seeking to unmake the magics holding everything together.
"Mac! They are all undead, the horses included. We must deal with them now!" She shouts while the golem seems to be uncertain of the course of action.
GAME: Jinks casts Haste. Caster Level: 7 DC: 18 GAME: Jinks spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE. <OOC> Aryia says, "Aryia will flying kick to 11,9 and try and beat the marrow out of the one with the whip if they're in range" GAME: Aryia spends ONE point of KI POOL. (Barkskin) GAME: Subduction rolls 11: (13)+11: 24 (Driver AoO) GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (6)+13+2+1: 22 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (14)+13+2+1: 30 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (5)+13+2+1: 21 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1-5: (11)+13+2+1+-5: 22 GAME: Aryia spends ONE point of KI POOL. GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (1)+13+2+1: 17 (EPIC FAIL) <OOC> Aryia says, "silver/magic/cold iron bludgeoning" GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (2)+3+2: 7 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (3)+3+2: 8 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (8)+3+2: 13 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (8)+3+2: 13 <OOC> Subduction says, "Give me an Acrobatics roll to maintain balance on the moving carriage" GAME: Aryia rolls acrobatics: (12)+16: 28
Just as the carriage does its drive by on MAC, Aryia breaths in deep, hesitating. But Jinks spurs her, and she charges out from the mists. The pugilist leaps onto the moving carriage, the motion accelerated as the Weave takes hold of her as she gets her hands on the skeleton with the whip. Fear shows in her visage as didn't want to feel the crack of it against her. The other skeleton manages to hit her, but she doesn't feel it, her completely focused on the passenger.
How does she deal with it?
By grabbing onto its ribcage and raising it up and throwing it against the back against the bench over and over again. Bits a pieces of bone cracking until it shatters with a final, fearful toss. She balances herself. Oh. Shit. She's on the bone's wild ride.
GAME: Subduction rolls 15: (14)+15: 29 (Rolling for MAC) GAME: Subduction rolls 10: (9)+10: 19 GAME: Subduction rolls 2d6+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Subduction rolls 2d6+8: (3)+8: 11 <OOC> Subduction says, "Carriage charges towards Jinks. Overrun. You can move out of the way or attempt to stop it." <OOC> Jinks says, "But Jinks will move." GAME: Subduction rolls 2d6: (4): 4 (Side blades) <OOC> Subduction says, "Alrighty, the driver of the carriage will poke at Aryia with its longsword." GAME: Subduction rolls 11: (3)+11: 14 GAME: Subduction rolls 11-5: (14)+11+-5: 20
The carriage rattles on past even as Aryia leaps onboard, and MAC delivers another haymaker to the zombie horses cranium as it continues on its way- its skull cracked by the blow, and gooey, grey matter hoozing from the wound. But still, its eyes wide, its tongue hanging out, it drives on. The carriage takes a sharp turn, almost throwing Aryia off- but she's able to keep her balance. Jinks dips out of the way, but the whirling scythe-blades on the wheels catch his thigh as it passes.
Meanwhile, aboard the carriage- the driver hangs onto the horses reigns with one hand, and with the other draws a longsword from its hip. It lunges towards Aryia, but she Mul'niessa is too deft, even in these unusual circumstances, and the strikes fall wide.
<OOC> Jinks says, "I'll grease 16,3, 17,3, 16,4, and 17,4. So that should get the horses." GAME: Jinks casts Grease. Caster Level: 7 DC: 16 <OOC> Jinks says, "Reflex" GAME: Subduction rolls 9: (19)+9: 28 GAME: Subduction rolls 9: (18)+9: 27"
Jinks continues his song, trying to keep track of everyone as they flit this way in that, wincing when the carriage's spikes clip his arm. He twists his hip and pushes with one knee, steering Enness further back as he flicks a gob of something from a pouch to the ground. It's hard to see the grease with all the moisture already in the air and not-seeing is disbelieving; the skeletal team don't so much as misstep.
<OOC> Seyardu says, "moving to 12,8, and another channel energy targetting undead!" GAME: Seyardu rolls 4d6: (24): 24 GAME: Thurid rolls 3: (12)+3: 15 GAME: Thurid rolls 3: (19)+3: 22 GAME: Thurid rolls 3: (18)+3: 21 GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (13)+5: 18 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty, one horse takes full damage and goes down.">/pre> Seyardu steadies herself on her feet as the carriage goes barreling past her, striking at the others and chasing them down. She sprints after them, holding out the holy symbol in one hand, as it radiates a near overpowering aura of divine energy that envelops the carriage. "Return to the realms beyond, and trouble these lands no longer!" She shouts, bracing herself in case they turn her way. <pre>GAME: Aryia rolls acrobatics: (10)+16: 26 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (17)+13+2+1: 33 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (15)+13+2+1: 31 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (3)+13+2+1: 19 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1-5: (13)+13+2+1+-5: 24 GAME: Aryia spends ONE point of KI POOL. GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (5)+13+2+1: 21 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (3)+3+2: 8 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (6)+3+2: 11 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (8)+3+2: 13 GAME: Jinks rolls 2d4: (3): 3 (Gallant Inspiration, 19->22) GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (12)+3+2: 17 GAME: Aryia rolls reflex+1: (13)+12+1: 26
Aryia holds onto the back of the seat as she keeps her footing, her dipping and dodging out of the way of the sword that's aimed at her. She glances over her shoulder as she passes by her team. A glance to the driver and back to the team, she notes she was turning back. Okay. Leave them (un)alive for now so that she wouldn't be seperated.
She shoves the skeleton off her to focus on what's in front of her. She hops up onto the carriage, her slamming a foot down into the bones again, and again, and again. She almost slips off, but a quick word from Jinks redirects her focus and she BREAKS through, bones holding things together unraveling and snapping in a spray.
She looks down at what she was knee deep in.
Intellectually, her lunch rolls up to her mouth, but the carriage abruptly lurches to a hault, and she's flung out.
Coupled with her boots, she flails her arms about until she lands on her feet, she sliding to a halt none too far away.
Her leg was covered up to the knee in blood and guts.
She loses her lunch.
GAME: Thurid rolls 13: (10)+13: 23 GAME: Thurid rolls 8: (9)+8: 17
Aryia's assault on the carriage causes it to near break in half- the seats crack off, sending Aryia tumbling to the gorund- though she's nimble enough to land on her feet. The Skeleton is not so lucky, it lands flat on its spine.
The snapping bones frees the horse, which rears up and bucks, wrenching itself free of the shattered harness that ties it to its re-dead companion.
And then the carriage shudders. Blood oozing from the cracks in its bony exterior. Foul-smelling fluids gush from where its wheels meet the hull, and then the wheels break off, pushed out by tendrils of coiled, leathery entrails. One of them lashes out towards Aryia, bony spurs spinning as it strikes at her. The back wheels perform a similarly grotesque display as the carriage begins to rear up on fleshy appendages.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Zombie horse will charge Seyardu" GAME: Thurid rolls 15+2: (1)+15+2: 18 (EPIC FAIL)
The freed horse wrenches itself free from this emerging monstrosity, and then begins to bound across the grass towards this source of painful positive energy- teeth gnashing and mouth foaming as it rears up just before reaching the Silverscale- the nightmare slams its hooves into the dirt before her and gnashes at her with yellowed teeth.
The skeletal driver pulls itself up onto its feet, its hood hanging back off its skull now, and it's jaw clatters as it walks around the malformed thing that had been the carriage towards Aryia, dragging the tip of its longsword along the ground.
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20+10+2: (19)+10+2: 31 GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20+5+2: (20)+5+2: 27 GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20+5+2: (16)+5+2: 23 (Confirm) GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d8+3+2: (3)+3+2: 8 GAME: Seyardu rolls 3d8+15: (7)+15: 22
Seyardu flinches as the horse charges up next to her, and she steps backwards, before bringing the weapon down on the undead beast's side, tearing through the flank as she tore it backwards through the skin.
<OOC> Aryia says, "+2 imp trip feat, +1 haste, +2 song" GAME: Aryia rolls cmb+2+2+1: (12)+13+2+2+1: 30 GAME: Aryia uses an AoO! 5 remaining. GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (13)+13+2+1: 29 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (7)+3+2: 12 <OOC> Aryia says, "moving to carrriage" GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (7)+13+2+1: 23 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (13)+13+2+1: 29 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1-5: (20)+13+2+1+-5: 31 (THREAT) <OOC> Aryia says, "confirming" GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1-5: (3)+13+2+1+-5: 14 <OOC> Subduction says, "Carriage is not subject to crits." GAME: Aryia spends ONE point of KI POOL. GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (19)+13+2+1: 35 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (7)+3+2: 12 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (12)+3+2: 17 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (7)+3+2: 12 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (9)+3+2: 14
Aryia's eyes widen as the carriage becomes a grotesue amalgamation of flesh and sinew. She nearly throws up once more, but she keeps her head in to dodge out of the way of the bone spikes. The skeleton comes up to deal with her, but she bashes at its knee with a sweep of the leg and a crunch of a falling heel. With that dealt with, she slams her fist into the mass of flesh.
It... goes elbow deep. She gags. But the pugilist hops up higher onto a bone spur and lays into the flesh, fueled by a deep seated desire to make it back alive, and fear at whatever unholy creation this thing was.
Down, down it gets pounded into the earth. Until it stills back to lifelessness once more. She's up to her hips and shoulders in the stuff.
The mute loses the rest of her lunch.
GAME: Subduction rolls 15: (8)+15: 23 GAME: Subduction rolls 15: (2)+15: 17 GAME: Subduction rolls 10: (13)+10: 23 GAME: Subduction rolls 10: (16)+10: 26 GAME: Subduction rolls 1d4+7: (4)+7: 11 GAME: Subduction rolls 1d6+3: (2)+3: 5 GAME: Subduction rolls 1d6+3: (3)+3: 6
The horse reels back as Seyardu's polearm cuts deep into its rotting flesh, peeling strips off down to the bone. It oozes rather than bleeds, with no heart to pump its coagulating blood. It steps in, nickering and rearing up. It lunges in, teeth chomping down on Seyardu's shoulder- powerful jaws buckling the metal of her breastplate and crushing her shoulder. It's hooves follow up the attack, striking her once, and then twice in the midriff.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Driver stands, provoking." GAME: Aryia uses an AoO! 4 remaining. GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (19)+13+2+1: 35 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (3)+3+2: 8 GAME: Thurid rolls 11: (17)+11: 28 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d8+4: (4)+4: 8
The skeleton gradually pulls it back up off the floor again, broken bones trembling as it barely manages to stagger back upright- Not helped by Aryia stomping on its already weakened leg and snapping it off at the knee. It swings its sword in a wide arc, slicing into Aryia's arm even as she looses her lunch.
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20+10: (20)+10: 30 GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20+10: (19)+10: 29 (confirm) GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20+5: (4)+5: 9 GAME: Seyardu rolls 3d8+18+9+6: (13)+18+9+6: 46 <OOC> Thurid says, "The horse is now two halves of a horse."
The undead horse rears up and strikes at the silver sith-makar, buffeting her backwards after nearly crushing her shoulder with it's mouth.
The cleric grips her polearm again, and this time, plunges it directly through it's torso. With a grunt, she lifts up the front of the undead beast, before the adamantine blade and weight proves to be too much, and it tears back up and out of the horse's skull, leaving it nearly in two pieces.
GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (11)+13+2+1: 27 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (2)+13+2+1: 18 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (8)+13+2+1: 24 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1-5: (6)+13+2+1+-5: 17 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0+2+1: (4)+13+2+1: 20 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (5)+3+2: 10 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (12)+3+2: 17 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d6+3+2: (4)+3+2: 9
The movement next to Aryia's feet makes her punch down against the skull, her nausea causing a sharp pain to flare across her arm. She's rattled, more so than the bones in front of her. Though, she does catch Seyardu performing a finisher that Kor would be proud of. A fact that she would appreciate in another life. But, it did inspire her to give two quick jabs to the skeletons torso, pick it up, then scatter it into the ground with a silent shout.
She wipes at her face, breathing heavily while looking around... what other nightmares were there?
Aside from the sickening smell of death and decay, nothing remains to threaten the group for the time being. Though closer inspection of the remains of the carriage, as grisly a task as that is, reveals scraps of cloth, shredded boots, cups, hats, traveling gear.
Curiously, none of these undead seem to have shown any signs of intelligence- and yet, such a fanciful contraption is not likely to emerge from a random confluence of necromantic energies.
Seyardu takes a moment to brush the blood and viscera away from her face, she looks around for any remaining threats, but finds none for the time being and she relaxes, looking at the others.
"Is everyone alright?" She asks, stepping closer to the remains of the carriage. And she sighs. "The fact they would do something like this, it is good they are no more. We should, gather what things are recognizeable, so they may be returned to families, if possible. And, we should burn the remains here."
After picking through the remains, somewhat girded now that her lunch was gone, she shudders and throws some of the gore to the ground. She ambles over to Seyardu, positively reeking of death and decay. " I'm fine... fuck this is so gross..." She nods in agreement, looking pale in the face. "I can go run and grab the guard so they can see this shit." <Handspeech>
Aryia is able to go fetch the guard in short order, while Seyardu sets about giving the remains something approaching a dignified funeral pyre.
When that middle aged captain comes back, he barely manages to avoid loosing his own lunch, covering his face with a rag retrieved from a back pocket as he assesses the site of the battle.
He agrees his people will look into the trail, and see if they can get to the bottom of where this undead monstrosity came from.
Combatty
Map: https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mtc4uyr4iia"
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 5 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
20 Skeletal Driver 1
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>> 19 Aryia 6 <<
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12 MAC-B1G 1 Flat-footed (4 rnds active); Titan Armor (5
rnds active)
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6 Bone Carriage 1
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6 Zombie Horse 1
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4 Jinks 1
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4 Seyardu 1
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==============================================================================
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| Name | CHP (T) | HP |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| Aryia.........| 67 | 75 |
| Jinks.........| 42 | 46 |
| MAC-B1G.......| 110 | 110 |
| Seyardu.......| 54 | 76 |
-End Scene-