Charn Excursion, part 1

Plot: Charn Excursion

Level Range: 6-10

GM: Kisaiya

Participants: Hun'rar, Kira, Sasha, Smythly, Zarr

Summary:

The recent comments by Charn directed toward Alexandria has stirred up some ill will within the area around Hextus. Word has filtered along that a group of people intend to launch a raid. Some concerned citizens feel that it might be best to stop them before they do. That's where you come in, you adventurers have been hired by the concerned citizens.

As a note: If this doesn't wrap on this night, I'll be doing the subsequent ones on the following night or Friday at worst. I would like to wrap this before the weekend.

Log of Part 1:

The ship's hold is a bit cramped, and the entire situation was very rushed. That's the life of the adventurer though. The sound of the winter sea outside rolls by, the ship pitches up as it crests another wave and with a rumbling sound comes down the other side. The sound of rain pounds the decking overhead and a bark of thunder can be heard even down below decks. The yell of sailors as they pull lines and loose others. It's a storm alright.

"They shouldn't be that bad this inward to land, but that's the weather for ya." The man at the table grumbles. You are all seated at it, with the weighted cups half way full and still threatening to slosh and slide from the cresting waves. "Look, I'm not mincing words with this one. We're going right to the point-"

The man slaps his hand down on the map, his finger pointing hard to a point of coastline. "This is where we'll be landing. It's not going to be pretty and we'll need all of ya to /be prepared/ for it to be rough. There's a cave, our scouts have said it runs five miles in before splitting, you take the right path." He taps farther along the map.

"Right here, that's the branch. You take the /right/ path. That will drop you out here." tap-tap "You'll come out of the cave within a days march of Hextus." He looks around at the group of you, "They're preparing to move soon. We counted at least seventeen of them at that camp preparing." Another tap nearer to Hextus, "Maybe more. We gotta be clear on this, we /know/ they're coming for Alexandria. They're coming for /OUR/ people. Those Four who rescued those slaves."

He nods, "We're not going to let that happen. Questions?"

Sasha says, "Is there going to be a way to talk them out of attacking?" Yup, she's blunt."

The man shakes his head, looking with his one good eye at Sasha, "I doubt it. Everything the scouts have said, they've whipped themselves into a frenzy. Right fanatical even."

Kira dropped everything she was doing (though not quite literally; she set the basket down nicely) once she learned of what could happen and that they had a chance to stop it from happening. "Of course there is. There's always a better way," she turns her smile to Sasha. "We're here to stop the violence, and I know we will."

The man nods his head, looking to Kira then, "You're welcome to try of course. Just - don't hold your breath."

The stoic goblin paladin of Reos, that's Smyhtly, is listening. Listening and nodding, of course.

"Of course. We will do what must be done," he adds.

For himself, the scarlet Makar snorts. It sounds like a cross between a growl and a tea-kettle's hiss-- a rough chuckle as Zarr sneers. "Then gut them, spear them, and leave them for the blood-fish," he replies, wooden stool creaking as he leans back. Tail blades rattling, he chuffs a steamy breath into the air from his nostrils. "Drag wayward kinsmen home by flappy ear-things. Sssimple."

Hun'rar nods to Kira "Talking it out would be preferable but I will prepare my shield for if does not. Either way it sounds like a hike so better soon than later, right?" the heavily armored knight adds with a smile.

Kira nods, though her smile dims at talk of gutting. She takes a deep breath and assures the man, "We will stop them from hurting anyone, and I'm sure we can do that without hurting anyone, either."

Sasha looks to Kira. "We will stop the violence, Kira. But if they won't be swayed from violence.....we will protect Alexandria."

Another holler from above, and then a knock on the door followed by a person bursting through. "Haffel, we see the cove. Sea's rough, we'll only be able to send them on the longboats - no way can we get in close with the way the winds have been hitting us.

Haffel turns back to you all, "I hope you're ready then. Grab some extra rations, strong rowers get nice and limber. Oh-" He drags his finger along the map up to a spot near the Desolation. "-that's where we'll pick you up. It's a four day march, but it's the best spot we have since you'll probably have some pursuit on the way out. Two days by horse, we'll be waiting for you." He looks you over again, his mouth setting hard with a look to each of you in turn.

"Good. Remember though, this is for our people too. Alexandrian citizens, Adventurers, /Heroes/. They set slaves free." He scowls.

GAME: Hun'rar rolls strength: (10)+6: 16

GAME: Zarr rolls Athletics: (14)+6: 20

GAME: Smythly rolls Athletics: (5)+-1: 4

GAME: Kira rolls athletics: (15)+11: 26

GAME: Sasha rolls strength: (10)+0: 10

"If we get the chance, maybe we can free more. No one should be enslaved," Kira remains optimistic, and tries to be helpful even if she's not a sailor. Oars aren't hard to figure out and move. She hopes.

Zarr snorts again, rolling his eyes before rising, pressing out into the positively cheerful weather. Just a bit chill-- plenty of welcome rain! Cannot imagine why the other are so miserable...

As for rowing, the Makar is less certain. Shrugging, he simply slides into the ocean behind the boat, gripping it fiercely. Long tail quivering, he readies himself to help propel the craft in his own unique way-- tailswim, with oars to aid.

Sasha is quite possibly the weakest of the bunch, so she tries....and tries...to use the oars. Sadly, she's not quite as strong as the rest....physically, anyways.

Hun'rar eis no sailor but he has a dragons strength and pulls on the oar with long powerful strokes. "Just don't want to go overboard..." he mutters looking at the water.

"HEAVE!" Comes the call "HO!" comes the reply, one burst at a time, short and quick, without a sea shanty. Long gone are the slow cadences of Haul on the Bowline or other such songs to keep people in time, this is the point for short work. And the longboat is lowered. Immediately the next calls comes up, "READY!"

Return calls one after another, the oars are there, and so it starts.

"-What- will we do with a -drunken- sailor?"

"-What- will we do with a -drunken- sailor?"

"-What- will we do with a -drunken- sailor, -early- in the -mornin'- 'in."

Every hard beat comes with another stroke from the rowers and the Adventurers (the ones behind the longboat or in) are all expected to keep up. Several of you do so with ease, though a couple also struggle to do so.

Smythly especially finds his muscles burning from the strenuous work and a pulled muscle(-1 to attack for the day).

Sasha by contrast is just worn by it (-3 to Athletics and Strength checks till you can rest).

Sasha wasn't meant to do this sort of stuff.......ugh. So she puts her oars on the boat and just tries not to get in the way....

The slither of sand under the keel of the longboat and it comes ashore, people jump out, hauling it up further. There's a good chance those without the ability to acclimate find themselves drenched to the bone. But there's the cave ahead, no sooner had you all piled out of the boat, that it's pulled back out to sea. The song starts again and they're pulling for the boat, more than a couple of the sailors looks worn down, but it's their job and at least now they can use the tide to their advantage.

Sasha gets out of the boat and sits on a rock. "ugh....I'd say I'm a cleric, not an oarsman....but that's obvious." She then rubs her face. "Give me a quick break and We'll get moving."

Zarr's black armor gleams in the wet, but the Makar warrior looks positively refreshed from the seaward dip. "Sssssssk!" he proclaims, rattling from snout to tail, grinning toothily-- glancing at his fellows quizzically. "If you must," he says, recognition dawning with a noncommittal rumble. Another quick rattle-- a spray of seawater-- then he gestures towrds the cavern. "Hssk. Best to rewarm outside of wind's teeth. You are not properly scaled for the weather."

Hun'rar gathers his own gear up, unslinging his shield and strapping it to his arm. "Right, five minutes and we go forward? Don't want to be out here too long." he notes looking around.

Kira hops out of the boat and looks over the wet shore and darker but less wet cave. "I think he's right. It would be better to rest in shelther, and we're going that way..." She looks to Sasha, with some concern. "If you can make it there alright?"

"Weh," says Smythly as he shakes himself out with the rowing accomplished.

His form is briefly suffused with a orangish, fiery glow.

"Better," he says.

The cave was even a hair warmer to boot, you step inside and move a good hundred yards in out of the rain. The sound of it howling, the storm that's brewing is clearly a good one. Even the sound of that fades as you progress in deeper, soon it's actually nicely warm with the heat of the very ground, the mountain above you and whatever is below. The heat continues to rise the further you progress into the caves, with Kira and Smythly in the lead and the rest of you in a mish-mash behind. A sound catches you all from ahead, something earth-ly, and even those of you that can't see as well in the dark notice it lightening with a bright orange hue.

A little further yet and you all walk into a cavern with the source of the light in sight. The movement of lava (or would it be magma because you're in a cave? No matter!) the color bright and casting enough light to light everything. At the far side of the cavern is the passageways you were told of. One to the left and the other to the right. An earthen bridge right through the center, wide enough for two at a time, and the orange river of death flows underneath it.

GAME: Sarcis rolls 8: (7)+8: 15 to Kisaiya

GAME: Smythly rolls Perception: (19)+3: 22

GAME: Kira rolls perception: (3)+17: 20

GAME: Sasha rolls perception: (10)+4: 14

GAME: Hun'rar rolls perception: (11)+0: 11

Sasha says, "he did say the right path."

Coming to an immediate halt, Smythly wordlessly holds a hand up. He' sclearly sensed... /something/. He's staring at at some branches, apparently, a frown on his face. Slowly, his hand moves to the haft of his sledgehammer.

"Oh my. Everyone watch your step..." Kira warns everyone of what might be obvious. She starts across, not too quickly, though slows, peering at the split in the paths across the bridge. She then stops when Smythly does, to ask, quietly, "Do you see something, too?" It's dark, though, and she just has human eyes, so isn't sure exactly what she sees.

Hun'rar looks up "What our step for what? Shakey bridge or something? Looks sturdy enough to me." he comments raising the visor of his helmet and squinting. "Nice to have the light from the magma though."

Sasha says, "Hang on, Hun'rar. Smythly's noticed something...."

"...don't you see it?" Smythly's eyes have narrowed., "Some sort of... spider? A scorpion? I see legs. Be ready."

He's got his hammer out and ready to go, but he's not making an overt threatening move yet. Just staring. Like a good paladin.

Kira's smile tightens. "I see..something... Not sure what. It could just be someting living in the cave. We'd be in it's house... Maybe we should say hello, let it know we're not here to hurt it" So she moves forward. Not quick or threatening, but closer.

Hun'rar looks at the others and slowly draws his sword. "Well do we cross or draw out whatever it is?" he says looking in the wrong place. He still doesn't have any idea.

As Smythly makes it about half way across, Hun'rar and Sasha no longer have to wonder what it looks like as with a start it appears next to them, It has claws and a tail with a rather nasty spike on the end of it. All out of crystal!

It's claws are raised high, it's tail up in a high arch ready to strike at the pair.

GAME: You roll initiative for Scorpion Thing: Roll: 20 + Bonus: 0 = Total: 20

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 20.

It is now Scorpion Thing's turn! Hun'rar is next!

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 17.

It is now Hun'rar's turn! Smythly is next!

GAME: Note Flat-footed on Hun'rar ended.

GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon10-2: (17)+11+-2: 26

GAME: Hun'rar rolls will: (20)+11: 31 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)

GAME: Hun'rar rolls 1d10+13: (4)+13: 17

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 15.

It is now Smythly's turn! Kira is next!

GAME: Note Flat-footed on Smythly ended.

Hun'rar raises his sword, wreathing it in purple flame and strikes at the scorpion creature with the long blade. "It... it might be an illusion." he calls out to the others. "Sword went through and it didn't react."

GAME: Hun'rar rolls knowledge/arcana: (14)+12: 26

The creature in front of Hun'rar doesn't react at all, or move, just stands there posturing.

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 12.

It is now Kira's turn! Zarr is next!

GAME: Note Flat-footed on Kira ended.

SUDDENLY A BEAR DROPS FROM THE SKY and lands near to Hun'rar and Sasha.

"Muddy," yells Smyhtly, "get it!"

r The great big brown bear just sort of roars. Tiredly.

It's winter, okay?

"Come on now, we don't want to hurt you. You're just innocent wildlife." She holds her hands low, trying to be nonthreatening. Kira looks back at the party, seeing it appear behind them all next to Sasha and Hun'rar. "Woh! That moves quick, well, if it's not really there let's keep moving." She beckons for the three of them to cross.

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 10.

It is now Zarr's turn! Sasha is next!

GAME: Note Flat-footed on Zarr ended.

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 6.

It is now Sasha's turn! Scorpion Thing is next!

GAME: Note Flat-footed on Sasha ended.

As the bear comes in, Sasha walks forward and pokes her staff at the thing. When it goes right through, she just walks through. "I'm guessing that is there to scare off others."

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 1d4: (3): 3

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 16: (6)+16: 22

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 9: (18)+9: 27

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 9: (3)+9: 12

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 9: (16)+9: 25

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 2d6+3: (5)+3: 8

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 2d6+3: (9)+3: 12

After Kira turns and suggests everyone comes back, three smaller ones come out from behind rocks. The small scorpion-like creatures rush toward her and make noises like nails on glass. They lash out at her, cutting in with their claws.

The image behind Sasha seems to shimmer for a moment with a burst of purple energy. And out of it a creature exactly like the illusion comes rushing out from behind. Attacking at Hun'rar, this one is easily three times the size of the smaller ones. It's claws snap at empty air, missing Hun'rar with a shriek of glass scratching glass.

GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7-2: (4)+16+7+-2: 25

GAME: NEW ROUND!

Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 20.

It is now Scorpion Thing's turn! Hun'rar is next!

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 17.

It is now Hun'rar's turn! Smythly is next!

GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon10-2: (2)+11+-2: 11

"Come on, I think it's sa-AIEE!" Kira's surprised when the not real thing suddenly reveals.. a real one inside it? But her squeak is more from the little ones that suddenly lash at her. "Wait! We're not here to hurt you!" One stinger tail or pointy leg that she managed to avoid is grabbed hold of. "Please stop."

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 15.

It is now Smythly's turn! Kira is next!

Hun'rar catches an attack on his shield and goes in for another attack on the real thing this time, although his sword just plain misses this time. "Guess this one is real."

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 12.

It is now Kira's turn! Zarr is next!

GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+5: (18)+16+7+5: 46

GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+5: (20)+16+7+5: 48

"We don't want to hurt you..." Kira states firmly to the one she's holding, and the others, even as she wraps a leg or two around a tail to hold them all for a second with one hand. Her other pulls at her rough-woven robe, pulling out strands from it that magically stay together as a rope. All for wrappling up the tail and legs together so they can't poke anyone. They're sharp!

GAME: Smythly rolls 1d20+13: (15)+13: 28

GAME: Smythly rolls 1d10+7: (3)+7: 10

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 10.

It is now Zarr's turn! Sasha is next!

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 6.

It is now Sasha's turn! Scorpion Thing is next!

GAME: Sasha refreshes spells.

"Oh, no you don't!" Smythly is rather horrified about these things, of course, and Kira is definitely making good progress in dsiabling one of them. Muddy steps into try to hold it in place while the goblin cracks a carapace across its side.

GAME: Sasha casts Forbid Action. Caster Level: 8 DC: 15

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 3: (2)+3: 5

GAME: NEW ROUND!

Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 20.

It is now Scorpion Thing's turn! Hun'rar is next!

GAME: Hun'rar rolls will: (12)+11: 23

Sasha....after something drops right in front of her, backs up a few feet and just yells 'STOP!'. The....thing...seems to stop at the command.

GAME: Sasha rolls will: (10)+11: 21

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 7: (6)+7: 13

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 7: (14)+7: 21

GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7-2: (2)+16+7+-2: 23

The giant creature in front of Sasha and Hun'rar seems very confused for a moment, seeming unable to actually do what it wants. Instead it backs up and makes the sound of screeching glass-on-glass again, a sound that's mimiced behind both Hun'rar and Sasha, the sound coming up faster, faster and... Well, a quick glance back and you both realize it was just a ghost sound. Something made to perhaps distract you, but nothing else.

The other two, one of them takes a swipe at Smyth, making a scratching sound as the crystal scores across his breastplate. The other takes a swing at Kira and its little glass mandibles glitter as it suddenly seems to know it's going to get violated and ties up.

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 17.

It is now Hun'rar's turn! Smythly is next!

GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon10-2: (7)+11+-2: 16

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 15.

It is now Smythly's turn! Kira is next!

GAME: Smythly rolls 1d20+13: (20)+13: 33

GAME: Smythly rolls 1d20+13: (2)+13: 15

Kira wrapped one up just in time to get sharp-pointy-thing'd at again. "Stop that!" She doubts they can understand her, but she can't help but say it. She grabs hold of this one, too, looking from it to the big one. A though comes to her and her smile dims alot. "Oh no... I hope this isn't some kind of nest. Are these babies?" They seem to look like the big one, only smaller. That's worrisome.

GAME: Smythly rolls 1d10+7: (9)+7: 16

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 12.

It is now Kira's turn! Zarr is next!

"DOUBT IT, KIRA. They're animals trying to EAT US. Doubt we'll have much--," and then it's /shattered/b y his hammer blow and he seems caught off guard.

"Wait, what?"

GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+5: (11)+16+7+5: 39

GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+5: (1)+16+7+5: 29 (EPIC FAIL)

Hun'rar raises his shield and presses on, battling with the creature as he swing his sword. Not hitting anything vital but at least keeping it busy.

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 10.

It is now Zarr's turn! Sasha is next!

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 6.

It is now Sasha's turn! Scorpion Thing is next!

Kira winces as the one is shattered, and that's more than enough to make the one wriggling in her hand avoid getting completely hog... scorpion? tied up like the other one. She doesn't blame Smythly, or anyone else for it, though. They are just defending themselves.

GAME: Sasha rolls ranged: (14)+8: 22

GAME: Sasha rolls 4d8: (28): 28

GAME: Sasha casts Spear of Purity. Caster Level: 8 DC: 16

GAME: NEW ROUND!

Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 20.

It is now Scorpion Thing's turn! Hun'rar is next!

GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon10-2: (11)+11+-2: 20

GAME: Hun'rar rolls 1d10+11: (1)+11: 12

Taking a breath, Sasha seems to throw something at the creature....a ball of light. When it strikes the creature, it only makes a partial beam of light, since the creature struck wasn't a demon.

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 16: (18)+16: 34

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 3d8+12: (16)+12: 28

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 5: (5)+5: 10

With the shattering of the one by Smythly, the creature turns and runs the other way, Hun'rar getting in a shot at its retreating form. Unfortunately it doesn't seem quite as effective, scratching over the surface of it heavily but not quite breaking through its exterior. It makes out a shrieking noise as it runs away from Hun'rar and there's a burst of purple~

~before it appears near to Kira and continues its charge while shrieking at her with a noise of glass cracking and grinding. It uses a razor sharp stinger to arch over top and stick hard into her before retracting it - ready to attack any of the others as looks about ready to move toward the tied up one.

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 17.

It is now Hun'rar's turn! Smythly is next!

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 15.

It is now Smythly's turn! Kira is next!

Hun'rar grimaces under his helmet and starts across the bridge to his prey. He holds his shield high to take blows on it but doesn't have the time to swing.

Kira's absent thought before is still nagging her, even more than her usual avoidance of harm. Well, avoidance of dealing harm, anyways. After the large one suddenly moved and ...re-appeared to slash her, and also seems focused on the one she tied up, she decides to risk a step further. She, comparatively slowly, lowers the one she holds to the ground before the large one and releases it before attempting to back away from both, or all three, as best she can.

(New BB message (3/113) posted to 'Plot Announcements' by Grush: Lagoon Lurker Part 2 (CLOSED))

"We really didn't come here to harm you..." And it's true. It's just a matter of Kira trying to convince anyone of that, which is usually the hardest part.

GAME: Note -1 LoH added to Kira.

GAME: Kira spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS.

GAME: Kira rolls 6d6: (21): 21

Kira also grants herself some of Althea's grace as she hopes to convey Her peace.

GAME: Kira rolls sense motive: (6)+8: 14

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 12.

It is now Kira's turn! Zarr is next!

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 10.

It is now Zarr's turn! Sasha is next!

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Four - Init 6.

It is now Sasha's turn! Scorpion Thing is next!

GAME: Sasha rolls sense motive: (8)+4: 12

Sensing that Kira has something going here, Smyhtly frowns and then backs up slowly so that he's in front of her.

For now, he's being watcbful.

keeping back as the larger one comes forward, Sasha seems to ponder something. "Kira....this may be a mother with her children...."

GAME: NEW ROUND!

Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 20.

It is now Scorpion Thing's turn! Hun'rar is next!

GAME: Kira rolls reflex: (3)+17: 20

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 4d6: (11): 11

GAME: Smythly rolls ref: (16)+6: 22

The creature, as they retreat steps forward, over the smaller ones, moving to stand up next to them also means that it's pretty much right back in Smythly's face again. It makes a sort of tinkling rattling noise as shards expand outward from it and with a crack there's an explosion of shards outward. A slew of sharp razors shooting out toward Kira and Smythly as it leans back toward the two on the ground, the one small one that Kira grappled rolling and then flipping up onto its feet and hiding behind the larger one.

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 17.

It is now Hun'rar's turn! Smythly is next!

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 15.

It is now Smythly's turn! Kira is next!

GAME: Smythly rolls Intimidate: (11)+6: 17

Kira ducks the shards, then she nods to Sasha. "I think this is their home. They're just protecting their nest and her her young. We should go, without threatening them any more. Maybe they won't follow far, or at all." She steps back more, still facing them and not running, but backing away. Smythly looked like he was hit by the shards, though, ans she glances to him, too. "Are you alright?"

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 12.

It is now Kira's turn! Zarr is next!

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 10.

It is now Zarr's turn! Sasha is next!

GAME: Kisaiya advances the initiative order.

Round Five - Init 6.

It is now Sasha's turn! Scorpion Thing is next!

For the moment, Smythly is holding back, hammer up. HE's been able to avoid most of the harm so far and he's yelling at the creatures shrilly. "Get back. Stay back. Go away!"

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 6: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL)

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 6: (15)+6: 21

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 6: (19)+6: 25

GAME: Kisaiya rolls 2d6+12: (6)+12: 18

As you retreat, it slings shards at each of you. The crystals whistling through the air and smashing ineffectively... except for the one it throws at Sasha. It seems to be more interesting in sticking near the smaller one that's squirming and making a horrible screeching noise while rolling on the ground and tied up.

GAME: Kira rolls perception: (3)+17: 20

GAME: Smythly rolls Perception: (6)+3: 9

GAME: Sasha rolls perception: (20)+4: 24

As you all retreat furhter down the passage way you find yourselves tossed back into darkness with the glow of orange fading. Soon it starts to grow colder again. Some four hours have already passed, you know that even after you get out of this cave it's another 12 hours or so to the encampment. Thankfully, you should have some time to rest when you get out of this tunnel - or perhaps just before you do. Using the natural shadows to hide yourselves. Either way, it would be best to get to the end of the tunnel first and see.

The wind howls on the otherside, the storm still vicious and seeming to only be building. Kira is one of the first to notice it, the slew of dead on the other side. Sith that all look tortured with scars upon their bodies that range in every language - curses and insults. Sasha spots one that is still alive. It takes a few moments to pull him back into the cave, getting him out of the howling wind and pouring rain. "Ssa, don't hurtss. Iss good! No hurtss. Pleassse. No hurtss."

The Sith covers its face, holding up its clawed hands, scars across its body. As you watch, another insult carves its way into his skin. Whatever magic is effecting him is still under way. He cries out and shakes, grasping at his arm where the wounds open and seal into the word DESERTER. "Noo. Pleeassse. No more!" He cries, holding his hands over his eyes.

It takes a bit of time, but you finally learn from him that there's two groups under way. One of them heading north toward Alexandria. The other never left, and the other - last he saw - is summoning "something". You only have so long though, only one of the tasks before you can be done. The other will have a chance to succeed.

Sasha, as the sith-makar gives the information on the groups, heals the sith-makar in typical clerical fashion, with her cure spells....een getting the 'deserter' word off of it's forearm. "There. Feeling better now?" She says softly. "We should go after the summoning group.....and stop the summoning..."

GAME: Sasha casts Cure Critical Wounds. Caster Level: 8 DC: 18

GAME: Sasha rolls 4d8+8: (22)+8: 30

As Sasha tries to heal it, further wounds start to slowly reappear. Every two scars she heals, another one rises up. It's like a fight in of itself. The Sith starts crying out after the first few moments. The pain had to be excruciating with the constant knit and reopening of wounds. And the seconds tick by, pouring your holy light into his wounds and making them heal and reopen. Until you get toward the last few. The branded words of SLAVE and WORTHLESS close up and... nothing.

You get the feeling that somewhere in there the initial spell might not have even been strong enough, but your faith is what pushed it through and over. The Sith leans back against the side of the rock wall, whimpering and rubbing where the scars once were.

No scars reappear. No pain to add to his already pained life.

Sasha takes a deep breath and lets it out. "You're coming back to Alexandria with us. There...you can return to your tribe....or return to a tribe...."

"Sssa." He says, amidst tears, burying his head still. "Ssa." A nod, and he looks up toward Sasha. Not directly at her, off to the side, away, down, but somehow still managing to give her the impression that his focus is on her. "My tribe iss dead."

Sasha says, "Then you shall find another tribe. But, we must get you back to Alexandria first....."