Stalking the Fel

Log Info

• Title: Stalking the Fel
• Emitter: Lorik
• Characters: Aegis Ftr3, Deak Clr5, Kaelthilas Rgr3, Iskandar Ftr2/Swb2, Desdemona Swb2, Sylvi Cav3, Vasanna Dru2
• Place: Felwood
• Time: April 25, 2018
• Summary: A group of adventurers go off to check on the Felwood. Hijinks ensue.
• APL: 4
• Encounter 1: 4 Lesser Fire Crab, 2 Tieflings, 1 Terror Wolf, 2 Unhallowed Zombies CR 5

The Felwood.

Its a nasty. Horrible. No good bad place. Full of demons and strange larva things and all sorts of other assorted nasty. Which of course means its a perfect place for two things. The servants of a corrupted demonic force to gather 'recruits' and the best place for adventures to stick their nose into someone else's business.

Namely said Servents Of A Horrible Corrupt Demon Force.

With that in mind a newcomer to the city has organized something. An adventure. An outing as it were to check to see if they can do something to curtail the spread of the corruption or even finds hints of its source. Well hits beyond the huge glowing hole in the sky.

I mean that is the obvious one.

The Guild of course pays well for this kind of mission, so weather for honor, for glory, for gold, or for the joy of being able to mock a shadow elf who isn't good with maps, people agreed to go with him.

Split into smaller teams, the initial foray into the wood has been...well...boring.

There are a lot of strange mushrooms. Plants. Odd rocks. But nothing has even tried to kill any of the small teams of intrepid explorers that have braved the wood. Lorik thinks this might just be a bust.

He gave everyone a meeting place to meet back up, a clearing near a few game trails. And he sits there, near a large bolder, looking at a map as he waits for others of the intrepid band to arrive so they can...go home empty handed.

Sigh.

Sylvi has arrived.

Iskandar steps into the clearing, bow in hand, and casts a brief scowl back at the foliage he emerged from. But a moment later the expression fades away and he lowers his bow so the end rests on the ground and then in turn rests his hands on top of the other end, like a walking stick.

Deak stands there looking around at the surroundings and at the others. He says, "Who wants to buddy up with a priest?"

The forest does not so much part as relent as it comes from it's lonely trek through the woods, for when the order was given to move apart and scout the forest, the behemoth of a War Golem went on it's own.

Branches snap and break with it's motion.

Somewhere, a whole log, rotten from the rain, is crushed underfoot.

Then it emerges, an errant leaf or twig stuck in it's armor from it's barreling press through the forest. Bark scraped from trees and leaving the stain of corruption against what might have been steel polished to a silver shine at one point.

For those who had strayed close to it when this venture first began, they will be treated once more to the eerie sound of organic metal working under it's fullplate, a dull echo of something magical and ancient, punctuated by heavy footfalls that press grass into dirt and leave an easy trail to follow.

Ever present is one massive hand on the greatsword it wears like a human might wear a longsword. Soon it stops as others appear, giving a slow swivel of it's expressionless helmet, dark slits in the front hiding away any semblance of a face.

It has no words for it's companions, only a watchful eye as it moves in on the Shadow Elf.

Sylvi may indeed be quite short but has her dutiful cat as a mount as she follows others through the woods. "Golly, seems like such a dark place. I bet a group of gnomes could make short work of that gloom ." she notes as she rides with an axe resting on her shoulder, the black panther she rides however seems much more aware of its surroundings, watching the bushes and trees.

The wood line stirs as dawn emerges. Dressed as if prepared for a skirmish, Kaelthilas is adorned in white vestments, well-kept scale, and a light cuirass which some might preclude to be poor gear for slinking about the woods. Yet, whether by skill or heritage, one moment the woods out his way seem clear and then the next he's trudging forward from a hundred feet out with straight back and militant stride. His presence perhaps lending credence to fireside stories of Llyransei armies in full gleaming regalia who have encircled an enemy force despite scouts and without notice.

"That way seems clear," Kaelthilas speaks in precise declaration as he enters the clearing, "Only mutated flora, a three-headed fox, and a songbird that laughs like jackal."

Pulling his waters skin from his belt he uncaps it and takes a swig before giving the machine a look of reproach for its lack subterfuge but recaps the skin without comment and looks to Lorik, "If we're to stay the evening we should move on from here. I'm not eager to sample fox or sparrow from this region."

Desdemona is grounded. There was a mutiny on her ship and she unfortunately decided to side with the captain, and take care of the cargo they already had instead of staying on board. She's been doing odd jobs here and there, but when she heard that she could earn a fair amount of coin by trapsing through some woods she was keen to sign up. Granted it's been some time since she's had to plow through woods, and it's... unplesant. There are twigs, mosses, mushrooms, tiny creatures and she forgot to read the part about there being demons in this place. Still, coin was coin.

Slipping into the clearing the 'legitimate airship merchant' wipes some sweat off of her brow and shakes her head. "Ya know, if we had a proper ship? We could have been in here an hour ago." Desdemona says to Sylvi, looking down at the gnome riding the panther with a smirk. "Sadly you can't keep one in your pocket." With a pause she notices the others joining and gestures in their direction. "That must be the one who hired us."

GAME: Deak rolls Perception: (20)+6: 26

GAME: Iskandar rolls perception: (20)+8: 28

GAME: Aegis rolls perception: (7)+4: 11

GAME: Sylvi rolls perception: (20)+2: 22

GAME: Desdemona rolls perception: (3)+7: 10

GAME: Kaelthilas rolls perception: (9)+10: 19

Iskandar readies an arrow and turns slowly this way and that. "Do you hear something?" He whispers.

Lorik looks up as the others make their way into the clearing, glancing around with a smile as the rest of them look just about as empty handed as he does. "Ah no luck for anyone then. That's a shame..." A sigh and a shake of his head. "...I agree though Kael, we shouldn't try to forage around here. I'm pretty sure I saw a mushroom trying to talk to me." A pause. "Well more scream for help but it was disturbing all in all."

The shadow elf sighs before he looks back over his shoulder though towards the forest edge. "...my sister is taking a bit to get here...let me go see if I can find her..." And so he starts off.

Just as Iskandar's sharp ears pick up something. Something approaching from the south. From deeper into the woods.

"Tst," the dawn elf gives a sharp sound to the group and reaches to tug on the lobe of his left ear as he pivots smoothly upon the balls of his feet and signals a direction deeper in the woods; towards the south. He draws no weapon but puts several paces of distance between he and the others in the group to assure a loose formation.

Deak nods to Iskandar, and looks toward the sound. He lays his hand upon the enameled holy symbol on his breastplate and casts a spell. At this everyone within 10 feet of him is surrounded with a sense of holy protection.

GAME: Deak casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16

Sylvi doesn't have anything to prepare but she does get a firm grip on her axe while comforting Thunder, he mount, with her other hand. "Something is coming, keep steady! The Knights of Happy Valley will solve this."

The War Golem turns at the warning, but not so much the sound, it's massive sword drawn as it turns, blade forward and resting over the fore of it's other arm as it waits to see what comes from the south.

Here Aegis stand stark still, blade at the ready, and in a trained knight's posture to receive an attack and counter.

Someone has taught this metal man proper warfare.

Desdemona already had her sword out, mostly because this place makes her feel uneasy. When the shadowelf starts talking she turns her head toward him, but everyone else starts getting spooked by something further in the woods. "Well that didn't take long." Not that she minds, if she's going to die a horrible death, than it might as well happen quickly. Reaching on her back she grabs her buckler and sets it into place. Despite being uncomfortable in the surroundings, she looks way too excited to be in battle.

Iskandar tilts his head to one side listening, then his eyes fly wide open. "It sounds like just what we've been looking for!" He begins to rush in that direction.

Through the trees a large Swiftclaw pounces into the clearing, jaws snapping, right where Lorik once sat on his boulder.

After the initial pounce, the creature stands up straighter, glancing about to see that its actual prey was not actually there. Vasanna's companion - Nahtatien - tilts his head to the side like a bird and then turns back toward the trees where a tall, dark elf figure emerges and frowns, arms crossed in front of her. A pout forms on her face and she glances about at the others gathered. "Really? Lorry left? That takes the fun out of everything."

Seeing the sudden shift of everyone's demeanor, she tenses, putting her hands up. "It was just me."

Talk is getting louder. Chattering of two beings in a harsh and foul language. What they are saying must be the greatest of evils. Plans that would make the hearts of lesser being quail in fright. Yes. They must be talking about the ultimate evil.

• TRANSLATED FROM ABYSSAL*

'Urgh. This is the worst. Do you think the boss will even pay us for this?'

'We're lucky if he doesn't just kill us outright.'

'Yeah. Well at least we found a few things to bring back right?'

'Yeah. Oh! Did you check out that trap we left up ahead?'

'I thought you did!'

Wait? Trap near the clearing? What trap near the clearing?!

"W-WOAH! VASA WATCH YOUR LIZARD!" The should from Lorik comes from off to the east. Apparently Nahtatien hit Lorik with his tail when he ran by and...

...well good news! Lorik found the trap.

What everyone else finds? Is something else entirely.

A small group bursts out of the treeline of the clearing, driven on by Lorik's shout and thump. A pair of reddish skinned humanoids with small horns and tails carrying crossbows. A few creatures that Kael is pretty sure were at one point fresh water crabs. Before the Felwood got hold of them and they grew to the size of a dog...and started spitting fire.

And in the lead a huge wolf. Black as midnight and eyes frozen and white. It snarls, and its voice seems to reverberate though ones soul.

Spoiler Alert Vasa. It wasn't you they heard.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Lorik has dropped a TIMESTOP!

Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Lorik to instruct you further.

For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 21.

It is now Kaelthilas' turn! Desdemona is next!

GAME: Kaelthilas rolls ranged-2: (5)+6+-2: 9

GAME: Kaelthilas rolls ranged-2: (9)+6+-2: 13

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 21.

It is now Desdemona's turn! FIRE CRAB BLAZER is next!

GAME: Vasanna rolls CompanionMelee: (9)+5: 14

Immediately as they exit the wood, a pair of white-fletched arrows zip danger-close to the group and impact somewhere in the trees behind the horde.

Kaelthilas stands with excellent poise. In a single motion he draws a longbow from at his lower back and begins feeding it arrows from the quiver to at his right shoulder. Hand to arrow. Arrow to bow. Bow to taught. Bow to Loose. Arrow at foe. Yet his haste or capability falls a bit short of the vaunted elven aim as he misses his foes but does so with excellent carriage.

GAME: Desdemona rolls weapon1: (11)+6: 17

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 20.

It is now FIRE CRAB BLAZER's turn! Aegis is next!

GAME: Desdemona rolls 1d6+2: (3)+2: 5

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 19.

It is now Aegis' turn! FIRE CRAB SNAPPY is next!

GAME: Aegis rolls weapon1: (14)+9: 23

GAME: Aegis rolls 2d6+9: (9)+9: 18

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 18.

It is now FIRE CRAB SNAPPY's turn! Vasanna is next!

GAME: Lorik rolls +3: (8)++3: 11

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

There is one reason that Desdemona chose airships over sea ships. Crabs. Their damn little pinchy claws and the beady eyes, she does not like them, even if she finds them tasty. Now that they're giant it's twice as unsettling to her. So she dashes forward with her sword and smirks. "Listen beastie." She says as hold her sword up before lunging forward and stabbing it in it's stupid crab mouth. "No one likes crabs!"

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 18.

It is now Vasanna's turn! Iskandar is next!

The sudden explosion of action draws no motion from the War Golem as ally and enemy alike are set into motion. Still, it sees Desdemona move in for the kill on a crab skittering forward, and as if picking up a baton in a relay of motion sets to what it was built for.

It brings War to the Wolf, taking two steps forward as the Fel Wolf leaps towards the metal man and finds a sweeping rake of the blade that sends it skittering sidelong, and allows for a shearing, cleaving backswing that cuts left to right, foot to head, carving through fur and fangs and and skull to send wolf-brains scattering over crab and tree, and a single wolf ear to land at the feet of Brack.

This done, it whirls about, bringing that blade back to the ready, maneuvering the sword to receive another attack.

GAME: Vasanna rolls 5: (4)+5: 9

GAME: Vasanna rolls weapon1: (6)+4: 10

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 16.

It is now Iskandar's turn! Brack The Tiefling is next!

GAME: Iskandar rolls weapon1: (3)+8: 11

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 13.

It is now Brack The Tiefling's turn! FIRE CRAB BLAAAAAZE-CLAAAAAAAAW is next!

GAME: Lorik rolls 3: (13)+3: 16

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 8.

It is now FIRE CRAB BLAAAAAZE-CLAAAAAAAAW's turn! Frack the Tiefling is next!

Iskandar pulls his arrow back and lets fly, hoping the tiefling is distracted enough from earlier shots that one more will catch him unaware. But his arrow also goes wild. Undeterred the Giantborn starts to thread his way through the fight for a closer shot.

GAME: Lorik rolls 5: (14)+5: 19

GAME: Lorik rolls 5: (13)+5: 18

Quite convinced that she had totally and utterly surprised the group, Vasanna completely missed the Abyssal speaking group approaching. It wasn't until they burst through the clearing that she actually believed it wasn't her own surprise attack that got everyone riled.

Taken aback, she draws her rapier and rushes forward toward the crab attacking Desdemona, Naht right on her heels. The Swiftclaw shrieks in challenge, and then immediately has to dodge out of the way as Vasanna darts to the side and cuts off his best angle. Naht's jaws snap at empty air and he peels to the side. Vasanna, realizing she just got in Naht's way, tries to course correct. That, in turn, throws her own swing off. Stumbling, the blade hits only grass and she lets out a grunt of frustration.

Kaydin has arrived.

Kaydin goes Kultari Road <N>.

Kaydin has left.

GAME: Lorik rolls 2d4: (2): 2

GAME: Lorik rolls 2d2: (4): 4

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 7.

It is now Frack the Tiefling's turn! Deak is next!

GAME: Lorik rolls 3: (15)+3: 18

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 7.

It is now Deak's turn! FIRE CRAB SPOT is next!

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 5.

It is now FIRE CRAB SPOT's turn! Sylvi is next!

GAME: Deak casts Prayer. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16

GAME: Lorik rolls 5: (20)+5: 25

GAME: Lorik rolls 5: (7)+5: 12

GAME: Lorik rolls 5: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)

GAME: Lorik rolls 1d4+1d2: (3)+(2): 5

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round One - Init 3.

It is now Sylvi's turn! Kaelthilas is next!

GAME: Sylvi rolls weapon1+4+1+2: (9)+8+4+1+2: 24

As combat breaks out, Deak prays to Althea for prowess in this fight. The benefits of his prayer are subtle, but our side seems blessed while the enemy seems cursed

GAME: Sylvi rolls 1d10+4+3+1: (7)+4+3+1: 15

Sylvi spurs Thunder to action, the black panther's claws pull at the forest floor and pulls the axe-wielding gnome at one of the cabs. "Fire and foes! Ride for Happy Valley!" she calls out as she splits a crab in two with her axe.

Brack franticly backs up, firing his crossbow at Isk as he moves away from the melee. "WHY ARE ADVENTURERS ALWAYS MESSING WITH OUR SCHEMES! I mean we aren't doing anything particularly nefarious this time! Just...helping...with...evelution. YOU PEOPLE SHOULD BE THANKING US!"

His shot goes wide as he backs up. "Frack! We need to do that thing!"

"What the thing we are supposed to do when we get into trouble?!"

"YES THAT THING!"

Frack shoots as Kael, but the shot glaces off the tree the elf is nearby. "Fire I'll do the thing! YOU ALL BETTER BE PREPARED! IT'S A SCARY THING!"

Meanwhile, the wolf...well it was pretty scary before it was spread all over the clearing. The crabs seem to be putting up a good fight, the one attached to Desdemona clamping down with perticular fury. Vasa would have got the same if it wasn't for Sylvi's heroic cat-based charge.

Still the battle rages on!

...and Lorik is still trying to get out of the pit trap.

"WHY DID THEY MAKE THIS SO DEEP!"

...stupid lizard.

GAME: NEW ROUND!

Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 21.

It is now Kaelthilas' turn! Desdemona is next!

GAME: Kaelthilas rolls melee+1+2+1-2: (5)+6+1+2+1+-2: 13

GAME: Kaelthilas rolls 2d6+3+1+1+3: (9)+3+1+1+3: 17

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 21.

It is now Desdemona's turn! Aegis is next!

As the skirmish breaks out, Kaelthilas moves.

The hem of his armored vestments flow in a rustle of armored scales as he marches forward with long evenly measured strides. At the third pace he gives a subtle toss aside sending the longbow and knocked arrow into the dirt and reaches reaches to his left shoulder to grips the gilded pommel that juts beyond the white furred pelt that that adorns him as a half-cape. A subtle flick of his wrist.

Mydraahil; the blade of Dycan. The light silvery-blade hums gently as its drawn. Fully three-quarters the size of Kaelthis he spins the blade into a two-handed grip and puts its hilt center-left of his breastplate with left arm pulled tight to his torso and his right outward with bent elbow to create a spike of runed steel nearly four feet in length as a ward.

• thwip*

The blade moves in a flashing arc to a defensive position across his body. The movement of the blade somehow impacts the arrow stealing its momentum and causing it to fall impotently at the Elf's feet.

Then he's upon them. Hands move. Blade arcs in a thrum of shimmering steel. It bisects the crab-creature into two distinct halves. He nods once to Desdemona and then pivots while moving the blade into a defensive position once more.

GAME: Desdemona rolls weapon1+3: (3)+6+3: 12

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 19.

It is now Aegis' turn! FIRE CRAB SNAPPY is next!

GAME: Aegis rolls weapon1+2+1: (16)+9+2+1: 28

GAME: Aegis rolls 2d6+10: (7)+10: 17

Brack sees it coming. The shadow growing bigger and bigger around him. He looks up at the angel of death falling towards him. Eyes wide. "...I only had two days till I could retire!!"

These oversized firecrabs are not endearing Desdemona to their spieces. The first one went down easy, probably too easy because his friends got upset and wanted to dance. One of them got way to personal with her, snapping with those damned claws and even had the nerve not to let go! She let out a string of curses, yelling at the crab to let her go while she kept her footing and was going to get a good stab at it when Kael came to the rescue. "Thanks, he didn't like that I turned down his marriage proposal. Some people can just be so clingy." She says with a strained smile. Fire crab claws hurt. She turns to stab at the other one but she just nicks his shell and gets glared at. She glares back.

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 18.

It is now FIRE CRAB SNAPPY's turn! Vasanna is next!

GAME: Lorik rolls 3: (19)+3: 22

GAME: Lorik rolls 3: (3)+3: 6

GAME: Lorik rolls 1d2+1d4: (1)+(4): 5

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 18.

It is now Vasanna's turn! Iskandar is next!

Arrows fly.

A lance makes contact.

Fire and blood spill and as a cold gaze slips from companion to companion, shielded by that all-encompassing metal, Aegis looks to take stock of the commanders of this raid.

It comes for him.

Metal pounds dirt and stone and dead wood, a rock should be an obstacle, but instead becomes a stepping stone for a great leap that sends a great mass of metal hurling through the sky.

Caught against the glare of an ugly sky turned red with the downward tick of the sun, it is a shadow that becomes death.

Frack will get to see best as the blade powers downward through Brack's shoulder, through ribs and lung and guts to his hip. Enough to register a terrible shock on Brack's face, his retirement his last thought, but he helps Frack out, helps him find some context for what his last might be.

Aegis turns and whirls, bringing the body with him on his sword, the thing ambling all about with it's strings cut and face locked in horror before it flies free to careen over Frack's head and land with a sickening, broken, folded mess against a tree just behind him before crumpling into a gross slump of steaming tiefling meat.

Then the bloody sword points to Frack.

"PREPARE YOURSELF!"

It's voice hails from some place deep in the gut of the mountain, a terrible grind laced with unfathomable ire, inhuman. Unfeeling.

Prepare yourself.

GAME: Vasanna rolls 5: (4)+5: 9

GAME: Vasanna rolls Weapon1: (20)+4: 24 (THREAT)

GAME: Vasanna rolls Weapon1: (9)+4: 13

GAME: Vasanna rolls 2d6: (7): 7

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 16.

It is now Iskandar's turn! Brack The Tiefling is next!

GAME: Iskandar rolls weapon1: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 7.

It is now Frack the Tiefling's turn! Deak is next!

Still off balance from her horrible attack, Vas is easily pincered and held by one of the crabs. Snapping down on her arm holding the rapier, she gives a gasp in pain and twists her body in an attempt to wrest herself from it. Luckily, that turn causes the second attack to lodge right into her waterskin. It douses some of the fire, but doesn't hurt her further.

Luckily, with the battlecry of the Happy Valley, Sylvi slays the creature holding her. Stumbling back and shoving the dead weight of the lifeless crab still holding limply onto her, she rolls her shoulders and sets her feet. To her side, she watches Naht leap at the nearby crab, still close enough to hurt his mistress. Though he misses, it draws the attention of the beast enough to cause it to miss a swing at her.

Gripping her rapier even tighter, she winces in pain as the dark bruising and gashes done to her arm and then smirks. With a downward swing, she cuts right into the meat of the crab still holding onto Desdemona and then continues straight through.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Says Frack as he sees the fate of his long time buddy. "I DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH FOR THIS!" He shouts as he fishes something out of his pocket and flings it to the ground.

Then he turns and just runs.

The ground where he flung the objects? It starts to quickly darken and writhe in unnatural ways before suddenly a hand covered in cracked and blackened flesh bursts forth and a horrifying and obviously very dead figure starts pulling itself out of the ground. The ground where the second object struck begins to repeat the process, the area around darkening and the vegetation becoming blighted as the undead presence tears itself out of the ground.

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 7.

It is now Deak's turn! Sylvi is next!

GAME: Deak spends ONE use of CHANNEL ENERGY.

GAME: Deak rolls Channel: aliased to 3d6: (8): 8

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 3.

It is now Sylvi's turn! Kaelthilas is next!

GAME: Sylvi rolls weapon1+1+4: (8)+8+1+4: 21

GAME: Sylvi rolls 1d10+4+3+1: (8)+4+3+1: 16

Deak registers the horror of the newly appearing zombies, but nurtures the health and well-being of his companions, collecting the holy power of Althea into himself then releasing it to the healing of those who have bled in this battle.

The forest floor is not obstacle for the claws of the young black panther as Sylvi guides him into another furious charge at the fleeing teifling. "Coward! Come and face the gnomish fury of Happy Valley! " she calls out as she charges, firmly planting her axe in the back of her enemy and cutting him down.

Frack is running. He's running. "I TOLD YOU IT WAS SCARY GO KILL THE SCARY ZOMBIES AND LEAVE THE INNOCENT TIEFLING ALONE!" He shouts over his shoulder as he does his level best to...well...survive.

Alas for poor Frack. That is not to be.

He doesn't even hear the silent pounce of the pather as it leaps though the air. There is simply the sudden impact, the sudden regret that he will never again be able to taste blueberry pie, and then nothing.

Meanwhile the zombies continue to claw themselves out of the ground...but...there are a lot of roots around here. It might take them a bit...

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Two - Init 1.

It is now Dougzombie's turn! Kaelthilas is next!

GAME: NEW ROUND!

Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 22.

It is now Lorik's turn! Kaelthilas is next!

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 21.

It is now Kaelthilas' turn! Desdemona is next!

Iskandar lurches back into the clearing, blood dripping from his nose. The nose and the face around it is red from where he ran head-first into a tree. Iskandar tests the string on his bow to make sure it's still functional, seemingly more concerned with damage to his weapon than to his own face.

GAME: Kaelthilas rolls melee+1+2+1-1: (19)+6+1+2+1+-1: 28

GAME: Kaelthilas rolls melee+1+2+1-1: (10)+6+1+2+1+-1: 19

GAME: Kaelthilas rolls 2d6+3+1+1+3: (8)+3+1+1+3: 16

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 21.

It is now Desdemona's turn! Aegis is next!

GAME: Desdemona rolls weapon1+1: (19)+6+1: 26 (THREAT)

GAME: Desdemona rolls weapon1+1: (18)+6+1: 25 (THREAT)

GAME: Desdemona rolls 1d6+3: (1)+3: 4

GAME: Desdemona rolls 1d6+3: (3)+3: 6

GAME: Lorik advances the initiative order.

Round Three - Init 19.

It is now Aegis' turn! Vasanna is next!

GAME: Aegis rolls weapon1+3: (9)+9+3: 21

GAME: Aegis rolls 2d6+10: (7)+10: 17

GAME: Lorik removes the timestop.

Timestop by Lorik has left.

"What kind of forest is this?!" Desdemona says after she got gnawed on again, but thankfully Deak throws some healing her way and she raises her sword to him in thanks. For a moment, it's almost as if the battle is going to be over, but then... Zombies? With a snarl she dashes forward with her rapier, still enjoying the battle even if she's getting a little chewed on. With a florish, she slashes at the zombie, giving it some gusto while she smiles.

The ground erupts in baleful power. Fetid nails pawing at the ground the hollow moan of the undead begs for some soul to end its dark existence.

Kaelthilas obliges; Pivoting smoothly upon the firmament his boots stir not a leaf he moves upon the rising dead. The shimmering zweihander pulls backward and then he pivots once more in a lethal pirouette whose delicate art would be as welcome in the court as it would upon the field of battle. The movement lends him uncanny momentum blade high, then low as he faces his foe, before back swinging once more.

The zombie is severed right shoulder to left armpit and then midway through its torso. With a firm shake of the blade it frees itself from bone and rotted guts emerging slicked with black gore as the unholy menace falls unlifeless upon the very site which conjured it.

Iskandar peers off in the direction the crabs and tieflings first came from. "I wonder if that's the last of them," he drones, voice slightly nasal. He wipes his bloody nose with the back of his gloved hand and his voice is a bit more normal when he says: "Well, that is why they hired us no doubt." He turns back to survey the clearing now. "What a battle!"

Whirling from the sight of the other tiefling being buried by an axe, Aegis turns from the gnome to see a Zombie ruined by Kael in his advance, the slight cant of his head almost seeming intrigued by that motion.

Yes, even now, the metal man is learning.

There the zombie falls, but the War Golem sees another. Two great steps carry it forward, and just as Desdemona's rapier slashes through it one way, Aegis' sword comes the other.

The effect is most impressive, and leaves three pieces of zombie flying this way and that, the putrid scent of them exploding into the air into the aftermath.

The dark slits of it's helmet turn ever so slightly to regard Desdemona, and as if unconvinced that the fight is won, that brief victory it shares with her turns to an alert pivot, bringing it's sword back around to rest atop it's other forearm.

This, it offers, to fight back to back with Des, who it has deemed a worthy combat companion.

The sounds of combat die down to be replaced with silence. Whatever passes for native fauna of this cursed forest having fled the battle long ago. The corruption created by the strange undead things remain though, blackened circles of death in the once verdant green of the forest.

It is of course about this point where Lorik, covered in fines and dirt and possibly bugs comes back in the clearing.

"...well..." A long pause. "...I see you all /did/ find something."

Kaelthilas moves the blade to a defensive position and turns slowly his gold-flecked eyes narrowed with a hawkish glare as he surveys the field about them.

He turns thrice before shoulders relax slightly and a hand leaves the blade. Procuring a fine white cloth from the space between his belt and his mail he tosses it over his left arm and moves the length of his blade along it in a cleaning gesture. The cloth becomes soaked with foulness and with a light movement of his arm he tosses it upward, catches it, and then returns it to the space at his waist.

Returning the rune blade to its place along his back he comments dryly, "Well struck, all," then asks, "Are any wounded?" He looks from person to person gaze lingering a bit longer upon Aegis whose thunderous nature is complimented by brutal fury but is soon looking to them each again. To be certain none are in grave condition or struck by the dead and looking as if they soon might turn.

A warmth spreads through Vasanna's arm, due to Deak's healing. Feeling renewed and back to full strength, she darts forward toward the zombies. Unfortunately, they're both cut down before she has any say in the matter. The question about the wounded is met with a shake of her head. "I'm fine." Rotating the wrist of the arm injured, she sheathes her rapier and moves to Naht's side. Ruffling his head scales, she checks him for claw marks or bites.

The appearance of Lorik is met with a roll of her eyes. "Of course you show up after all the trouble has gone, brother." Turning to Naht, she whispers something softly in Sylvan. Then, with a practiced and happy pounce, the beast dashes and then pounces on Lorik, intent on sitting on him.

GAME: Kaelthilas dons a cape and is now Batman! He rolls knowledge/arcana+1000: Trained Use Only: 1000

Desdemona looks at the very large war golem and tilts her head. She's seen them, sure but never battled along side one before. The fact that they turn that zombie into pieces has her grinning like a mad-woman. She understands what he's doing, turning around to take her flank and seeing as how things just sort of popped out of nowhere, she isn't keen to put her sword away yet either. She nods, she likes silent killing machines. When they're on her side that is.

"I was, but I think the priest took care of it. I don't feel like I'm horribly dying so, I consider that a win." Looking around toward the others she plants her sword on the ground and keeps ahold of the handle, looking at the others who have gathered here. "So. Whose buying?"

"What! You're pet was the one that knocked me in that pit in the first place! Why were they here though...were they collecting samples for something..." Lorik wonders this. He might actually go search something.

Which is of course when Naht lands on him.

"OOPH!" A pause. "Vasa! Get your lizar--no Naht stop with the licking! You were just chewing on some monster!"

...ah. Siblings.

Deak volunteers. "First round's on me. Y'all are so strong I never even needed to deal with those unholy zombies!" He chuckles.

It takes some time before the War Golem lowers it's guard, but soon it sheathes it's massive sword at it's hip and regards those who have gone to war with it.

Des first, a slow nod of it's head a form of acknowledgement it has for few. Then Iskandar, showing yet the fog of war on his face in that blood that drips, but also a badge of honor. Kael's ritual does not go unnoticed, one that the War Golem skips, having no cloth for it's sword.

It steps forward then, a hand going to Deak's shoulder, big enough to curl over it entirely, to grab attention, and then point towards Iskandar's injury.

Finally it regards Vas and her companion, and Lorik, the War Golem's would-be trainee, turned to furniture for lizard ass.

The sound it makes, a low rumbling derision, is not one of approval.

With no comment to anyone, it turns, heading for home. Heading, it seems, for the guild.

Iskandar watches Aegis go. "War Golem? So stone golems sfe made of rock, iron golems of metal - and war golems are made of war?" Once he's healed he flashes a broad grin. "That's better!" he nods in gratitude to Deak.