Farmer Woes
The evening is starting to set in as the sun nears setting. The farm is a little ways outside of town and heading east. The farmer greats you, eatting an apple. He looks you over and nods, "Ye will do, here to take care of my maggot problem?
Morgan nods "I hope we can, do you know the source its coming from?"
Immediately Razen's face falls, his face paling a little bit and he looks a bit sick. "Maggots?" His gray-green eyes flicker around the farm a little. "Where?"
This should be something a Druid can handle. Unless the farmer is mistreating these maggots and is deserving of his fate, however. Taleth lingers near the back of the group and grimaces somewhat; her emerald gaze flickering between her counterparts briefly before landing back onto the farmer. "Usually there is a root to such corruption." The wild elf offers softly; brushing back her braided green hair behind her pointed ear.
Vaalyun rubs his thigh a bit when the group comes to a stop at the farm, his limp having become more pronounced for the last half-mile or so. He tilts his head, but adds only to what's already been asked, "And how big?" Are these the sort of maggots that eat cabbage, or people.
The farmer points to a barn, "In there, eating all my hay, wood, well the whole barn." At that moment the barn shakes and falls down on itself, showing hundreds, if not thousands of wiggling maggots that start to swarm towards the group clearly hungry.
Nim wrinkles his nose. "We can take care of it. Don't worry. The last time I fought a worm it only ate me a little bit!" For his part, he looks more than ready to go and has been pretty energetic on the walk to the farm, practically skipping all the way there.
GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round One - Init 18. It is now Razen's turn! Giant Maggot is next! GAME: Razen RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 4 temporary HP GAME: Razen rolls weapon8: (19)+9: 28 (THREAT) GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round One - Init 17. It is now Giant Maggot's turn! Morgan is next!
With a god-given roar the half-oruch rushes forward, his heavy flail in both hands. "ARGORON!" The weapon smashes into the vile things with impunity. He seems to have little care for anything else, his eyes practically black with raw fury that makes every muscle in his body stand out in stark relief. There is nothing for him but destroying these things as fast as he can. "DIE FOUL THINGS!" There are terrible squelching sounds, and they do little to appease Razen.
The giant maggot targets in on Razen, and slowly crawls towards him.
GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round One - Init 17. It is now Morgan's turn! Vaalyun is next!
Morgan raises her hands in a force position as her voice gets a bit hollod as she says "litrix." and a blue aura that looks like full plate forms around her for a few seconds. She takes a few steps back to make sure there is some distance from her and the bugs.
GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round One - Init 16. It is now Vaalyun's turn! Maggot Swarm 1 is next! GAME: Vaalyun casts Bless. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round One - Init 12. It is now Maggot Swarm 1's turn! Taleth is next!
Well, that's not what he was expecting. Vaalyun slides his shield into place in front of him and raises his mace. He takes a moment, closing his eyes and murmuring a silent prayer, then slams his mace into his shield and says, "ALTHEA GUIDE OUR HANDS!" He moves forward to engage, shield out and mace over his shoulder for a crushing strike.
GAME: Astaren rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round One - Init 12. It is now Taleth's turn! Nim is next! GAME: Razen rolls fortitude: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL) <OOC> Razen says, "Guess who's dice are back at it?" <OOC> Astaren says, "You are now infested with maggots." <OOC> Razen says, "Idk what that means but it sounds FUN" <OOC> Astaren says, "Taleth your up!" <OOC> Astaren says, "Right now, nothing." <OOC> Taleth says, "Moving away and spontaneous casting summon nature's ally 2 for a Ant Drone (Giant) flanking with Razen" GAME: Taleth casts Barkskin. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17 GAME: Taleth rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25 <OOC> Astaren says, "hit" <OOC> Taleth says, "It is grabbing it and stinging it too. So grapple." GAME: Taleth rolls 1d6+6: (5)+6: 11 GAME: Taleth rolls 1d20+7: (4)+7: 11 GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round One - Init 7. It is now Nim's turn! Maggot Swarm 2 is next! <OOC> Taleth says, "So just 11 damage and grappled" <OOC> Astaren nod nods
As Taleth sees the swarm of massive grubs moving from the barn, her emerald eyes widen as she takes a few steps back at the sight. "Well then. He wasn't lying about a maggot problem. Perhaps an understatement." Swallowing audibly and beginning to speak an incantation in Druid, "Come! Aid me!" And there is a green flash when a large flying ant appears beside the large grub and bites into it. It wraps its appendages around its body and attempts to jab its stinger into it. Alas, it cannot pierce the skin.
<OOC> Nim says, "ok, Then I run up to it and hit it with my cestus" <OOC> Astaren says, "OK" GAME: Nim rolls 1d20+8: (18)+8: 26 GAME: Nim rolls 1d3+3: (3)+3: 6 GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round One - Init 6. It is now Maggot Swarm 2's turn! Supper Giant Maggot is next! <OOC> Astaren says, "Swarm crawls over Nim. Nim roll con" <OOC> Astaren says, "err fort" GAME: Astaren rolls 1d6: (6): 6
Nim runs headlong at the swarm of maggots, "NO EATING FARMS!" and he does his best to punch the swarm with his cestus.
GAME: Nim rolls fort: (10)+6: 16 <OOC> Astaren says, "You are not infected with maggots" GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round One - Init 0. It is now Supper Giant Maggot's turn! Razen is next! GAME: NEW ROUND! Astaren advances the initiative order. Round Two - Init 18. It is now Razen's turn! Giant Maggot is next!
The maggots start to swarm over Nim, and the ground under everybody rumbles and can be felt shaking, like something massive is moving under it...
GAME: Razen rolls weapon8+1: (9)+9+1: 19 <OOC> Astaren says, "hit" GAME: Razen rolls 1d10+8: (6)+8: 14 <OOC> Astaren says, "And it stops moving."
Surging forward Razen bashes his weapon into the larger creature, roaring the name of his patron deity and curses in Yrch-speak. The creature ceases to move, but as Razen continues to roar in fury one can see an odd glittering in his stormy eyes.
GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 17.
It is now Giant Maggot's turn! Morgan is next!
GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 17.
It is now Morgan's turn! Vaalyun is next!
<OOC> Astaren says, "Morgan!"
<OOC> Morgan says, "the super one still alive?"
<OOC> Astaren says, "Not even visible, all you know is the ground is shaking from something very large moving under it."
<OOC> Morgan says, "ok then I will magic missile the ones swarming Razen"
<OOC> Astaren says, "roll dungeonering."
GAME: Morgan rolls Knowledge/Dungeoneering: (4)+12: 16
<OOC> Astaren says, "single target spells have no effect on Swarms"
<OOC> Morgan says, "ok ray of frost on them"
<OOC> Astaren says, "Also single target :("
<OOC> Morgan says, "most low level wiz spells are single ones"
<OOC> Astaren says, "Burning Hands, flaming sphere, but yea."
<OOC> Morgan says, "and both would hit him but I got a idea."
<OOC> Morgan says, "I will use my universal weapon attack."
GAME: Morgan rolls 1d20+3+6: (10)+3+6: 19
<OOC> Astaren says, "Hit!"
GAME: Morgan rolls 1d6: (1): 1
<OOC> Astaren says, "And believe it or not, it stops moving and dispearses"
GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 16.
It is now Vaalyun's turn! Aznara is next!
Morgan says, “never did this before." Before as she throws her staff at the swarm as it spins in the air smashing the last bugs bothering her half orc friend as the staff returns to her hands.
GAME: Vaalyun casts Bull's Strength. Caster Level: 3 DC: 16 <OOC> Vaalyun says, "On myself. Figure things are about to get real." GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round Two - Init 12. It is now Maggot Swarm 1's turn! Taleth is next! GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round Two - Init 12. It is now Taleth's turn! Nim is next!
Vaalyun lowers himself into a deeper fighting stance, looking around at the various maggots. When the rumbling under the ground begins, he says, "Sounds like something big!" He murmurs more prayers, and as his hands clench into fists around his shield and weapon, the muscles seem to almost bulge with divine energy. He keeps praying quietly as he looks warily at the ground.
GAME: Taleth casts Flaming Sphere. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17 GAME: Taleth rolls 3d6: (9): 9 <OOC> Taleth says, "Ant man is going to hold his turn for the rumblin'" GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round Two - Init 7. It is now Nim's turn! Maggot Swarm 2 is next! <OOC> Nim flurries on the bugs on him. 1 unarmed str (b or magic for purposes of overcoming resistance), 1 cestus
Keeping her distance, the Taleth asks her ally to hold position when she notes the rumbling but sees the maggots swarming Nim still. She speaks another incantation and summons that emerald glow once more as a ball of fire swells out of nowhere atop of the maggot swarm and begins roasting them alive. And then it begins rolling after them. Burn!
GAME: Nim rolls weapon0+1-2: (5)+6+1+-2: 10 GAME: Nim rolls weapon8+1-2: (12)+7+1+-2: 18 <OOC> Astaren says, "Miss, hit" GAME: Nim rolls 1d3+3: (2)+3: 5 GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round Two - Init 6. It is now Maggot Swarm 2's turn! Supper Giant Maggot is next! <OOC> Astaren says, "Nim, and Razen, con." GAME: Astaren rolls 1d6: (4): 4 GAME: Nim rolls con: (5)+con: 5 GAME: Razen rolls Constitution: (7)+3: 10 <OOC> Astaren says, "Ugh, fort I meant fort" GAME: Nim rolls fort: (7)+6: 13 GAME: Razen rolls fort: (3)+6: 9 <OOC> Astaren says, "Nim is good, Razen has even more maggots infecting him." <OOC> Razen is not happy about this. GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round Two - Init 0. It is now Supper Giant Maggot's turn! Razen is next!
Nim manages to give a thumbs up and the direction of Taleth. And then he does his best to flurry against the swarm that is covering him. One hand flailed wildly, but his cestus landed effectively...kinda.
The ground shakes, and suddenly explodes around the farmers house as a massive maggot bigger than even the barn erupts out of the ground and swallows the house whole before disappearing back under the ground in a pile of rubble and dust.
GAME: NEW ROUND! Astaren advances the initiative order. Round Three - Init 18. It is now Razen's turn! Giant Maggot is next! <OOC> Taleth says, "Can my ant attack him when it comes out?" <OOC> Astaren says, "Sure" GAME: Taleth rolls 1d20+7: (19)+7: 26 GAME: Taleth rolls 1d20+7: (14)+7: 21 <OOC> Astaren says, "Hit, miss." GAME: Taleth rolls 1d6+6: (1)+6: 7 <OOC> Razen says, "How far away is the big maggot that dove back underground?" <OOC> Astaren says, "30ft" <OOC> Razen says, "Okay can I hold my action to attack it, and roar furiously at it until it comes back?" <OOC> Astaren says, "Sure!" <OOC> Razen says, "Excellent!" GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round Three - Init 17. It is now Giant Maggot's turn! Morgan is next! GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round Three - Init 17. It is now Morgan's turn! Vaalyun is next! <OOC> Morgan says, "what normal swarms still here" <OOC> Astaren says, "Just 1, and it spread out onto Razen and Nim" <OOC> Morgan says, "same thing as before." <OOC> Astaren says, "Ok!"
The explosion of the giant maggot into the air startles Razen, but he roars a challenge at the creature even as it disappears just as quickly. Infuriated he roars again, ready to strike the moment he sees its ugly mug.
GAME: Morgan rolls 1d20+3+6: (7)+3+6: 16 GAME: Morgan rolls 1d6: (1): 1 <OOC> Morgan says, "my d6 hates me" GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round Three - Init 16. It is now Vaalyun's turn! Taleth is next!
Morgan sends her staff back at the swarm and only hits one bug, but she is keeping it out there as she is making hand moves like its a puppet on strings.
<OOC> Vaalyun will also hold his action. <OOC> Astaren says, "Ok" GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round Three - Init 12. It is now Taleth's turn! Nim is next!
"You don't see that walking down the road on market day, do you?" Vaalyun says, with a bark of a laugh as the maggot bursts into the air and then disappears back underground, "C'mon, you beast, show yourself!" He waits for his chance.
<OOC> Taleth says, "Flaming sphere on swarm. Ant is going to fly upwards. I'll hold my action" GAME: Taleth rolls 3d6: (10): 10 <OOC> Astaren says, "ok!" GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round Three - Init 7. It is now Nim's turn! Maggot Swarm 2 is next! <OOC> Nim says, "flurry same as before" <OOC> Astaren says, "ok!" GAME: Nim rolls weapon0+1-2: (18)+6+1+-2: 23 GAME: Nim rolls weapon8+1-2: (17)+7+1+-2: 23 <OOC> Astaren says, "Hit hit" GAME: Nim rolls 1d4+2: (2)+2: 4 GAME: Nim rolls 1d3+3: (3)+3: 6 GAME: Astaren advances the initiative order. Round Three - Init 6. It is now Maggot Swarm 2's turn! Supper Giant Maggot is next!
Nim is clearly starting to get annoyed by the bugs. "No eating farms, no eating Razen! and no eating ME!!" he says as he flurries smacks the swarm and causes it to disperse. He stands there looking around, wondering what's next, looking a little bit worse for wear.
The rumbling of the ground is starting to fade... the massive creature it taking its leave.
"He was not lying when he said he had a maggot problem." Taleth looks on in horror as the house is devoured by the monstrous creature. "We may need to bait it out. It has us at a disadvantage." Nocking an arrow with her longbow and preparing herself for eruption.
Razen doesn't even consider his actions, leaping into the hole after the giant maggot. "IN THE NAME OF ANGORON I WILL DESTROY YOU!!!"
Morgan sighs and says "do we have to go underground to get it?" said as she hopes someone has a better idea to get the Graboid.
The maggots infesting Rizen are digging their way into his skin, and probably going to prove very painful.
"There really must be a better way..." Vaalyun says, though he's not going to let the others go running underground without him. "At least let me get the maggots off you!"
GAME: Taleth rolls heal: (3)+9: 12
It might have been a good idea to slow down, but the truth was that Razen wasn't about to do that. The thing had eaten a barn. A house. It's kin were tearing at his flesh. It had to die, and he can only think of one way of doing that. "JOIN ME FRIENDS!" He runs faster to the tunnel that leads eventually to this thing.
Nim scratches his head a moment, looking at the others, then back to the giant hole in the ground. then he starts to run for the hole. "Wait! I can't run as fast as you," he calls after Razen. He's going in, too!
Taleth moves quickly to Razen's side when the rumbling begins to slow. The flaming sphere and drone just remain still until they're dispelled from the duration ending. She looks over him whilst chewing on her lower lip, "This is... Not good. If we don't get these out they will multiply in his body and eat him inside out. We either cut them out or make him inhospitable. I may have an idea. But you might have to be okay with a little pain?"
There is no cave, the ground has completely collapsed and is starting to settle.
Razen frowns at Taleth. "I care not about pain! We have to destroy that thing." He points toward the crater that he is considering digging up.
Taleth blinks at Razen, "We will. But you can't kill it of you're eaten from the inside out. Just stop. Give me a minute."
<OOC> Vaalyun says, "Astaren, would a channel energy rid him of the maggots? Or a cure spell?" <OOC> Astaren says, "You can try!" <OOC> Astaren says, "But a knowledge/nature might help" <OOC> Vaalyun says, "How about a heal check" <OOC> Astaren says, "Sure!" GAME: Vaalyun rolls heal: (14)+10: 24 GAME: Vaalyun rolls 2d6: (9): 9
Vaalyun takes a few moments to limp over to the crater himself. He looks at Razen and winces, "That looks painful. But it should be simple enough to get rid of, with Althea's blessing." He reaches inside his tunic and pulls out his blue enameled rose symbol of ordination, and holds it over his head as he prays. The light of the stars seems to reflect off of it, and a healing energy fills the air, touching everyone who stands near him and calling to mind memories of hearth and home and warm hugs. Or the appropriate racial equivalent.
The maggots are healed by the positive energy along Razen and the others nearby. The only way to get the maggots is going to be cutting them out it seems.
Razen growls in disgust and holds his arm out toward the man who tried to heal the things wiggling in his body. "Cut them OUT already."
Taleth says, "I believe if I shock you, it may make you inhospitable for the parasites. Do you consent to some minor pain?"
Razen nods.
<OOC> Taleth says, "Alright. Using storm burst on him. It does non lethal damage." GAME: Taleth rolls 1d6+2: (2)+2: 4
Taleth takes a step back as the storm druid summons winds and rain around Razen, zapping him with cracks of mild electricity generated by the cloud. She appears to be attempting to target entry points/areas if possible.
The electricity seems to stun the maggots that wiggling for a moment, some of them drop out, others attempt to burrow in deeper faster. About 25% of them appear to have wiggled out.
GAME: Vaalyun rolls profession/herbalist: (1)+10: 11 (EPIC FAIL)
Taleth pouts as it doesn't seem to have the resounding success she was expecting. Pulling a dagger from her side, she moves over to Vaalyun and offers it to him. With one hand on his shoulder, she offers, "I'm afraid this is going to hurt." to Razen.
<OOC> Vaalyun sighs. GAME: Taleth casts Guidance. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15
Morgan hmmms "any one have something for him to bite down on?"
<OOC> Nim says, "Do they count as animals? I could use handle animal lol" <OOC> Astaren says, "Nope"
Razen braces himself but grins a bit as his fist tightens around his flail. "I told you. Cut them out." There's a little laugh as he looks over at Morgan. "I have no need. It's only a flesh wound."
Vaalyun frowns, "I can't remember the specific herbs that would help. Fire or freezing might get rid of them without surgery, but..." He reaches behind him, under his robes, and produces his field healer's kit. He worries his lower lip for a moment, and says, "Alright, then. Try to stay still." Scalpel, nurse.
GAME: Vaalyun rolls heal +1: (4)+10+1: 15
Morgan gets her wine skin "its dwarven brandy." she is offering it to Razen and Vaalyun. One to drink and the other to use to clean the tools, who does what is up to them.
GAME: Astaren rolls 1d8: (5): 5 <OOC> Astaren says, "You get rid of 25 more of the maggots, but Razen take 5 damage!"
Taleth eyes Vaalyn, "I can provide fire if required. What are your thoughts?" Looking to Razen, "We all appreciate your bravery brother, but we'd prefer you didn't end up mangled from this whole ordeal."
Razen takes a swig of the brandy and struggles not to comment on the fact that there are so many of them still /inside/ his body. "Fire yes. Just... please get them out." He only relinquishes the alcohol reluctantly.
Morgan shakes her head as she does not care if he drains it.
Vaalyun might possibly take a small sip to steady his hands anyway - wouldn't want to waste it. He works swiftly, but squirmy maggots aren't the usual run of broken bones and arrow wounds. More and more white slugs are pulled out. "We're making progress, believe it or not."
Nim Just tries to stay out of the way. But then a thought and he asks the group, "maybe if you get really drunk, the bugs well absorb enough alcohol to kill them? it works like that, right?
GAME: Vaalyun rolls heal +1: (16)+10+1: 27
Morgan likes nim;s idea "Well I doubt there is enough in that flask, even more so as expensive that dwarven brandy is."
Razen is willing to try. He drinks down the rest of the drink, not seeming to mind sharing a little but the rest... It's gone.
<OOC> Astaren says, "you get the rest out!" GAME: Astaren rolls 1d8: (5): 5 <OOC> Astaren says, "but it hurts doing so!"
Practice makes perfect, at least in this case. It doesn't take much longer before Vaalyun is an experienced plucker of maggots. He flings them off in a safe direction, using his tools to pin them in place and then prise them loose. "That..." he pulls out one final grub, holding it up squirming and crushing it between his fingers, "is the last of them. How are you feeling?" He looks down at Razen and the damage done by the maggots and the act of removing them.
Once it seems like things are going better for Razen, Taleth breathes a sigh of relief and pulls away. "Now. About that big maggot." Stepping towards the crater, she summons a flash of green light and is now a dire badger scampering down and beggining to dig a tunnel to meet the maggot's tunnel. She's grunting and huffing but badgers happen to be very good at burrowing.
Morgan watched how it was done and thinks she might learn how to do things like that. "Ok we got on the size big enough to eat a house. How in the Hells do we hunt something like that."
<OOC> Taleth says, "Did the farmer survive btw? O.o"
The farmer is sitting off in distance, drinking a bottle of whisky. his eyes looking at where his home was, a few tears in his eyes.
<OOC> Taleth says, "LOL"
Razen looks a bit pale around the edges by this point in spite of his stoic stance. He's bleeding freely from his arms and shoulders. "You." He clasps Vaalyun on the shoulder. "Are a very good man." He looks at the others. "And you are very good friends to help me when this thing needs killing."
Vaalyun puts his hand on Razen, "Don't go yet. Here, let me try that again, without healing the maggots this time, hrm?" He holds up his holy symbol and murmurs a prayer, welcoming the holy presence of Althea. The evening star seems to shine a bit brighter for a moment, it's light gleaming off the blue-enameled rose in the Cleric's hand.
GAME: Vaalyun rolls 2d6: (8): 8
Nim Glances over to the farmer and hangs his head. he slowly walks over and says to the old man, "I am sorry that we weren't able to save your house. If there is anythng I can do, please tell me. Let me at least help you find a place in town to stay. I can give You some money to help you get back on your feet."
Nim adds, "I can even help rebuild your house and barn..."
Morgan looks to her Half orc friend "Keep the wine skin, refill it and then give it back later." The farmer glances up to Nim, 'Are you kidding?" his tears are of.. joy? "I had insurance on this house, monster insurance. I am rich boy! Will never have to work another day in my life!" taking another drink of his whiskey.
Razen looks a bit better now, but perhaps still rough around the edges. He glances soulfully at the crater and shudders. "Aye Morgan." The half-orc tucks away the wineskin and meets Taleth's gaze. "This is ours to fix Taleth, we must find the creature again."
Vaalyun has to use his mace to get back to his feet without putting too much weight on his bad leg. He is about to agree about helping to rebuild - hearth and home being so very important. Then he just twists his lip into a slight grin at what the farmer has to say, "Well... There is light even in the darkest times, it seems. We do have to chase this thing down, though. Some others might not be so lucky."
Nim is surprised and then starts laughing. "well... I guess you lucked out then! make sure you have a good party, but just don't spend all of your money on it!" He whispers, "and make sure you invite me, if I don't get eaten by the giant bug first." and then he makes his way back to the group.
The farmer grins weakly, "Offical insurance in Alexandria to, and this was a very low risk area. Insurance was cheap, oh they are going to regret that." offering some whiskey to Nim, "Had that insurance for like 10 years to, was considering dropping it. Hello, I knew my luck was turning when I let that hungry old man in last night and fed him."
The farmer then pales, "Oh wait.. he was sleeping in the..." glancing to the barn, "The barn.."
"Wait." Razen overhears the conversation and walks over to the man, grasping the whiskey out of his hands. "Man? Constantly talking about how hungry he is?"
The farmer nods, "Yea, was looking a bit pale and sick. I offered him up a hay bale in the barn, and gave him some food for the evening. Last I saw of him, guess the maggots got him."
Without thinking Razen drinks down the whiskey too. "Great." He curses. "Just great." He meets the man's eyes. "Did he pay you at all? Maybe with an odd square coin?"
Nim was Just about to reach for the offered whiskey, when it is taken away. He frowns a play-kicks Raxen in the shin, but stays quiet and listens.
Vaalyun puts his lips together and whistles softly. He then looks over towards Razen, and says, "Why do I have a feeling that you have some idea what this is?"
A voice can be heard whispering, coming from Razens ear, a maggot was missed, "Feed me... you did not feed me so I feed myself..." the maggot then crawls out and lights up in a sickly green flame and is gone in a instant. The farmer just stares, "uh... my whiskey?" Everybody here will find a square wooden coin among their stuff, with a smiling face and razor sharp teeth.
"Because I do. Because there is some fell demon man stalking the world seeking to be fed. He becomes maggots when he falls and apparently..." He waves a hand around to the destruction. Shivering coldly at the voice in his ear and looks at his companions. "I must destroy him."
GAME: Vaalyun rolls knowledge/religion: (5)+10: 15
Nim frowns a little lot, any cheerfulness gone from his face for now. "I will heal you. I don't like the fact that he repays people's kindness with destruction," he tells Razen. "we cannot let hat guy go on ..."
Vaalyun rubs his chin, "Now that you mention it, I think I did hear about this once while I was in the Temple. It's an old story, isn't it? Some think it's just a parable about the danger of sloth and gluttony." He exhales, "Too bad that isn't the case."
"Indeed it is not. My friends and I found a temple in which this thing was bound and now it haunts the world again. Seeking to be fed. First it came after me... or us, and now it is seeking others. Feeding when they'll let it it seems. And repaying their kindness with destruction. It comes in the form of a man with sharp teeth and a bleeding staff." Razen shudders again and looks at the remains of what there is. The mess of it. "I would appreciate both of your aid in killing it."
Nim Runs his fingers through his hair and, as usual, it does nothing to calm his hair. But it does a little to calm his spirits. "Of course I will help you. And I might even teach wormy here" gesturing at Razen, "a thing or two about fighting bugs." And then he pauses to think, "What's the deal with the coin, you said?”
"Of course." Vaalyun agrees, with a ready nod, "If he's a demon or some kind of undead, then he is a plague upon the land, and should be smote from it." Smited? He's not a Paladin, he doesn't have to use that word much. "When we get back to the City, I'll see what I can dig up in the archives."
"Anything you learn would be of aid." Razen offers his hand to both men. "And you have mine should you ever need it."
He met Nim's eyes. "As to the coin; it seems to be the things... marker if you will. It appeared among my things and then it started to hunt me. Who knows what it is..." He hesitates then with a free hand pulls out one, and shows it to both men. It bears a grin and little else. However given everything the thing is creepy.
Nim frowns, "well. That's probably no good. It's okay, we will start hunting it, now," he reassures Razen. "and I will do my best to see what I can find out about him in the library. There could be something there, too. Or maybe they know at the monastery. But however we have to, we will find out how to track down!"
Vaalyun reaches down into the sash around his waist, and feels something. He runs one gloved hand along, and then comes out with a square, wooden coin of his own. He turns it over in his palm, and then tilts his head, "Well, then..."
Razen offers his hand. "I can take it for you. Perhaps... perhaps if I find all these tokens then it will cease to spread them..." He knows so little. "Perhaps if I take them back to where this thing came from it will be enough."
Nim checks hisown robes and finds one as well. He frowns and shakes his head, "no I am guessing you want fewer of these, not more, in general. I will hang on to mine until we know what they do. My guess is harm comes to those who hold them and I will not pass that to anyone."
The cleric shakes his head. "No, I'm going to take it back to the Temple and have it looked at. Maybe we can have the wizards do the same - cover both the Divine and the Arcane, hrm? Maybe there is something about the coin that we can use to draw him to us in a way that will allow us to destroy him. If he's leaving these... calling cards around, then they must mean something." Vaalyun closes his hand on the coin and then puts it away. "Besides, you can't bear all of the danger yourself."
Razen laughs and clasps them both on the shoulder. "Good men indeed. Come, I will buy us drinks in town! And then we can each find what we may about this dark thing - to destroy it!"
-End-