Chapter 2: South Wind

[Clockwork Syringe]

Turning to Veskassdak, Baird speaks, "I don't know of any except for potions of healing, although I don't know if we have any currently. That being said, Renna is right, we need to set up camp and not blindly wander in with so many of us injured."

 

[Sherwood]

Wren lets out a sigh of relief. "I can probably find a decent spot to make camp and rest up without too much trouble." She looks up at the sky to get a feel for direction and time of day. "I think that there was a dry point a little bit back that way we could go to."

 

[Silanon]

Deciding to retreat only as far as necessary, you head southwards for about ten minutes until Wren recognizes the spot she saw. Two sides of the place protected by muddy waters, a few trees to either side for cover - you couldn't ask for much more than that. Setting up camp, you find some rest, maybe even a few hours of sleep despite the daylight. With at least two of you keeping watch at any given time, you're prepared for the worst.

However, the swamps stay mostly quiet. Only at some point during the mid-afternoon, the cold wind from north-west carries the noises of distant fighting across. When the sun slowly sets in the west, you are thus refreshed, your wounds closed by Renna's care and some elven herb tea that Io offers. Nightfall is close - soon enough, only the stars and the moon will provide any lighting. The western sky is colored in slightly tawdry red and orange colors - do you wish to stay for the night, or do you want to continue your travels, using the night's protection to your advantage?

 

[Sherwood]

If asked, Wren is quite willing to spend the night there, doing what she can to rest up and recover from her injuries.

 

[Dicer]

"Bessst ssstay here," Veskassdak spoke suddenly. "We not sssee well in night and any light have we ssseen by enemiesss easssily from far. Here in dark enemiesss not sssee usss, ssso sssafer than moving around. What sssay you?"

 

[Silanon]

"Agreed - no point in moving further forward if all we see are shadows and darkness. I'd say we settle down for now, lick our wounds and move on tomorrow. As far as I know, Torch planned to march out at first light, so we'll have a few hours of rest before they catch up to us." Making sure that there will be someone keeping watch at any given time, you once more try to find some sleep.

During the first few hours, there is no trouble, the smelly swamps around you stay silent. Forgoing a fire to avoid detection, it's a rather chilly night, all things considered - luckily, you all brought your blankets, or things might have become really uncomfortable. It's surprisingly lightish as well, at least whenever the moon breaks through the clouds - almost full moon by the looks of it, maybe another two or three days.

It's about an hour past midnight when you suddenly hear noises somewhere to your east; close enough to hear dwarven yells, far enough to not understand them. You can see how Io grabs her bow, just in case anything comes into sight.

With enough time to recover from your wounds, you all have healed for another 10hp - leaving only Veskassdak and Wren at -8 each, I believe. All spells and abilities are back online as long as there's no restriciton preventing it.

 

[Psychie]

Renna quickly gets to her feet and readies her sword, shaking off the last lingering effects of sleep. In order to be able to see, she opens up her belt pouch and releases the ioun stone with the Light spell on it. She knows that this will bring some attention to her, but she is prepared.

 

[Sherwood]

Wren takes a slightly different path. As the sounds rouse her from sleep, the rogue gathers up her weapons and, as silently as possible, she vanishes into the tree line to crouch down behind a tree to hide.

 

[Clockwork Syringe]

Baird gets ready to cast a mage armor spell on himself while holding his crossbow in his left hand.

 

[Dicer]

Veskassdak still felt stiff from his wounds, but after a few quick stretches, he felt his muscles move smoothly. He was ready for combat if combat came.
"Sssoundsss like furfacssed mammalsss fighting," he said as quietly as he could. "Probably green-ssskinned mammalsss, orcsss. Ready ssshould we be in cassse."

 

[Silanon]

Indeed, the noises of fighting can be heard, still far enough away to pose no immediate danger. The light of the Ioun stone reaches only so far - all you manage to see for now is a rather bulky shadow between two trees, seemingly moving in the noises' direction. Wren, from her slightly advanced position, can see a few more details with her sharp eyes - behind the orc-like looking creature, there is a second one close behind, smaller and certainly not of the same kind.

You all get distracted as something lightning-fast suddenly enters the stone's cone of light. Reflexively, Io raises her bow, taking aim - something thuds in-between your bedrolls. You get a glance at a hawk-like bird, its wings holey, almost no plumage remaining. The lower part of the beak is missing, you can see rotten flesh around its exposed bones - most importantly, you see its gleaming eyes, unnaturally red, and full of hatred. Io's projectile has pierced its belly, another bolt is already stuck there - despite that, the bird rises up once more, releasing a lifeless scream as it speeds away, not towards the other two shadows. The orc-like creature turns, hearing the sound - mustering the gleaming of your Ioun stone - before slowly moving in your direction.

"Damn!" is all the elf manages to say, before quickly searching her baggage for what looks like a torch. You all have a short moment to react as well - do you wish to make any preparations, storm forward to get it over with, stare into the darkness for a little bit more intel, or do something else entirely?

 

[Clockwork Syringe]

At the mention of Orcs by Veskassdak, Baird casts mage armor on himself; just in case given their recent encounter with Orcs. He still holds his crossbow in his left hand at the ready to attack the orcs.

 

[Dicer]

Seeing the new enemies, Veskassdak decided to waste no time and roared "Shurigrem heem korlas kles!" The yellow of his eyes changed to blood red. His breathing increased as his body needed more air to power his rage. The muscles under his scaly skin grew immensely. His back frill grew as it again darkened to a very deep shade of green, but now there was a finger width, thin, blood red fringe outlining each of his frills. His dorsal spike tips stretched out half an inch and deepened to the darkest blood red yet. He entered his combat rage as he readied to strike down the mammals. These new foes now saw a nightmarish creature standing before them looking like he was ready to tear apart mammal flesh into small bloody chunks.

Spoiler

-8 hit points means Veskassdak has 42 hp for this fight, damage reduction 1/-, +8 attack bonus, bite 1d3+5, claws 1d4+5, AC 15, movement 45 ft., 0 of 11 round of rage used. Don't forget about what his rage form looks like.

 

[Psychie]

With the appearance of strange figures in the dark, Renna uses her Detect Evil power to sense if these are potential allies or foes.

 

[Silanon]

Soon enough, the sorcerer is surrounded by a layer of protective magic - prepared for what will be a fight in all likelihood. At least, that is what Renna can feel as she casts her spell of detection - you can feel the presence of evil ahead, both cold and filled with pure hatred and anger. Veskassdak can confirm this impression - while he cannot reach the being already due to the terrain slowing his advance, he gets close enough to have a closer look: Clearly, you see an orc in front of you, though not one that should walk, or even crawl. His skull underneath the helmet seems misshapen, squashed by a mighty blow of some sort. Only one eye is remaining, gleaming redly just like the hawk's.

It reminds you of Gordib, the possessed human, only that this orc should be dead. You can see a number of deep, lethal wounds along head and chest, but none of them keep him from grabbing his greataxe with both hands, ready to swing at the closest thing alive. He barely reacts to your shout and movement, ignorant of the associated danger. His smaller companion behind him does hesitate for just a moment, however - before kneeling down close to a tree, pulling out a crossbow himself.

Does Wren move up behind Veskassdak, or does she hold the line for now?

 

[Sherwood]

Wren will try to move quietly through the trees to where the one with the crossbow is positioned, hopefully getting a surprise attack in on the target.

 

[Psychie]

Renna calls out, "They are dead, possessed by some evil power! Do not hesitate to strike them down!" She readies her greatsword for a fight as she advances on the zombie.

 

[Silanon]

Wren won't be able to reach him for now, but move up to get into position to strike. When Renna ends her spell to move, she suddenly gets hit by a well-aimed projectile, fired from somewhere in the dark - in fact, from the direction where the hawk has vanished. A rather short bolt hits her arm and draws blood, though not enough to be of much concern.

(Renna takes 5 damage - with that, we're entering initiative order)

Io opens fire at the big, undead orc - while the arrow hits, it does not seem to have any impact, piercing the armor to hit nothing but rotting flesh.

Dicer is up with Veskassdak.

23 Io
21 Veskassdak -8
20 Hawk
19 Baird
14 Falconer (position unknown)
14 Scout
10 Wren -8
4 Renna -5
2 Undead Orc

 

[Dicer]

"Cambutren," Veskassdak growled as he recognized the undead creatures. However that was all he said before he quickly crossed the distance to attack the undead orc. He knew from the stories of his tribe that destroying these things would not be easy. Still if his strikes were true, this thing would drop quickly. Then he could focus on the other enemies.

Spoiler

-8 hit points, claws do slashing and bludgeoning damage, bite does slashing, bludgeoning, and piercing damage, 1 of 11 rounds of rage used.

 

[Silanon]

Moving forward, the lizardman reaches the opposing foe, attempting to end his 'life' once more. One of your claws hits rotten flesh as you strike, but the sharpness alone does not do too much damage itself. It's mostly the general force of the blow that seems to break something underneath.

The hawk returns from the shadows once more - it suddenly appears next to the raging lizardman, its talons scratching across the mithril shirt without any chance of penetrating it. Veskassdak can smell the decay of the beast - then it's gone.

23 Io
21 Veskassdak -8
20 Hawk
--> 19 Baird
14 Falconer (position unknown)
14 Scout
10 Wren -8
4 Renna -5
2 Undead Orc

Clockwork Syringe is up with Baird.

 

[Clockwork Syringe]

Baird fires a bolt at the undead Orc in attempt to help take out the biggest threat currently.

 

[Silanon]

The bolt hits the creature, but between the remaining armor and rotting flesh, it does not seem to cause noteworthy damage.

The two crossbowmen open fire at the group, the small one behind the undead orc aiming at Io. The projectile scratches her elven skin, causing her to curse as she jumps sideways. In the meantime, Renna gets targeted from the shadows once more - and takes another light wound from the shot.

(Io -6, Renna -3)

Sherwood is up with Wren.

23 Io -6
21 Veskassdak -8
20 Hawk
--> 19 Baird
14 Falconer (position unknown)
14 Scout
10 Wren -8
4 Renna -8
2 Undead Orc

 

[Sherwood]

Wren slips through the trees, moving silently, until she is right up on the one crossbowman she saw earlier. With a surprise strike, she makes a sneak attack with her twin blades into the figure, hoping to take it out of the fight.

OOC +5 to hit with twin blades, doing a total of 3d6+1 each.

 

[Silanon]

As she sneaks forward, Wren can spot additional details - first of all, her opponent, seemingly unaware of her advancing, is a halfling, clothed in a dark coat with some fur trim. On his right shoulder, you can see the symbol of the Forgotten, and in contrast to his orc companion, there are no visible wounds. His movements are swift as you catch him off guard, but not quick enough to avoid your blows. The first one gets deflected by the studded armor underneath the coat, but the other one pierces through his defenses. Your blade draws blood, causing a brutal wound in the process - his mouth releases a sound of surprise. As he stumbles backwards, you can see the unholy fire in his eyes that you're familiar with after the encounter with Gordib, the very same signs of demonic possession. However, the gleaming fades away as he falls, leaving him as a crouched being on the ground, no danger any longer as far as you can tell.

Slaughter them all - fill these swamps with blood. You all can hear the voice in the back of your minds, the same thundering words as earlier, down in the old, elven chamber. However, this time it seems to be further away, distant, not much more than a whispering.

(just enough to take him out of the fight)

Psychie is up with Renna.

23 Io -6
21 Veskassdak -8
20 Hawk
19 Baird
14 Falconer (position unknown)
10 Wren -8
--> 4 Renna -8
2 Undead Orc

 

[Psychie]

Facing off against the orc, Renna calls out for the blessing of Iomeade as she swings her blade in a powerful stroke.

OOC using Smite Evil against the orc, giving me an additional +4 to hit and AC against it. Damage of my sword is now boosted to 2d6+15 against the critter.