Hooves Of Steel
Log Info
- Title: Hooves Of Steel
- GM: Thurid
- Summary: The winter months are not known for forest fires, but disturbing rumours of spontaneous blazes on the outskirts of some of the northern farmlands of Alexandria recently need investigating. Suspecting some manner of supernatural intervention, the guild of explorers are dispatching a band of adventurers to see what they can find out about the source of these unusual conflagrations.
Forest fires are something that the rangers out of the grove or Mictlan, or the local militias usually deal with. But forest fires don't usually strike in the midst of a weeks-long snowfall, and the local militas are ill equipped to deal with fires of a less than natural origin, whether that be wanton arsonists or something more deliberate, perhaps even supernatural. As such, the Guild of Explorers have been asked to investigate. And a bill has been posted at the Fernwood, the guild itself, and other establishments around the city.
Volounteers are requested to meet at the north gates, to begin their journey along the main trade path until they clear the northern farmlands where these sudden blazes have been spotted. The path here is so well trodden that the snow barely had time to settle before it is stomped under foot and hoof and wheel into a slurry of gravel and slush. The roads further afield are reportedly growing more and more difficult to navigate by the day, and the extended snowfall that was at first seen as a curiosity is gradually becoming a problem.
But it is not the problem the adventurers are hired to solve today. They get underway without any trouble, and the muddy path is easy to follow for now. The air is brisk and cool, and there is a light wind. And of course, the snow still falls.
Harshad is a city boy. He's never made any bones about it. But even he knows idiots setting random fires is a bad thing. And how the hells are they setting forest fires in the middle of a snowy winter?
Well, the answers are out there, and there might be coin in the making for them. So Harshad is wrapped up in a heavy cloak, hood pulled up over his head and gloves on over his hands. The half-oruch's eyes are contemplative, as he practices with a oddly-curved knife in one hand, spinning it back and forth in his grasp from upward to downward and back again.
Jutting from his mouth is a lit pipe, and the faint scent of tobacco lingers around him as he puffs quietly.
So much snow. Bryn isn't used to alot of preciptitation or the cold, but she weathers it well enough with a few fur wraps on arms and legs. Slogging along through less than ideal terrain? That she's accoustomed to.
"I get wantin ta stay warm... but settin the whole place afire don' seem the smartest thing ta me. Gettin cooked ain' no better'n gettin froze." She looses a short laugh as she walks. "They need better aim fer the middle."
Strange fires out in the middle of winter were certainly cause for concern. But that just mean people like them needed to go out and do something about it! Or at least, figure out what was going on, so someone else could figure out the rest.
Reithak, one of the adventurers hired, was in relatively good spirits. "No, it's not good idea at all. Best we stop them before they burn down the forests." The large egalrin nods.
Unnatural forest fires. Deep snow. Even worse - Crik did not have a white cloak. The corvid looking egalrin - or, the bundle of rags and cloaks that cover the egalrin - was furiously scribbling into his notebook. The paper was constantly wiped clean from the snow, which caused most of the ink to simply smear. Didn't seem to stop Crik though, who lets out a characteristic sounding 'crik' from his throat.
"It was set on fire?" Crik suddenly asks, raising his head. "... did the forest not simply set fire on itself?" He looks down at the mostly ink stained page he was writing on, and then furiously starts rubbing at it. "... arson... not fire of unknown origin..." He sounded so disappointed as he rewrote his notes, too.
"I can't feel my legs." Beat. "I can't feel my *toes*. Oh gods of my father, I knew I should have gotten the Dwarven wool socks."
That is from one Skyler Skywalker, (former) sky pirate and adventurer extraordinaire... who's toesies are apparently getting frost-bitten. The human is in his usual winter attire, great-coat lined in wool shearling, bifurcated mittens, and a knit woolen hat with ear flaps and a tie under his chin with a scarlet poof on top. He's not even attempting stealth, although the dark brownish-red of his coat is surprisingly subdued even in the snow. He's got his buckler on his arm, and scimitar hilt peeking from his back.
He glances at the birdman, shrugging one shoulder, "Figured it'd be too wet to catch, but I'm not the most woods-wise. Jar?" And he glances over at his emotional support witchman for confirmation.
Jarik was only too hapy to take a trip out into the woods, even if those woods did happen to be on fire. He is not a city boy, and Alexandira was beginning to get a little stuffy for his sensibilities. The chance to go out, even in the cold is eagerly taken. He trudges through the snow in mostly silent contemplation, one hand keeping the fur cloak in place against the wind.
"No, forests don't usually go up in flames unless its been particularly dry." He replies as Skyler inquires in his direction, his eyes flicking towards the man, then back out onto the trail.
Though muddy, the roads are packed hard and well kept enough close to the city that the going is not particularly tough until the nearest city-supporting settlements- mills and cooks and pigstys and things like that, that do well to be near the city- give way to more rural fields, mostly empty given the winter months though a handful of them sport hardy bianual plants that can go to bulb in the winter ready for spring harvest in the new year. The snow gradually encroaches further and further onto the track until it eventually becomes a suggestion more than a trail, a ridge of slightly higher ground mostly devoid of shrubs and larger rocks.
In the distance, through the clear air, the very edges of the great northern forests can be seen, beyond more fields and pastures. And further still, rising from somewhere within that forest, is a plume of smoke- at this distance, the plume seems like a stationary dark streak carelessly blotted across the horizon like spilled ink.
"If ye get it hot 'nuff, that'd dry it out, eh?" Bryn posits, looking to Jarik, then around at no one in particular. "Maybe its another big magic beam from the temple? Or somebody that likes fire? Or magic? Magic fire?" She shrugs.
Then she points at the dark streak in the distance. "Least the burnin ain' hard ta find. Looks like one over there."
Harshad shrugs at Bryn. "You tell me. I don't really do magic." He taps his pipe out, watching the hot ash extinguished by the snow. "Pretty sure you're not going to set a fire without some help though, not in this weather."
As he stows his pipe, his eyes narrow at where Bryn is pointing. "Yeah, that's kinda obvious. Why don't we go over and see what's happening? I can appreciate gettin' warm as much as anyone else but you don't need to burn down a bunch of trees for it." He loosens his rapier in its sheath as well, just in case.
"Well, looks like we at least have one place to start with, yeah? Good fortune for us, not that it's too hard to find a big patch of burnt forest, really." *Reithak chuckles, shading their eyes and peering in the direction of the plume. "We've got directions, 'fraid we're going to have to go off trail. Hope you all got some warm pairs of boots! At least till we get where it all got burnt. I don't have that much sympathy, it's real inefficient, compared to just chopping them down. Waste of life, selfish, nah."
Crik lets out a long exhale, finally shutting off his notebook, with several red strings tangling from it. The corvid then lets it fall into his sleeve. "... most likely someone started a fire, but their chimney was packed with snow." He says, looking like he was about to raise his hands in despair. He definitely misread the job description. "The insulation filled with dried crops, too to the brim. Nearby larder with oil caught fire. The snow keeps the nearby firewood pile dry..." The corvid starts to babble, as he continues on making his way - though briefly pausing to flicker his black tail from the worst of the snow.
"What do you think the chances are that whoever started the fire did it accidentally? 'Oops, sorry, I was making a mug of tea and it just got out of control! My bad! Tea?'" The reformed pirate purses his lips as he glances over the snowy expanse, pale grey-green eyes lingering on the smoke, "I could use a good cup of hot tea. With honey. And booze." Jarik is familiar with his tendency to ramble, and possible his other new best friend Bryn (they killed gnoll and witch together! BFFs!) but even though his eyes seem devoid of rational thought and his mouth is going a mile a minute even the relative strangers in this little party can tell he's not letting it distract him. "If it wasn't so cold, I'd suggest sending Greywing to scout." He says in response to Bryn, even as he gingerly shakes the snow off one boot and hops on the other foot. "If it's magic fire, I bet they'll over-boil the tea leaves. We should go stop them, right? Only thing worse than no tea is overly bitter tea."
He blinks at the corvid, and lifts his knit cap to run a hand through auburn hair. "So... no tea?" And to Harshad, he nods grimly and ties his knit cap in place with the tasseled ties under his chin. "I'm still hoping for tea. A nice dandelion tea, with some single-flower honey and a good oak barrel aged whiskey."
"Green wood doesn't like to burn without help." Jarik confirms with a nod, his eyes shifting towards Crik as he nods his agreement. "A hut or cabin going up in flames is more likely. Old wood, dry thatch." The mud doesn't seem to bother him in the slightest, in fact he just seems to stride along it like it's solid ground, the snow provides more of an impediment. He lifts a hand a spreads his fingers with a, "Whoosh."
He cranes his head to look up into the gray sky, then lets out a soft whistle. After a moment, a small brown and gray owl drops out of the snow to perch on Jarik's shoulder, reaching out to nip his ear. In response he pulls up his hood over both his head and the owl, which burrows into it with a soft hoot. "Tea? I could go for some spiced cider myself. And a hot bath." He lets out a disgruntled sigh. "I'm getting to spoiled in that city."
GAME: Jarik rolls survival: (16)+6: 22
Though heading towards the plume as the crow flies would indeed take them off the main path, Jarik is able to find a smaller less traveled path despite the snow- even though it's little more than a gravel trail buried under the snow, it does at least provide the party with a firmer subsurface to walk on and avoids most of the brush and bramble which encroaches towards the road in other places. Still, though, traipsing through the snow is tiring work.
As they draw nearer to the source of the smoke, Jarik notices something else as well- the smoke plume is moving. At first, it could have been dismissed as the wind, but the fact the wind is little more than a light breeze and the shape of the plume tips him off. It's less of a wildfire burning through the woods, and more of a patch of fire and smoke that seems to be moving but not spreading- whatever is causing this fire is mobile, and localized, and the snow and live hydrated wood prevents the fires from raging out of control.
Traveling towards the fire, Harshad looks at Skyler. "Sorry, best I can do is a skin full of weak wine. Safer than the water in some places." He snorts, rubbing his thumb along his jawline, eyes flicking past to Jarik. "Yeah, everyone says 'spoiled' till they gotta spend a night outside, then it's 'maybe city life ain't so bad'..."
As the group approaches, Harshad squints at the fire. "...Am I seeing things or is that fire moving around? I feel like something's not right here..."
"Eh? No, you aren't wrong, that smoke is definitely moving." Reithak mutters. "I mean, course smoke moves, the hot ash particles tend to do that with the hot air rising, I mean, the source of the smoke is moving, or something."
Reithak stops to shake her head. "Seems like what we're looking for might still be active. On your guards folks, not sure what we'll run into out there."
The mention of smoke moving makes Crik perk up. He quickly gets a _really_ long piece of wire from one of his cloaks, and holds it up to the sky, standing completely still. "... yes, it is moving." With another flutter of his tail, he hops along after the party, starting to write into his notes. "... not unknown fire sentient... question mark..." He quietly whispers by himself.
"Huh..." Bryn tries to peer ahead, too, but doesn't notice all that much. "Maybe somebody set themselfs on fire ta stay warm? Now they runnin 'round tryin'a put it out? That sound more like something ta happen then a buncha snowy trees going up ablaze." She turns her head to sort of look sidelong at Crik. "Or maybe its some kinda living fire, yeah..." Somebody self-immolating still sounds more likely to her, but she looses the strap on her long curveblade just in case.
"Definitely moving." Jarik agrees, holding up his hand with his thumb out to the side in an L, much as Crik uses his wire. "It's not completely moving with the clouds. A bit off. A flaming wagon? But that'd fall apart before too long.."
He pauses in thought. "Elemental on the loose?" He offers as another suggestion, something made of fire would certainly be capable of doing all of this, the thought has him scratching his jaw curiously.
"Weak wine?" There's a brief moment when Skyler looks as if he's giving the thought deep consideration... He nibbles his upper lip, eyes going unfocused before he shakes his head as if in pain. No thoughts, just vibes. "We'll see. I mean, I don't want to shit myself and have it freeze in my good pants." Ew. "But maybe if whoever's on their way doesn't bring tea with them."
He grimaces at Jarik's talk of hot baths. "Gods of my mother. A hot bath *and* tea. With those little cookies I found at that gnomish bakery." He shakes his head ruefully, and shoots Reithak an apologetic look. "Sorry. Focusing." He purses his lips, and lets the great thinkers of the adventuring party do their thing. He's already starting to get overheated from all the attempts at thought.
The group are able to deviate from the path and begin picking their way through the sparse woodland at the edge of the forest, following a circuitous path towards where this mobile plume of smoke seems to be headed. They find themselves in a sparsely wooded area- again, there is obstensibly a trail underfoot but this part of the countryside doesn't seem to have had any footfalls in quite some time, so the path and the brush are as one and both covered in a good layer of crunchy white snow to boot.
GAME: Bryn rolls perception: (18)+10: 28
GAME: Skyler rolls perception: (2)+7: 9
GAME: Reithak rolls perception: (4)+19: 23
GAME: Harshad rolls perception: (14)+9: 23
GAME: Jarik rolls perception: (15)+2: 17
Harshad slides his rapier out of its sheath as he picks his way among the sparse brush, reaching up to push his hood back so he can see better. His eyes flick back and forth, and he hms as they reach the alleged trail. "Doesn't look like anyone's been here..."
Then the rogue pauses, tilting his head and holding up a hand. "Hey, anyone hear hooves? Sounds like someone's riding hard -- hope they're heading -away- from the fire, and not into it."
Bryn looks from the smoke, or path of it, to Jarik and Skyler. "Ey, don't get too distracted." A tusky grin follows. "Celebratin comes after. Can get all the whiskey 'n tea 'n whatever, then. 'N I'll dunk ye inna baths m'self." Could be stick, could be carrot.
Then she looks back ahead of their path. Her head cants. "Ye. Hearin hoofs. N whip crackin. Maybe is a burning cart?" Then she takes a large sniff and her broad nose wrinkles. "Ain jus wood burning I smell, though. Sulfur. 'N blood." With that last word, she draws her big curveblade from her back. Where there's blood, there's bleeding. Where there's bleeding, there could be fighting.
GAME: Crik rolls perception: (2)+11: 13
Reithak squints some more, clacking their beak together. "Well, either that sound of hooves and whips is unrelated to the moving plume of smoke, Or it's from whatever's causing this." The egalrin notes. "Ah, shit. Y'smell sulfur? That's bad news, I don't think that was anyone here passing wind. Wouldn't be surprised if something from the lower planes is there, which means, we gotta deal with it."
As far as Skyler is concerned, they're lost in the woods. The former pirate seems oblivious to his surroundings as thoughts of hot baths and oruch attendants to wash his feet and massage his scalp swim through the empty space between the knitted ear-flaps. Fortunately, even if he is well and truly out of his depth he utterly trusts the people around him, and happily follows their lead.
Besides, everyone knows the view is better from the back. Waka waka waka.
When Bryn draws her blade, he follows suit, easily and gracefully sliding the scimitar out of the back sheath and taking an alert position. "If it bleeds, we can kill it." He assures Reithak, before pausing and scratching his jaw. "Unless we're not smell it's blood. His blood? Her blood?" He squints, "Do lower planar entities have the concept of gender? I don't want to assume gender... That's rude. *Their* blood."
Crik's notebook is in one hand, but his hand crossbow falls onto his other hand. "I knew I didn't misread the job posting." The corvid croons slash croaks, apparently giddy with excitement. He continues to stare for a moment, before he turns to look at the others. "... how do you know it is a planar entity?" He asks with a blank look. Which, to be fair, for him was fairly neutral expression.
"Whips." Jarik says with a nod, echoed by a small hoot from inside his hood. He does blink a few times at the mention of sulfur, then he turns his nose to the ski and tries to sniff at the cold air to find it for himself. Lower planes is out of the realm of his experience. So are elementals, those just seem more friendly on the surface.
As others ready for battle so does he, shifting his hand in his cloak to slip in into the attack claws that hang from his belt.
Soon enough, all of them can hear the hoofbeats. Whatever it is, it's getting closer. There's also the sound of brush and low branches bending and twisting and breaking. The smoke draws nearer, glimpses of flickering red and orange flames can be seen through the woods. Eventually, the sounds of harried cattle begin to carry too- labored, panting breaths of beasts of burden driven to exhaustion and beyond. And then the first of them bursts out of the brush to the north- brush which blackens and chars in its presence.
The beasts eyes are wild, panic and fury. Its black iron horns are rust red with dried blood, and its brand burns still. Black skin and fur is cracked and shot through with rivulets of abyssal fire emerging from sundered flesh. And it is not alone. More of the beasts come barrelling out of the woods, driven in blind, animal panic. Some of them are impaled on broken branches that have charred and blackened into stakes, and they would be dead if not for their otherworldly endurance. And still they run, driven by some overwhelming urge to stampede.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Thurid has dropped a TIMESTOP!
Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Thurid to instruct you further. You may earn RPP by logging a scene for a GM.
For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 17.
It is now Skyler's turn! Bryn is next!
GAME: Crik rolls knowledge/the planes: (16)+4: 20
GAME: Harshad rolls knowledge/nature: (8)+3: 11
GAME: Jarik rolls knowledge/nature: (2)+9: 11
GAME: Bryn rolls knowledge/the planes: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Bryn rolls knowledge/nature: (18)+3: 21
GAME: Skyler rolls knowledge/nature: Trained Use Only: 0
GAME: Crik rolls knowledge/nature: Trained Use Only: 0
GAME: Skyler refreshes special ability pools.
GAME: Bryn refreshes special ability pools.
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 17.
It is now Bryn's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 2 is next!
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 16.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 2's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 6 is next!
GAME: Bryn spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 14.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 6's turn! Reithak is next!
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 11.
It is now Reithak's turn! Crik is next!
"See? Planar!" Skyler calls out, before letting out a bone-chilling war cry and rushing forward towards the Fiendish aurochs. Despite his bold decision to charge at raging fiery bulls of evil, he pauses and takes a defensive stance, preparing himself to take the charge should they make it to him. He mutters, "Caltrops. I should have bought *caltrops* instead of a new knit hat."
The Aurochs blow black smoke from their nostrils as they huff and stamp their feet upon seeing the party, before breaking into a full run towards the group. Their steel hooves melt the snow and blacken the grass beneath as they barrel towards the party.
GAME: Reithak casts Bless. Caster Level: 5 DC: 13
"They look stampedin! Don' get in the way if ye can. They run ye down! N they gots the hells in 'em! Fire 'n chill don' bother 'em much." Bryn warns as she moves on up, though encouragement follows; starting with an assuring pat on Jarik as she passes. Then comes a rousing cry that is belted in time with the hoofbeats. "But we stop 'em! Ain' nothin but steaks waitin fer cookin!" Sure, they might be able to calm them down, too, but... steaks're better.
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 8.
It is now Crik's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 3 is next!
"Those are, not normal giant flaming cows, are they?" Reithak coughs, shaking her head. "Ah, shit, yeah no, but don't worry guys, we'll be fine!"
"Ceinara believes in you too! Don't worry, she's got yer back!" The egalrin prays quickly, filling the group with a bit of extra strength.
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 8.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 3's turn! Jarik is next!
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 6.
It is now Jarik's turn! Harshad is next!
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 5.
It is now Harshad's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 1 is next!
GAME: Jarik casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 5.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 1's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 4 is next!
Crik's beak opens and suddenly, everyone can hear the sudden flurry of notebooks being messed about, pages fluttering and then finally, the corvid holds up a tiny red, and pretty singed looking, notebook. "Auroch-" He begins, before Bryn fills in the details.
A moment later, Crik is running along, continuing to shout out with his deep, and currently croaking, voice. "-have resistance to cold and fire, have been known to be resistant to arcana. Known to smite those with pure in their heart and extremely dangerous when in a stampede!"
The egalrin stops and then looks at a spot in the ground in front of him for a moment. Then his cloaks flutter and _amazing_ collection of random metal bits and pieces just floods the snow in front of him. He looks up. Then down. Then back up. "They have been corrupted by something in the Abyss." He lets out a long 'crick'. "Horns are made out of black iron." He looks back down at his notes. "... black iron...?"
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 4.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 4's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 5 is next!
Jarik opens his mouth, about to tell Sky not to go charging in just as he... goes charging in. For a moment his mouth just twists in fond annoyance, at least until a hearty slap on the back almost sends him stumbling as Bryn passes. Right. He moves off to the side himself, free hand twisting through some quick gestures as he murmurs words into the snowy air. After a moment the snow seems to be sliding off of an invisible barrier just above his clothing.
Harshad vaguely remembers hearing a song about this. Something about 'trying to catch the Tyrant's herd, across the endless sky'. He shakes his head, and instead glides forward, boots crunching in the snow. His blades up, he growls, "Be ready. I don't think they're going to want to return to the pastures any time soon!"
He glances around, seeing Jarik to one side and Bryn to the right, and the side of his mouth curls up faintly. "If we can get on their sides maybe we can take them out quickly, before they really get after us."
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 2.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 5's turn! Skyler is next!
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 17.
It is now Skyler's turn! Bryn is next!
GAME: Skyler rolls acrobatics: (14)+9: 23
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 17.
It is now Bryn's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 2 is next!
"Hyah!" Skyler is a sky pirate, not a cowboy, but apparently the two have a certain amount of overlap between the skill sets because as the fiendish Auroch comes charging at him, he takes a moment, adjusts the grip of his sword, and then does a running leap that lands him on the back of one of the fiery steers. He frantically grabs at the horns, letting out a whoop of pure joy. "Jarik! JARIK! Do you see me!? I'm RIDING THE FIENDISH BULL!"
GAME: Bryn casts Distressing Tone. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15
GAME: Bryn rolls 1d4: (4): 4
GAME: Thurid rolls 8: (10)+8: 18
GAME: Thurid rolls 8: (7)+8: 15
GAME: Thurid rolls 8: (8)+8: 16
GAME: Thurid rolls 8: (7)+8: 15
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 16.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 2's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 6 is next!
GAME: Skyler rolls ride: (14)+4: 18
GAME: Bryn casts Gallant Inspiration. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15
GAME: Bryn rolls 2d4: (6): 6
The Aurochs Skyler manages to mount is NOT happy about it. It stamps its hooves and issues a complaint of black smoke from its nostrils, rearing up and kicking out its hindlegs to try and dislodge the man. It tries to lower its head for a charge, but Skyler's grip on its horns yanks it this way and that, frustrating the creature and its efforts to barrel down on Bryn.
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 14.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 6's turn! Reithak is next!
Bryn blinks when Skyler continues to run forward and... leaps atop the lead bull. Then she hoots! "Ha! Ride 'em, Sky guy!" This leads right into her chanting of "Hoof beats. Waitin defeats. Soon meats." The last word drops several octaves, causing flesh and guts to vibrate uncomfortably. Just not quite enough to bother the stampeding fiendish aurochs.
When Skyler tries to steer the steer, her pitch leaps back up to her more normal contralto with "Grab it by the horns! Ye got it!"
GAME: Crik rolls 1d20: (3): 3
GAME: Thurid rolls 9+2: (1)+9+2: 12 (EPIC FAIL)
Given the frantic bucking of the Aurochs leading the charge, one of the others breaks away from the group lest it gets kicked, and sets its eyes on a certain Elgarin on the outskirts of the group. It scrapes the ground, lowers its head, and then barrels towards Crik. Steely hooves trample the Caltrops without giving the creature pause, but its horn snags in the snow and wrenches its head before it manages to gut the Corvid chronicler.
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 11.
It is now Reithak's turn! Crik is next!
GAME: Reithak rolls 1d20+3+4+1+1+1: (15)+3+4+1+1+1: 25
GAME: Reithak rolls 1d6+3: (3)+3: 6
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 8.
It is now Crik's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 3 is next!
With a rather large, flaming cow in front of them, what was the best course of action? stabbing the giant beast in front of them, it seemed. The egalrin strides forward and lunges, managing to land a decent strike! Though, it was an awfully large beast, and it could likely take quite a few blows such as this.
GAME: Crik rolls acrobatics: (5)+10: 15
GAME: Thurid rolls 9: (8)+9: 17
GAME: Thurid rolls 1d8+11: (8)+11: 19
GAME: Crik rolls weapon1+2+1+2: (20)+9+2+1+2: 34 (THREAT)
GAME: Crik rolls weapon1+2+1+2: (9)+9+2+1+2: 23
GAME: Crik rolls damage1+3d6: aliased to 1d4+1+3d6: (1)+1+(14): 16
GAME: Crik rolls damage1: aliased to 1d4+1: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 8.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 3's turn! Jarik is next!
After the glittering of caltrops hits the pure white snow, Crik sees the creature rush towards him. With widening eyes, he realizes the collection of bottle caps, bolts, sharp nails and marbles has all gone to waste and he was about to be skewered. In panic, he lets out a loud, bonechilling 'caw' and flutters his wings.
Still, he feels the slice of the horn into his gut, skewering most of his insides and leaving black feathers and crimson ddrops into the snow- hold on a second. Crik realizes he was holding a knife and still very much intact, and thanks to Reithak, the horned fiend was exposed.
With a momentary blank expression, he then raises his big flat bladed knife and puts down the beast with a quiet, but very deadly, stab.
GAME: Thurid rolls 11-4: (5)+11+-4: 12
GAME: Jarik rolls weapon1 +3 -4: (5)+5+3+-4: 9
GAME: Thurid rolls 8: (8)+8: 16
GAME: Jarik rolls reflex: (5)+1: 6
GAME: Jarik rolls reflex: (15)+1: 16
GAME: Bryn rolls weapon1-4: (2)+7+-4: 5
GAME: Bryn rolls reflex: (14)+7: 21
GAME: Thurid rolls 2f6+9: (16)+2f6+9: 25
GAME: Thurid rolls 2d6+9: (3)+9: 12
The remaining Aurochs barrel into action, plowing their way through the snow and overrunning Bryn, Harshad and Jarrick in a crush of hooves that bruise the flesh and crack the bones. Bryn is quick enough to avoid the worst of it, but the others are not so lucky- Harshad takes a hefty kick that sends him momentarily sprawling, and one of them stomps right on the center of Jarik's chest with a sickening crack. It is suddenly very difficult, and painful, for the Oruch witch to breathe.
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 6.
It is now Jarik's turn! Harshad is next!
GAME: Jarik casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15
GAME: Jarik rolls 1d8+2: (4)+2: 6
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 5.
It is now Harshad's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 1 is next!
GAME: Thurid rolls 11: (20)+11: 31
GAME: Thurid rolls 11: (12)+11: 23
Jarik likes to point out he grew up around farm animals and in the woods around wildlife, but none of them were possessed by the hells. So when one manages to catch him squarely in the chest he stumbles, wheezing, a bit of blood already dribbling from his mouth. He takes a pained step away from the auroch, almost reflexively muttering a quick prayer to Gilead as a soft glow surrounds his hand, a hand that he quickly presses against his crushed chest, his breathing easing suddenly with a gasping intake of air.
GAME: Thurid rolls 2d6+8: (4)+8: 12
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 5.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 1's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 4 is next!
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 4.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 4's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 5 is next!
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 2.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 5's turn! Skyler is next!
GAME: Thurid rolls 7: (13)+7: 20
GAME: Skyler spends ONE point of PANACHE.
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1: (14)+8: 22
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1: (18)+8: 26 (THREAT)
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1: (16)+8: 24
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+3: aliased to 1d6+4+3: (4)+4+3: 11
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+3: aliased to 1d6+4+3: (1)+4+3: 8
GAME: Skyler gains ONE point of PANACHE.
GAME: Skyler rolls acrobatics: (19)+9: 28
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 17.
It is now Skyler's turn! Bryn is next!
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+3: (15)+8+3: 26
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+2: aliased to 1d6+4+2: (1)+4+2: 7
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 17.
It is now Bryn's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 2 is next!
"Jarik!" The sky-pirate's eyes widen as he watches his friend get gored by the fiendish Aurochs, and his expression hardens, jawline clenching. When his improvised mount rears up to attempt to gore him, Skyler doesn't even flinch. Instead, the horn he's grasped in an attempt to stead himself becomes a pivot as he uses the momentum to launch himself over the head, scimitar catching the creatures throat to direct his fall as he lets go, landing in a single tumble.
And as he surfaces, he again lashes out with his blade, swiping at the Auroch in front of him across the flanks. It's a wicked blow, and he flicks the blade to the side so that scarlet red splatters onto the snow to right while the steam from the blood of the split-throat carcass behind him rises to frame him as he stares towards the creatures threatening his friends with *hard* eyes.
GAME: Bryn rolls weapon1+2+2+1: (7)+7+2+2+1: 19
GAME: Bryn rolls weapon1+2+2+1: (1)+7+2+2+1: 13 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Bryn rolls damage1+2+2+1: aliased to 2d4+4+2+2+1: (8)+4+2+2+1: 17
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 16.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 2's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 6 is next!
GAME: Thurid rolls 9: (20)+9: 29
GAME: Skyler spends ONE point of PANACHE.
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+3: (17)+8+3: 28
GAME: Skyler uses an AoO! 0 remaining.
GAME: Thurid rolls 9: (15)+9: 24
GAME: Thurid rolls 2d8+18: (8)+18: 26
Bryn is able to duck aside the charging Auroch with little more than a flesh wound. When she turns to see the path they took behind her, though, she sees that the blood is spilled. Given that it is Harshad and Jarik, it is oruch blood. Her clan or not (and her clan isn't even here), this is unacceptable.
Her song turns more guttural as it falls into a mix of yrch and trade... and no small amount of growling. "They are meat! Blood. Blood for blood! War for Kor!" With that, she rushes back towards the halfsies, barreling down with her long curveblade held high. Until it is brought down in an overhead chop into one of the aurochs harrying the two.
The buck that just threw Skyler rears back, and splatters the snow with blood from the wounds left in its flesh. But it doesn't flee, as a wild animal might. The panic in its eyes is blotted out with rage as it bears down on Skyler. It plunges one of its horns deep into the sky pirate's gut just as he's celebrating his feat of acrobatic prowess and deadly grace and then launches him into the air. Skyler collapses into the snow, pale and fading, with red staining the white in a rapidly growing circle around his limp form.
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 14.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 6's turn! Reithak is next!
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 11.
It is now Reithak's turn! Crik is next!
GAME: Bryn spends TWO uses of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
GAME: Reithak rolls 1d20+3+4+1+1+1+2: (2)+3+4+1+1+1+2: 14
GAME: Reithak rolls 1d20+3+4+1+1+1+2: (16)+3+4+1+1+1+2: 28
GAME: Reithak rolls 1d6+3+2: (3)+3+2: 8
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 8.
It is now Crik's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 3 is next!
GAME: Crik rolls weapon1+2++1: (2)+9+2++1: 14
And suddenly things were very much not fine. "Shit, alright! Hang on there, I'm coming!" Reithak curses, electing to sprint towards the auroch closest to Skyler and striking through it, landing another solid blow. "Need some help to clear some space to work, here!"
GAME: Crik rolls weapon1+2: (3)+9+2: 14
GAME: Crik rolls damage1+2: aliased to 1d4+1+2: (2)+1+2: 5
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 8.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 3's turn! Jarik is next!
GAME: Thurid rolls 9: (19)+9: 28
GAME: Thurid rolls 1d8+9: (4)+9: 13
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 6.
It is now Jarik's turn! Harshad is next!
There was a lot of happening around Crik, whom was perhaps a bit too busy chronicling the occurances - but then Reithak's call wakes him up from his stupor. He holds onto his knife and looks around, beak open. What to do? Then the corvid gets an unnatural thought, one that makes him shudder instantly. With a sudden caw, he springs forth into action - knife held up in the air, he shanks the wounded auroch, but doesn't quite manage to finish it.
The chunk taken out of its haunch by Bryn definitely grabs the attention of the Aurochs, and it stomps its feet and spins around to slam one of its blood-rusted horns into her, catching her in the shoulder and tearing a gouge out of it. Not as grevious as the wound dealt to her comrade, but certainly painful.
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 5.
It is now Harshad's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 1 is next!
GAME: Harshad rolls 1d20+8+3: (15)+8+3: 26
GAME: Harshad rolls 1d20+8+3: (6)+8+3: 17
GAME: Harshad rolls 1d6+4+3d6+1d4+4+3d6: (1)+4+(13)+(3)+4+(15): 40
Seeing Sky go down has Jarik growling under his breath. There's no way he can get to him now, but at least the others seems to be going to tend to him. Still, the half-oruch has his temper up now. He pulls his hide cloak tighter around him, Greywing taking off and up into the snowy sky. The hide seems to merge with him, his form swelling into that of a large and very cross looking boar that sends snow spraying up around him as he drops to four hooves. He closes in on the aurochs, a menacing glint in his dark eyes.
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 5.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 1's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 4 is next!
GAME: Thurid rolls 9: (10)+9: 19
GAME: Thurid rolls 1d8+9: (7)+9: 16
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 17.
It is now Skyler's turn! Bryn is next!
Harshad is battered by horn and hoof, and his cloak is torn to reveal gleaming silvery mail beneath. Seems the half-orc isn't relying -solely- on his agility to prevent injury, though he'll have some spectacular contusions later. He snarls, spitting on the snow, and as Jarik wildshapes into a boar and surges toward one of the aurochs... Harshad moves.
Swift, his rapier whistles as it drives into the fiendish bovine's eye, piercing its brain and sending it to the snow with a crash. His kerambit whistles as he spins, laying open a long gash on the other auroch, as he snarls, "Come on, you sons of bitches! I'll give you a dinner date with the gods!"
GAME: Skyler rolls constitution-7: (11)+2+-7: 6
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 17.
It is now Bryn's turn! Fiendish Aurochs 2 is next!
On the ground, Skyler's left toe twitches. But, alas, he remains unconscious and bleeding.
GAME: Bryn rolls weapon1+2+1: (11)+7+2+1: 21
GAME: Bryn spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
The Aurochs feels the sting of Harshad's dagger in its flank and spins around, dropping its head low and slamming its horns into the man with such force it drives the wind out of him and lifts him off his feet. Something gives in his ribcage, but it's not enough to knock him down. These Aurochs hit like... well, an aurochs- which is to be expected.
GAME: Bryn rolls damage1+2+1: aliased to 2d4+4+2+1: (4)+4+2+1: 11
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 16.
It is now Fiendish Aurochs 2's turn! Reithak is next!
GAME: Thurid rolls 9: (14)+9: 23
GAME: Thurid rolls 1d8+9: (7)+9: 16
Bryn is gored, and this time its more than a flesh wound. By apperances, that is; she doesn't seem to let it slow her down. She ain't got time to bleed. Their enemies, on the other hand...
"Blood 'n gore! Gore galore! For Kor! For War!" She brings her cow-chopper down again on the auroch, this time finishing the cuts and it. With a growl, she steps over its still-bleeding carcass to stand by Harshad against the last one there.
The fiendish Aurochs had looked poised to finish Sky off, hoof poised above his head and ready to stomp when Reithak comes rushing in and lands a telling blow on the beast. It turns, and with a shake of its head slams its horn into the Inquisitor's flank, puncturing armor and flesh alike and drawing fresh blood to further stain the gore soaked snow.
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 11.
It is now Reithak's turn! Crik is next!
GAME: Reithak casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 5 DC: 13
GAME: Reithak rolls 1d8+5: (8)+5: 13
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 8.
It is now Crik's turn! Jarik is next!
GAME: Crik rolls weapon1+2+1: (18)+9+2+1: 30
GAME: Crik rolls damage1+2: aliased to 1d4+1+2: (2)+1+2: 5
GAME: Thurid advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 6.
It is now Jarik's turn! Harshad is next!
GAME: Jarik rolls 1d20+6+2+3: (18)+6+2+3: 29
GAME: Jarik rolls 1d10+5+2: (8)+5+2: 15
Reithak squawks in pain as they're gored by one of the remaining aurochs, looking significantly more bloody than before. No time to dwell on it however, as the larger egalrin hops to one side, placing one hand on their fallen ally. "Hey, that was real cool even if they are dirt, right? You can't let someone so inspired fall like this." she prays, infusing the fallen one with healing magic, closing up some of the worst wounds.
<Auran>
GAME: Jarik rolls 2d6+5+2: (9)+5+2: 16
Crik, still uninjured, takes the opportunity to finish off the auroch so Reithak can focus on the more important task at hand. "... I will help the others." He tells her, after giving the corpse a brief nudge with his foot - and just like that, he flutters away. Though - "That was an interesting prayer!" He calls out, whilst running.
Jarik may have not have been the most useful during this fight, having had to tend to his own wounds, but at least he ends it on a high note. With an angry squeeling grunt the big boar that was a half-oruch slams into the last remaining demonic auroch, sinking tusks into it's side. Then with a wrench of his head, tearing a gash open. One glare is spared for the fallen beast, before he goes trotting off in the direction of Skyler.
And so the last of the Fiendish beasts is slain, collapsing into the snow like its kin. What had once been a pristine field of white is now a churned mess of mud, blood and gore and the party have taken their licks but emerged victorious. They have barely the time to catch their breath, though, before a loud crack rings out across the field of battle.
A stranger on horseback emerges from the brush to the north, and tilts up the hat on his head with the still-smoking barrel of his dragonspitter.
"Now look at what you've done." he says, as he emerges more fully from the shadows. What at first appeared to be a man, is now clearly anything but. The skin of his head is deep red, leathery, and stretched taut and fleshless over his skull. He lacks lips, so yellowed teeth are on clear display. Where should be a nose is a ragged hole in his face, and instead of eyes he has two burning orbs of abyssal fire. "I ought to gun y'all down where you stand." he continues, chewing and then spitting a wad of foetid gunk into the snow. "But I can see you took a lickin' an' I'm a sporting type. So how about y'all scurry off and lick your wounds, and we'll settle this at high noon on the morrow." he suggests then, tugging at the stirrupts to halt his horse- whos oily black hair is stretched like a drum over skeletal frame, and whos hooves burn the ground beneath it. "An ifn' you don't show? Well..." he says, looking around. "There's a fine little homestead not a days ride from here. May just pay 'em a visit. How's that sound?" he asks the party.
Crik has left.
As the healing energy hits him, Skyler bolts to a standing position, grabbing his belly. "But mommy I don't want to eat that!" He says groggily, blinking at Reithak, "The chicken is still on the bone."
Blink blink. And the swashbuckling ex-pirate coughs, turns to the side, vomits, and then blinks again at the sudden apparition. "Do they have tea at the homestead? I have a weird taste in my mouth. It tastes like.. fuck you."
And despite his injuries, the redhead attempts to get to his feet.
Harshad stares at the fiendish-looking rider. Undead or fiend, at any rate. Then, he glances at Bryn and Jarik, as if considering a response in front of them. He winces, touching his ribs, before giving the horrid cattle-wrangler a glare.
"Alright. What do you want us to put on your tombstone?" The kerambit spins in Harshad's fist, before vanishing back into its sheath. "Wouldn't want you to go unremembered."
Bryn is already reaching for Harshad (since he's closest) to see about licking some of those wounds (not literally). Then there's the ... person on the ... horse. A challenge? A threat? Like she can say no to either. "Gonna send ye back ta whatever demon's arse ye crawled outta! And the horse ye rode in on!"
The boar form simply seems to part back into a cloak, like it was all an elaborate costume as Jarik once more stands on his own two feet. He just glowers at the abyssal rider, speaking no words but obviously keen on maybe digging some tusks into him as well.
Reithak stopped, stuck one hand one her side, laughing loudly. "Everything alright over there we you folks?" She asks, only before her attention was sent to the voice. Any laughter was gone. "Well, shit. Guess we can't turn that down now, can we?" She snorts. "No way I'm letting anyone else get hurt."
"Hah! Bravado. Gotta respect it." The rider says, and spits again, "But I aint about to kick a dog when its down. High noon, tomorrow." he says again, and then digs jagged spurs into the already bleeding flanks of his nightmarish steed and tugh hard on the reigns. The horse rears and whinneys, issuing forth a cloud of choking black smoke, then turns and the two of them head back into the woods from which they came.