Wicked Stirrings, part 2

Log Info

• Title: Wicked Stirrings, Part 2
• Emitter: Thurid
• Characters: Tenoc, Pasithea, Paenitia, Vance, Knightmare
• Place: H02: The Felwood
• Time: Monday, December 14, 2020, 2:25 PM
• Summary: Vance heads towards the ruins in the Felwood, sent ahead by Paenitia who seeks further reinforcements. He meets up with Pasithea and Tenoc, as the the sleepy sorceress shares her impression that time is like a tide in this place, rushing fast and slow, making it exceptionally dangerous. Paenitia rides in, with Knightmare following her, having located the other knight. Together they make ready to enter the ruins but are interrupted by 'Dog Men' skulking in the forest. Gnollish diplomacy fails, and battle ensues, with a wave of hyenas attacking. They meet an armoured line, and are swiftly dispersed. The Gnolls ready their spears for a charge, and ... none of the cavaliers do. Instead Tenoc approaches, and uses his breath weapon on them, as Paenitia challenges them again. The gnolls go mad, attacking and drawing blood but are beaten down and flee. After, Paenitia bandages her steed, Ramirez, Tenoc and herself while the others dismember, remember, or respectfully burn the bodies in a pyre.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--<* H02: The Felwood *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The hills give way to trees, which grow black instead of green. The Felwood, once a part of the greater world, now stands apart from it. The trunks of its wood stand twisted in the way that trees will twist, yet somehow wrong, somehow off. Here, it's always cold, the weather just "something other" than what it should be.

Overhead, a continual storm brews. A blackened smear cuts the sky directly above the wood, a darkened rift that was never meant to be. Its creation is rumored as an unnatural thing, a crafting of the unnatural creatures that lie within these woods.

Now and then, the city sends out patrols to thin the creatures, and keep them from the main roads. However, travel here is dangerous, risky, and often painful.

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

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Vance        6'1"     175 Lb     Human             Male      A tall, green-eyed young human with dark hair.
Tenoc        7'0"     280 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      Tall, green-scaled Sith'Makar hunter
Pasithea     3'2"     38 Lb      Halfling          Female    Tall female lucht, willowy, Hair dark as night
Paenitia     3'0"     34 Lb      Halfling          Female    A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery.
Knightmare   6'4"     294 Lb     War Golem         Female    A knightly construct on the hoof bearing heraldry of lost Dragonier.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  As the GM  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Thurid       7'1"     249 Lb     Giantborn         Female    Bright-eyed, muscular, blond Giantborn woman.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

After leaving the ruins, and Paenitia departing to head back to Alexandria and seek healing and spread the word seeking assistance from other potential Adventurers, Pasithea and Tenoc were left behind to guard the entrance and set up camp. Thankfully, the land around the ruins is fairly flat and tree-free, making it an ideal location for a campsite... if it weren't for the persistant fog, and the vaguely sinister aura.

Paenitia had managed to convince Vance to help- with tales of monstrous undead deep in the woods that need dealing with. He may even arrive before her!

In the mean time, at the camp- things are not entirely quiet...

GAME: Tenoc rolls knowledge/survival: (3)+11+2: 16
GAME: Pasithea rolls knowledge/arcana: (11)+8: 19
GAME: Tenoc rolls Survival: (19)+11: 30

Vance is questing for adventure! He had heard word of trouble afoot and could barely help himself from coming to investigate. He's shined his armor up to a mirrorlike sheen and looks particularly knightly and splendid as he rides through the Felwood atop his Griffon, Sunflash. He seems pretty confident about the directions and the way he is going...mostly. He's been wrong before, but Paenitia gave very specific instructions about how to get there. He's still some distance away, but Sunflash is a good and speedy steed, and so they're making good time, even if they're now off the road and pressing through the trees and undergrowth.

Day stretches to evening, to night. Bandaged across the torso, the Sith Makar, Tenoc, stands silent, watchful sentinel. Occasional roamings, patrols-- always close to the entry to the tunnel, he keeps his gaze outward as well-- examining the new, unfamiliar tracks with a jaundiced gaze, rumbling in disapproval before he comes back.

"..hssk. There may be others," he tells Pasithea, a glance to the campfire before deciding to add more tinder, a fresh log. "Tracks, new... have not seen before. Ssss. Not-dead. Living creatures."

Pasithea huddles in her blankets as they wait with spear in hand to help keep her propped up. The eternally sleepy Lucht keeping her eyes open and watchful the best she can. Her face taking on a frown as time goes by.

To Tenoc she whispers. "This place.. It is like the beach by the sea or large lake. The water of time.. it recedes and slows.. then rushes back in to catch up with itself. The magics here.." She then nods to his news of tracks. "This place is not safe."

The gnarled blackened trees scrape at Vance and his mount as they press through the woods, but soon enough he will begin to find the low-laying mist that Paenitia warned him off, the lumps of ancient masonry scattered about that serve as waymarkers- he is getting close, and will soon arrive.

Back in the camp, the forest seems to close in as the sun sets, as though the trees themselves are inching closer to smother the light of the fire.

Vance looks a little less splendid as the forest thickens, having to duck this way and that so as not to get caught in any low hanging branches or the like. Luckily, he also soon encounters the trail markers that Paenitia has told him about, and that helps him to find his way before he really does end up getting lost in the woods. Before too very long, Vance and Sunflash ride out from the surrounding woods and into the clearing where the others have made camp. It doesn't take long to spot the couple of tents and a firepit, and Vance directs Sunflash in that direction, careful to skirt the worst of the fallen masonry that litters the place. Drawing nearer, he chirps out a cheery "Greetings!" to both announce his arrival and combat the gloom of the place.

Tenoc rumbles a quiet breath, eyes glittering as he looks back towards the Shining Knight's entry! Well, not so shining-- everything is cast in a palor from the fog's gloom.

The lizard-man thumps his tail against the ground-- adding with a quiet rumble of semi-broken Tradespeak. "This one greets," he says quietly. "Lower sounds. Be.. ssk. Quieter. This place is not safe."" He glances at Pasithea, rumbling darkly as he nods. Turning his back to the black hole deeper into the ruin itself-- gazing silently, head occasionally turning with a quiver to either side.

The red Knight notices upon arriving, that though she has been gone for several days, it is still the same day she left, here. A mere 8 or 9 hours have passed at the ruins.

Pasithea startles at the appearance and sound of Vance's arrival. Spear lifting and then lowering as her eyes widen briefly. She offers a small wave of her hand, watching him too now. "Hello.. knightly one." She says softly "Glad to have another here. But be on guard."

It was not a long way back to Alexandria, half a day. Finding healing, the rest of it. Reinforcements, a few more days. One was sent ahead but the little Lucht knight was determined to locate the other knight she shared the road with, and tarried longer. Finally, she was found.

Thus Sister Paenitia, on her gorgeous white steed, a peacock-andalusen hippogryph, is leading the golem knight through the woods. She is enthusiastic and conversational.

"Ramirez! Do not brush Cysgodawyr with your tail. They are not dusty. Yet. Dame Betyrs, it is not far. The camp and the ruins, we are upon them."

As the camp comes into sight, and they unexpectedly catch up with Vance, the red knight comments further. She looks past him to Pasithea and Tenoc, "Has it been days for you? It has been for I. For you, the same clothes, the camp unchanged. It seems hours for you, have you spent even a day?"

there are certain words that harpoon ambition, even against more persistent drives: Undead. In the temple of the Grey Lady to relay the lastest roll of tragic lost in her homeland, after certain other business, the magic word was intoned in earshot, and the Crown knight soon traced it back to her new and steady companion, the resplendent Sister Paenitia and more was laid bare.

So it is, now that the colorful Knight rides abreast of a more ominous, weathered other, this born of the forge astride a massive coal destrier of shaggy russet mane and fetlock.

From within the armored skull, there echoes a hollow, "I see, Sister Paenitia, let it be that we can set things proper swiftly. The grim head pivots atop it's neck, surveying those gathered before a spike shod hand lifts, in palm forward hail, "Greetings, and well met."

Indeed, although it is hard to guage the exact time or day with the constant roiling grey sky over the Fellwood, and the dim pallid gloom of the fog, it certainly seems like it has only been a few hours for Tenoc and Pasi- half a day, at most. Passing strange, that.

With the reinforcements arrived- mounted bastions in shells of steel all- pushing ack into the ruins is beginning to seem like less of a foreboding prospect.

GAME: Pasithea rolls perception: (20)+3: 23
GAME: Tenoc rolls Perception: (20)+11: 31
GAME: Vance rolls perception: (16)+0: 16
GAME: Knightmare rolls perception: (6)+7: 13
GAME: Paenitia rolls perception: (3)+4: 7

There are trees, not so green, and dead roses too.

Tenoc quirks at the sound of the familiar-- and the utterly different! Rumbling a chuckle, he thumps again at the next knights' entry into the relative warmth of the campfire--

--pausing anew as he cocks his head in a different way. Frozen, stillness-- like a strange, scaly bloodhound. Seconds pass before he rumbles again, darkly.

"Dog-man-things," he hisses, tail giving a quivering lash. He moves quickly, reaching for the pile of green(ish) leaves nearby; taking a great heap into arms, he move sto the fire, dropping them in an unceremonious, smothering flumph.

"To the tunnel," he rumbles, waving to the others to hasten. "Danger comes. Safer inside. Somewhat."

Vance glances over as the rest of the reinforcements show up. He seems particularly impressed by Knightmare, who he looks over with a slightly awed expression. Paenitia he remembers from back in the city of course, it was she who had given him directions and sent him on his way. He waits quietly as those that already know each other better catch one another up on the situation, listening attentively all the while. As he does, something or other causes his nose to wrinkle slightly, and he lifts a finger to his nose, drawing it back as though half expecting to find blood there. There isn't and this causes his brow to furrow a little, confusion setting in as he glances about the area from astride his trusty steed.

Pasi stands up with her weapon and backs up towards the entrance to the underground place. Her eyes are on the woods to the East. "It sounds like.. laughter. And I think I smell fresh.. blood of a ..sort." She yawns and slips into the darker place.

Knightmare notes something off a bit past the others, head tilting slightly. Whatever line of consideration flows through her cognitive engine is derailed by the warning by the Sith and the Golem's visor sweeps about to take another lay of things, "We will cover your withdrawl." reaching for the shield hanging from the saddle. Click. Then for the lance.

Ramirez scrtch-clops into camp, announcing himself with a deep base 'ruaaah!' call and looking around regally. His rider, Paenitia, stands in the saddle and pats high on his neck, near his head as she as glances about.

"Ramirez, you will not fit in there. You must hide my friend, in a tree where the Dog Men will not reach you."

The little lucht stands on her saddle, then barks her head off. "Dog Men of Alexandros! I am Sister Paenitia Snapdragon del Haranna, of the Mad Dogs of Isobar! We have no meat for you, but plenty of fight. We clear the bones from the ruins. You should not interfere. We succeed, a new home for you. We fail, you win without fight. Come only if you need to taste your own blood." <gnoll>

After, Paenitia turns, "Ramirez, I dismount." He extends a wing and the red knight slides to the ground, "Go now my friend, hide!'

GAME: Paenitia rolls diplomacy: (6)+6: 12
GAME: Thurid rolls 1: (12)+1: 13

The growling and barking and yipping and laughing draws nearer, and now they all hear it- There is a loud bark in response to Paenitia's ultimatum. The rest fall quiet for a while. Eventually, a voice calls back from the woods- or, less a voice more a slathering, animalistic yowling as it responds in its own language. "Me an' the boyz love meat wot talks back!" the statement is met with frenzied barking and manic laughter and the beating of weapons against crude wooden shields- and the gnolls and their hyena's begin to charge out of the woods and into the clearing.

Beasts with spotty, furred skulls, long drooling tongues and yellowing teeth to match their yellow eyes but the lower body of a man, carrying round shields and an assortment of crude weapons- cleavers, shortspears, hatchets. The shields are decorated with grisly trophies, strips of rotting skin torn from recent prey and nailed to wooden planks. Their maws are stained with blood fresh and old. And their pet hyenas are no better, yipping and laughing and foaming as they rush into the clearing, eyes wild with feral hunger.

There look to be around two dozen in total, a roughly assembled band of gnolls and hyenas rushing out of the woods towards the campsite.

They are unfamiliar to the Makar's eyes, but Tenoc rumbles a hiss of his own, eyes glittering with quiet relish. Not like the dead-- those coming are quite possessive of hot, meaty chompable bits--

...and time to prepare, to ready and set for onslaught to come!

Tenoc moves forwar, greatspear clasped firmly. Feeling the warmth, the heat inside, hot breath prepared, readied...!

GAME: Pasithea casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15

Pasithea is glad to be tucked off to one side as the group appears at the forest edge. She huddles a bit more into the shadows and speaks the familiar words of magic that sheath her in protective energies.

The fact that *other people* can also smell blood is only a temporary relief, since it comes with the knowledge that there are dangerous dog-man-things in the woods to the east, which produces a very definite frown of concern from Vance. He notes the others making their way towards the tunnel, but he seems reluctant to leave Sunflash behind. In the end his hesitation seems to make the decison for him, and a bunch of monsters come clattering into the clearing. Vance's eyes widen a bit, but he's not one to back down from a challenge. He holds his position and unslings the shield from around his shoulder, strapping it to his left arm as he tries to formulate some kind of brilliant plan!

GAME: Paenitia rolls ride: (13)+2: 15

"Wait! Ramirez! The plan, she is changed." Paenitia clanks after her Hippogryph, "Extend your wing."

Ramirez does as requested, flapping and scooping the little red knight onto his back. Paenitia drops easily into her saddle, the pulls on shield and weilds sword. With her knees she guides him over behind Tenoc.

"Friend Dragon, we are with you!"

The Hyenas laugh hysterically as they bolt across the gras towards the tin cans full of delicious meat they see, foam dripping from their maws and rotten teeth bared as they bound the distance- each is nearly as large as man, dark snouts stained. The scent of blood follows them.

Meanwhile the gnolls follow up behind them, charging behind the wall of advancing Hyenas on two feet instead of four, but with teeth full of equally vicious teeth.

On the return of nefarious intent, the construct wheels her steed about and moves up alongside the brave draconid opposite Sister Paenitia, levelling her battle scarred lance, "When they come, hem them together best you can between us." she echoes in an ominous near-growl. Knowing this tone from his rider, Cysgodawyr, the dark destrier hops just a touch from his front hooves in what would almost be a playful, prancing manner, were it not for the somewhat vicious stomping follow throw as the great beast comes back to the ground. The equine, too, has plans for this battle. An eager whinnie precedes a derisive snort. The flick of an ear. Let them come.

Tenoc holds ground, holds fire, holds breath. Spear readied, leveled, the Makar listens to hisallies, hears the bloody roar thundering through his chest, his ears. Watching. waiting, for that perfect moment to strike...!

Seeing the oncoming charge, Vance rides up to defend the left flank. His initial surprise at the party being suddenly ambushed by the strange motley of creatures is passed, and his face is a picture of grim determination as he forms ranks with his comrades, taking close account of the strategic advice offered by Knightmare, which happens to be very close to what he would have suggested himself! He feels pleased about that. He can't smile for too long however, and once he is in position he raises his shield and levels his lance at the oncoming horde.

Pasi watches as the others line up in a charging line against the foes from the forest. As quickly as she can get herself to move out there she moves to the rear in support of her fellow adventurers. Heart beating like a drumb in her chest and almost fully awake once again.

"Be ready Ramirez," Paenitia tells her peacock andalusian, "to rip out their hearts!"

She raises her own sword, arm back and ready to swing. She barks at them, "Come see what a Mad Dog can do, you dogs!" <gnoll>

GAME: Thurid rolls 5: (18)+5: 23
GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d6: (6): 6
GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d20+9+4: (11)+9+4: 24
GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d10+7: (9)+7: 16

Tenoc holds the heat, the flame, clings to the embers that threaten to flare--- just a moment more...

IGNITE

Tenoc's fire breath erupts with a gust of exhaled fury. Not as fierce as some things, the swirling puff of fire consumes the languid air, setting the fog reeling as it surges into the charging hyenas' wild ranks. Breath expended for good effect, the Makar turns to driving spear-- punching through and down an ugly throat, black obsidian tip stabbing through the back of the creature's skull with a sickening *thwock*!

<OOC> Paenitia says, "Pae and Ramirez attack. Ramirez first, ATTACKS: Bite +3 1d6+2 and 2 claws +3 1d4+2"
GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+3: (10)+3: 13
GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+3: (20)+3: 23 (THREAT)
GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+3: (2)+3: 5
GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d6+2: (6)+2: 8
GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d4+2: (1)+2: 3
<OOC> Paenitia says, "and Pae's sword"
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon6: (16)+4: 20
GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d6+1: (5)+1: 6

And when they get in range, the crimson knight and her ivory steed attack. For all the peacock's fancy prancing, when it comes to bloody battle he shows a raptor's deadliness. His beak tears in, ripping a throat clear and pulling the hyena over by it's viscera. So much, his claw is obstructed by the corpse, but he lands the second, ripping the muzzle on a second and driving it's skull into the ground.

On his back, Paenitia picks her time and her target, leans in and slices open the spine on another.

There are so many- the remainders rush over the corpses to keep coming.

The Hyenas finally break- though their charge was brief, it was bloody- a mount of spotted torn hides and shattered bones marking those that fell, the remainders begin to scatter, fleeing the armed and armored adventurers, though they still laugh hysterically as they do.

Meanwhile their masters charge slows as they see how handily the adventurers destroy their slavering pets. They slow to a jog, and then a cautious, organized advanced, growling and yipping and barking angrily. Those of them with spears move to the front, all bringing their shields up as they advance towards the party- though wild monsters they may be, they clearly have enough cunning to know when raw violence isn't the best solution.

The hyenas are dead and the gnolls have slowed down but they still seem intent on eating you. Hard to say, a couple of them are bigger than the others, but they don't have any particularly unique markings. In Knightmare's case, eating her horse, and wearing her.

There is a low, reverberating rumble inside the Knightmare's throat as the Gnoll's hedgehog, "Death from above." she advises in that same, ominous tone. Hearing the voice again, her destrier's forehooves take turns smiting the dirt in heavy, bassy thuds.

Vance crows happily as the Hyenas run off, and seems more than happy to press their advantage and charge at the gnolls. Well, Sunflash certainly does. That is, until they re-organise their ranks and end with many long, sharp, pointy things up front, which gives them both pause. Thinking better of it, Vane murmurs "Stay, good boy," to Sunflash, leaning forward in the saddle to pat the Griffon's beak encouragingly.

GAME: Pasithea rolls bluff: (1)+10: 11 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Thurid rolls 1: (16)+1: 17

The little sorc pipes up from behind the others. her voice sort of shrill as she speaks in the gnoll language. /You best run now! We have more.. er.. knights on the way.. YEAH! More knights are on the way!/ Yeah.. not so much.

"Advance with me, my friends. Ramirez! Ahead, be ready." Paenitia says to her fellow knights and the dragon. She squeezes her steed, nudging him to move forward, and stop before he gets too far from the line.

She calls out loudly to the gnolls, "Cowardly Dogs, to send your brave dogs to die for you. Who leads? Who is the Big Dog? The one with the face? Ha! I have two faces, one that will always smile for you. You have chosen poorly my friends." <gnoll>

Behind her mask, the dark Lucht is grinning, but it remains hidden. The only face she presents her foe is the Smiling Man's.

Tenoc matches the hippogriff's movements, tail quivering with anticipation as he slides forward. At opposite to the great wite beast's steps, his own stalk, predatory, promised savagery to match that of the gnoll's own. Levelling the tepozotpilli towards them, the Makar grins with toothy relish. Teeth white, sharp, gleaming-- the best that healthy gnawing each morning can provide!

GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d20+9: (13)+9: 22
GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d10+7: (7)+7: 14
GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon6: (13)+4: 17
GAME: Paenitia rolls damage6: aliased to 1d6+1: (1)+1: 2

As the gnolls rush in, Ramirez is too eager. He lunges and strikes with his beak when they are just out of range. This pulls Paenitia forward, and she swings. While accurage, her blow is glancing.

GAME: Thurid rolls 2d6+3: (5)+3: 8
GAME: Thurid damaged you for 7 points. 17 HP remaining.
GAME: Thurid damaged you for 1 points of nonlethal. You have 1 total.
GAME: Thurid damaged your companion for 8 points. 11 HP remaining.

The attempts at intimidation draw more hysterical, manic, insane laughter from the Hyena-headed monsters, they bide their time, advancing slowly, as their armored enemies do as well. Suddenly with a burst of violence they rush towards the assembled heroes- several of them die in their advance, but this does not even slow the remaining beasts who charge over their fallen comrades, laughing and drooling. Cleavers and spears and hatchets lash out, shields smash and teeth chomp and tear in a frenzy of bloodthirsty violence- even the most stalwart defense has little hope of blocking every strike, and so though disorganized, their blades and bites find purchase on the adventurers, opening wounds.

GAME: Knightmare RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 4 temporary HP
GAME: Knightmare rolls weapon4+2: (2)+7+2: 11

The call to ride down the gnolls is made, and so the enemy breaks the hedgehog to close and engage....

Just as well.

There is a nudge of a hoof against the dark destrier's side as the Knightmare's hue seems to desaturate just a touch, while the shadows of her carapace deepen. As over a thousand pounds of muscle, steel and battle bear down on the scattered passle of hyenanids, there comes a fierce cry of the horse....

And the menacing echoing neigh of his rider as she couches the lance.... the horror of impending violence to be sure....

Scuttled, as she fails to bury the lance in anyone.

GAME: Vance rolls weapon1+2: (10)+6+2: 18
GAME: Vance rolls damage1: aliased to 1d8+6: (7)+6: 13
GAME: Vance rolls damage1: aliased to 1d8+6: (5)+6: 11

Vance spurs Sunflash into action, and the Griffon charges off towards the gnolls with a bloodthirst shriek. Vance honestly seems just about as excited, and laughs happily as the pair of them get up to full speed. He lowers his lance and goes crashing through the right flank of the Gnolls, impaling aand trampling over several of them as he goes and sending various others scattering in all directions! Vance crows triumphantly, lifting his gore-spattered lance above his head as he comes crashing out the other side of the formation, bringing Sunflash round again to line up another charge into the rear.

GAME: Pasithea rolls ranged-4: (3)+5+-4: 4

Pasithea creeps closer as she pulls out her sling and a stone. She whirls it about a few times and launches it towards the mob of enemies and while missing her companions she also manages to miss the mob of foes as well. Too cautious by far.

GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+3: (4)+3: 7
GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+3: (7)+3: 10
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon6: (9)+4: 13
GAME: Paenitia rolls damage6: aliased to 1d6+1: (2)+1: 3

Ramirez rips into gnolls left and right. Already slain ones on the ground, or fluffy bits of them, their manes. Nothing that actually hurts any of them.

Holding tight to his back, Paenitia swings, bringing her sword across one's chest and cutting it down.

GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d20+8: (12)+8: 20
GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d20+8: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d6+4: (3)+4: 7

Advancing with the Red Knight and her mount, Tenoc continues his oppressive, relentless assault. Switching from spear-thrusts to fierce kicks, the firs tis a blow of beauty, delicious grace--

--the second whirls through the air, a beautiful and deadly blow of terrible, vicious fury!

...that kicks hippogriff tail-feathers, and little else. Ooops.

And the Gnolls finally seem to think better of their foolhardy assault on the adventurer camp. Many lay dead and broken in the mist, blood seeping into the ground and offering some grisly color to the grey landscape. Others turn tail and run, scattering in all directions and trampling over the remains of their hunting pack to get away. They flight is haphazard at best as they make back for the cover of the trees.

The clearing smells like a charnel house, slain gnolls and hyenas laying all across the ground. Paenitia, her mount, and Tenoc all bear wounds inflicted by filty rusted weapons, which will need tending, but it seems as though they have won the day.

Pasithea stuffs her sling back into her pocket as she shuffles forward towards the wounded people. She rubs are her face to try to keep soldily awake. "Are you ok? That...was impressive.. but also... sad." She says while looking at one of the dogs breathing it's last.

GAME: Knightmare rolls weapon6: (15)+5: 20

Knightmare wheels Cysgodawyr about as the gnolls are so swiftly broken, and with another grim neigh, sounded in turn by the coal destrier, the mounted pair thunder after the fleeing brigands.

One ends up weighing down the goresoaked tip of her lance in a fountain, the momentum dragging it along for another few yards before taking one of the others in the small of the back. With the treeline so close, the charger stops, hooves pounding angrilly at the turf as the rider twists at the hip to yank the now sloppy weapon free.

Cysgodawyr rears, hooves rampant as the pair sound off again, gorey lance held like a dreadful penant on high.

Run, you curs, run, and run and keep running!

GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon1: (6)+7: 13

"Run you cowardly dogs! Run like dogs! You are not even dogs! You are puppies! Back to your mother's teats and learn how to be strong. Fear the Mad Dogs of Isobar!" Paenitia barks her head off, in a cruel sounding and tanting way as she hangs her shield and throws her sword to stick in a nearby body.

The blade will have to be cleaned of blood. Later.

Now, she pulls her composite bow. A mighty bow for such a tiny form. The dark Lucht knocks and arrow and pulls it back, sighting a fleeing spotted back. She growls in trade under her breath, "For trying to spill our blood, taste your own."

She looses!

Vance seems to have no stomach for chasing down a fleeing enemy, and steers Sunflash back towards the campsite as what remains of the Gnoll hunting pack make their escape. He's careful to skirt the worst of the carnage as they go, avoiding trampling any of the dead any further. "Good boy," he praises his mount, reaching forward to pat Sunflash appreciatively on the neck for his performance.

Knightmare is normally quite reserved. stately. Honest.

Tenoc lets the hot blood cool in his veins, seething fury diving back into cool, remorseless calm. And a pat of apology on the noble Andalusian-peacock's side.

"This one apologizes," he rumbles absently, greatspear held up right as he rumbles quietly. "One would blame fog, balance lost, but... was enjoying slaying dog-things too much. Too long without activity, hunt. Hsssk." A last pat on the mount's side, he gazes on briefly as the cavaliers have their last few moments of sport, turning back to the campsite (and third noble rider!) , eyes already turned back to the yawning cavern mouth.

"Clean camp now?" he inquires, glancing to the others. "Or after? Burn bodies when done, to be sure."

Paenitia's arrow finds its mark, finding the back of one of the fleeing Gnolls, tail between its legs, and with a yelp it falls forwards, skidding to a stop as it joins the dead that litter this place. None of the gnolls are brave enough to remain as they have been defeated so thoroughly, and the one or two that chance to look back over their shoulders redouble their flight at the sight of Knightmare's bloody lance- they make for the deeper denser woods, where the mounts and their riders will struggle to follow.

Brief though it may have been, the silence that follows the chaos of battle is deafening.

Pasithea moves about the fallen foe with knife out and tries to hasten an deaths for those fallen but not dead. Her knowledge is not that of healing but of sleep and the arcane. She does the only thing she can. Her bare feet growing sticky with blood.

GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d20+2: (20)+2: 22

"Ramirez, hold still, I dismount. Let me see." Her hunt complete, Paenitia stows her bow then slides down the side of her hippogryph. She moves around him, checking his wounds. He stands proud, ignoring her. He is not wounded, that does not hurt! He does not wish to be touched there, now, that is all. No wounds have brought him low.

"You are brave Ramirez, but I must take their foulness away." The little red knight cleans. Tenoc's question and Pasithea's actions draw her attention. "Their own blood maddened them. They will return, to eat their fallen. Burn them, so they will not taste their friends."

Tenoc rumbles quietly, nodding to the small knight. No further words needed-- the Makar shoulders his spear, carrying it over to plant in the earth near the pile of gathered tinder, brush, logs. Firewood-- easier to begin a pyre with fuel close at hand. Leaving his weapon, he tends to the grisly task of gathering the bodies, quick to first break the knees and elbows of each corpse before stacking them on a growing pile.

"Sssk. To keep risen skeletons weak," he adds, intoning with a grim nod. "If they come. Stack, burn. Will be better, yus."

Knightmare's color seems to improve, and Cysgodwyr's perhaps petulant stomping is set to ease with a low sound from his rider, though his ears are yet slung flat. she slings the lance and shield before swinging a leg over the saddle to land hoof after hoof upon the ground. She regards the slain, then and with only a quiet, "Come, old friend." the golem takes up her victims each by the nape to bring them back toward their fallen fellows.

Vance seems happy enough to chip in with gathering up at the fallen to be burned. Dismounting from Sunflash, he heads back over towards where the heat of the battle took place and starts to drag the bodies back toward where Tenoc is building the fire up, one at a time. He for one, does not join in with the breaking of the knees and elbows, though he doesn't speak up to prevent anyone else from doing so either. Once he's cleared his area of bodies...mainly, he gathers up the last few dismembered limbs and the like he's able to locate, and makes a neat pile of those beside the larger pile of bodies.

Knightmare, for her part, does her bit in collecting the dead, going back out for stragglers as her mount stands by with the others. Her labors complete, she looks at the Sith for a moment in silence, then sinks to her haunches and plants a knee and lays a spiked hand over her 'heart' before begining an archaic chant in Draconic to the Death Singing Dragon.

These souls are now gone beyond, may her talons see them taken to their proper sky.

Tenoc 's eyes widen slightly, momentarily caught off-guard, confused. A question for later, for Speakers-- why show favour to such malignant foes? Answer in part-- softskin things. Though not as good an answer as it has been-- the song is in Draconic, the chant familiar, if faintly accented. He shrugs with a rumble, adding his last part-- gathering to himself, he knee;s down alongside the pyre, focusing his breath into a single, searing jet of concentrated flame.

Long required, reluctant to burn-- but burn it finally does. Sullen, slow, grudging-- the fire begins with a rush of hot coals rising to the sky.

<OOC> Paenitia nods, "Okay, and a +1 for order of the pillar on not-me heal checks"
<OOC> Paenitia says, "Ramirez, tenoc, Me"
GAME: Paenitia rolls heal+3: (16)+7+3: 26
GAME: Paenitia rolls heal+3: (11)+7+3: 21
GAME: Paenitia rolls heal+2: (16)+7+2: 25
<OOC> Thurid says, "So you and Ramirez are healed for 4, Tenoc is healed for 5."

Paenitia pulls down her healer's kit and starts working. It takes a while, hours, for her to clean and treat her mouth, her dragon friend, and herself. She's more experienced with Ramirez and her own wounds, so that goes well. With the sith'makar, the physiology is alien. Still, the principles that blood should stay in and gaping wounds, not, are her guidelines and produce decent results.

She pats green-scaled sith on the back. "There! Do your women like scars? You will be magnificent for them."

Ramirez squawks, then scratches at the ground. "Yes Ramirez, you are magnificent without scars! The women prefer your feathers white, or bloody with others, as they are now. You are still beautiful."

Her own bandages also take time, and when she is done she looks over at the pyre, "They are seen to? That is good."

Tenoc is stoic for treatment. STOIC.

...suitably distracted by question!

"It is... complicated," he finally replies, rumbling with quiet bemusement. "Sometimes, tooth and claw. Sometimes scales, shaped and even. And sometimes feathers, gifts, prettty things." He pauses, eyeing Ramirez carefully. Glancing away.

No stealing ally feathers!

Though it takes some effort for the corpses to catch, once they do they burn readily, fat boiling and stoking the flames which spit and hiss. It reeks- the burned hair begins, and then later the charred flesh. The still air does not disperse the smoke well, but at least it is cool and so rises quickly instead of lingering where it can sting eyes and choke noses.

The pyre rages as Paenitia treats and bandages the various hurts the party had obtained, but considering how outnumbered they were, they got off very lightly. It has, nevertheless, been exhausting- but at least no one needs to visit the temple for more urgent medical care, this time, and so after a night's rest they can press into the dungeon on the morrow.

Some Gnolls still skulk near the edges of the camp through the night, but none are brave enough to try anything- and easy to drive off with a shout or thrown stone. It seems as though the ones left are largely runts- the strong and brave among them were the ones that fought to the death.

OOC stuff

<OOC> Knightmare says, "i will move on my mount to tenoc's other side, so if anything moves in on him, i'll get an aoo with the lance. will also as a standard action, share teamwork feat with everyone: paired oppurtunists"
<OOC> Knightmare says, "Benefit: Whenever you are adjacent to an ally who also has this feat, you receive a +4 circumstance bonus on attacks of opportunity against creatures that you both threaten. Enemies that provoke attacks of opportunity from your ally also provoke attacks of opportunity from you so long as you threaten them (even if the situation or an ability would normally deny you the attack of opportunity). This does not allow you to take more than one attack of

Ambience
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s8mz2Yiv1I

Maps
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=msg0fdd9wbs
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mgjx163s2s3