The Taste Forgotten
"There be a dragon up there in those mountains." Says the old man that hired you from the Adventure's guild. He looks deadly serious and not as senile as that sentence makes him sound. His gray eyes meet your gaze steadily and without the glazing that comes to some eyes when they begin to age. He seems sharp. "Saw 'im come down from there and eat my neighbor just the other day. Attacked 'im out of the wild blue and gobbled him up. Dragged the body back up the mountain."
He is talking to you outside in the cold, and it's snowing. He's never invited you inside. Mores the shame for that. He points off in one of the directions. "'e went thatta way. Should be able to find track of 'im it hasn't but snow'd a bit since then."
Shin is obviously not one for winter climates. He's got a few extra furs that won't hinder his movement. His pet tiger, however, looks just fine in it. White snow means that she can blend in more, after all. The young warrior looks skeptical, "A dragon? Well, that does explain why the guild sent me this way... about how big was this dragon?"
Well that escalated quickly. Just the other day, Ignis and some companions witnessed the antics of a hungry baby gold dragon but now there's talk of a much older one attacking the local citizenry? Needless to say, the Daeus touched knight looks somewhat concerned though also mildly skeptical as well because..well..locals.
"And what color?" he adds, after Shin speaks. "Did you catch that?"
Jaen is dressed for the weather, possibly with a few recent additional layers. The chill is nothing new, though following a dip in the Tornmawr... more insulation seems even better. He watches and listens to the exchange on dragons, though doesn't immediately offer any questions of his own. All that come to his mind, even if that number is zero, are being addressed.
"I've not seen a Serpent before", rumbles a deep rumbling voice from the figure in furs and hides. A makeshift hood hides the figure's face, with what looks like a wolf's head on the left and a deer on the right. Yes, this meant there was one antler. No, it did not look terribly balanced, even as deep red eyes looked out toward the man.
"If there is...a beast, perhaps he has a claim to this mountain. Should that not be...respected?"
"It were about the same size as George. An 'e were average for a man. So not a terribly big 'un." The man glances at Ignis and then rolls his shoulders. "It were hard to tell in the snow, but I think it were red. Sort of a dusky, dusty red. As far as the rest goes... I've lived on this mountain my whole life and never seen the beast before. And why'd it attack George rather than one of his goats? Or my goats? It's a man-eater is why and it's gotta be stopped." The man nods.
Shin hums, then nods. "Well, looks like we have a dragon to go after..." He turns to start heading towards the mountain where the old man said the trail was. "... shoot, maybe it can talk like the young one I met the other day? Might put some perspective on why and such." The tiger turns to follow Shin, giving a growl before it huffs. "... right, no bringing fish with us either."
"You're not wrong." offers Ignis to rumbling figure with them. "..And I was recently in a similar situation with some others and we were able to negotiate an understanding between the villagers and the creature regarding boundaries. But we need to ascertain, first, what we're dealing with. Because if it is an aggressive threat...and deliberate..then that's another matter." He looks away, nodding to the mans words and turns to follow after Shin, "Well...let's hope it is actually -not- a dragon.. There's always that possibility."
Jaen is somewhat torn, as he tends to agree with all of the voiced points, even if some might be somewhat contradictory. One that isn't is Ignis' note on investigation. "We must learn what it is, first." Which will not be determined by remaining here, so he starts off in the direction pointed to its last known departing.
The response given by the old man seemed to ring hollow in the ears of Herne. He'd seen numerous times, birds and beast preying on those weaker than them, only to fall themselves. But he did not press the issue. Instead, he looks off to the distance toward the mountain in question.
"Beasts on foot, tracking a winged thing through the air. A difficult task."
GAME: Herne rolls survival: (3)+10: 13 GAME: Ignis rolls survival: (12)+0: 12 GAME: Jaen rolls survival: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Shin rolls Survival: (17)+0: 17 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+2: (7)+2: 9
You find the trail easily enough. There's blood everywhere on George's farm, and a trail of it leading through the snow and up into the mountain. It's as if whatever killed him didn't care about a trail. You find nothing of George, just evidence of his blood leading you further and further up the mountain. The body was clearly dragged, not lifted up off the ground and flown any distance.
The green man is knelt at the scene of the abduction, his shepherd's staff lowered as he runs his hands along the red crimson-stained snow. Letting the liquid stain his fingers, and cake under the jagged fingernails, he glances over at the group.
"The serpent cannot fly, or cannot fly while holding a man. This mess would not exist, and we would have no way of following it."
"So..not a dragon?" muses Ignis. It wouldn't be the first time the local folk have jumped to conclusions about the identity of something. And it won't be the last. It doesn't make this any less concerning though as the possible alternatives of what attacked the man ..well makes for one very long list. "Any thoughts on what it could be?" he asks, looking to his companions. "Any tracks that give some possible culprits?"
Jaen scowls the more he sees, and it isn't from any difficulties in locating nor following the trail; no, the trail is blatantly obvious. And that is part of what concerns him. "This is ... wrong. A predator takes the easy prey. Small. Wounded. Easy. Goats, not men. Something more ... mindful would cover trail. Hide."
Shin shakes his head, "This is not a sane creature... even the beasts I have seen back home did more to the corpses... we need to be on guard, and be ready for anything." He says towards Jaen and Ignis. He even points out a few carcasses. Of course, he has to call off the tiger before it starts to sniff too much at one. "Mirai, back. No telling what it did to those." The tigress gives a growl.
At Ignis' question, the Green Man pointed a crooked index finger toward the trail of blood, and pointing how it continues. "Like starving wolves, we will have to follow the wounded hare for our meal."
GAME: Zapolklnex rolls perception: (13)+5: 18 GAME: Herne rolls perception: (5)+8: 13 GAME: Jaen rolls perception: (15)+10: 25 GAME: Ignis rolls perception: (3)+0: 3 GAME: Shin rolls Perception: (7)+0: 7 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+7: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)
Jaen scans ahead, as the trail on hand isn't going anywhere. He's more concerned as to what lies at its end, as it could be that it was left intentionally. The opening in the mountain is spotted, and he lifts a hand to point at it as he stops. He also catches the glint of scales and form within. "There." He peers further a moment to process what he may have seen. "Not a true dragon... but kin? Not a beast." Not that he is an expert on such things.
Ignis turns, following Jaen's directions with his gaze. He then nods his head grimly, "Well..this is bound to be no fun." He looks over to the rest of his companions, "I suggest we move quickly and get this over with. Who knows, there might be a chance to save the victim still.. but let's make ready and not delay any more then need be."
Zapolklnex lifts his hood, and points to a cave up ahead "Be alert. Something lurks in the cave in that direction."
Shin makes his way, carefully making sure his tiger doesn't go for dead animal or people bodies. She does look a little hungry. He finally ends up giving her a piece of dried meat to munch on once the others stop a bit. Said tigress chomps it down quite quickly as she and Shin look to the others, then to what they see. He shrugs, "The victim was eaten already. We should be wary. Dragons do tend to breathe fire, correct?"
Slowly, the big man rises to his feet and shifts the massive oak 'shield' off of his shoulder, slinging it around his left forearm even as he re-grips his shepherd's staff and slings it across his shoulders.
“If we must do this thing...then let it be done."
With that, the green man starts off toward the cave, taking the lead.
Jaen nods and resumes his movement up the mountain, now for the cave and at a quickened, determined pace.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (16)+9: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+5: (2)+5: 7
Suddenly something bursts forth from the cave. A crimson-scaled sith-makar in little more than rags. The sith looks... feral. Stumpy wings flap from its back and its body is covered in scars. It's yellow eyes are wild with madness and it launches itself at Jaen without regard for any other considerations; sinking its whole maw into the man's shoulder. "Sssa. Eatssss you!" <draconic>
GAME: Jaen RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 6 temporary HP GAME: Jaen rolls finesse: (18)+7: 25 GAME: Jaen rolls finesse: (6)+7: 13 GAME: Jaen rolls finesse: (20)+7: 27 (THREAT) GAME: Jaen rolls finesse: (19)+7: 26 GAME: Jaen rolls 1d6+strength+2: (3)+2+2: 7 GAME: Jaen rolls 1d4+strength+2+1d4+strength+2: (1)+2+2+(2)+2+2: 11
Jaen howls as he's suddenly charged and his shoulder chomped down upon. The pain isn't incapacitating, however, but turned to invigorate, and the howl of pain turns growled and bestial of its own. His fingers sprout claws and his own teeth elongate into feral fangs. All the better to slash at the belly of the creature and latch his own jaws onto its shoulder. It isn't the only crazed one with sharp teeth, it seems: two can play this game.
GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+5: (17)+5: 22 GAME: Shin rolls 1d4+2: (3)+2: 5
"Mirai, attack!" Shin himself moves in, glaive coming off of his back and to point at the sith as he closes in, waiting for an opportunity to attack it seems. "Stand firm, my friends! Whatever this is shall not defeat us if we stand together and face it down with courage!"
The big man raises his staff, but is not confident in his ability to not utterly clobber his raging ally. Instead, the staff is moved to his left hand, while his right green hand slaps itself against the side of Jaen's face, wet and damp as if covered in morning dew, before a tingling guiding energy attempts to pass through the barbarian.
GAME: Herne casts Guidance. Caster Level: 2 DC: 13 GAME: Zapolklnex casts Acid Splash. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Zapolklnex rolls ranged: (2)+3: 5
Zapolklnex sees that the one he warned about is upon the group sooner than he would have liked. So, he moves just close enough, and attempts to fling acid at the thing, to no effect.
GAME: Ignis rolls weapon1+1: (16)+6+1: 23 GAME: Ignis rolls 1d10+3: (4)+3: 7 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (15)+9: 24 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (3)+9: 12 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (18)+9: 27
"What in the Iron Hells is going on.." grumbles Ignis as the flurry of chaotic combat movements begins and he lays sight on the bizarre variation of Sith-Makar lunging in for the attack. He quickly notes the crazed expression on the raging beasts face and so wastes no time into springing into action… lunging the distance between himself and the melee and bringing his blade out in a sweeping flourish of motion. An instant later he's swung, whip cracking his sword around in a blur of highborn steel, attempting to distract the creature from focusing solely on Jaen. His attack strikes true - but the creature still stands!
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+5: (4)+5: 9 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6+5: (3)+5: 8
The sith's yellow eyes glint dangerously and it tears into Jaen like its life depends on it. Perhaps it does. All you know is that its ferocity means more of Jane's blood is spilled onto the snowy mountain stone. There might be words amid it's growls, but it's impossible to tell now. Impossible to tell why it's attacked you or the man down the mountain in the first place.
GAME: Jaen rolls perception: (12)+10: 22 GAME: Herne rolls perception: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Ignis rolls perception: (10)+0: 10 GAME: Shin rolls Perception: (4)+0: 4 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+7: (17)+7: 24 GAME: Jaen rolls finesse+1: (11)+7+1: 19 GAME: Jaen rolls finesse+1: (6)+7+1: 14 GAME: Jaen rolls finesse+1: (5)+7+1: 13 GAME: Jaen rolls 1d6+strength+2: (4)+2+2: 8
Jaen struggles against the creature's fury. Jaen and it (he? she?) seem be feeding off one another's fury... or it is simply a matter of survival. One claw finds purchase, though his wounded shoulder hinder the remainder of his retaliation.
GAME: Shin rolls weapon5: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+4: (17)+4: 21 GAME: Shin rolls 1d4+2: (2)+2: 4
Trying to swing his glaive, Shin almost hits Jaen by accident in the scuffle, but Mirai at least manages to claw a bit more out of the Sith.
GAME: Herne casts Thunderstomp. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Herne rolls BAB+wisdom: (16)+1+3: 20
In anger, the big man rears up to his full height, back crackling as the hunch lessens. With that, he shouts out,
"ENOUGH!"
And stomps his foot down with authority. The sound of the impact is deafening, and the attacking creature is on its back, or on its side. And Herne is breathing heavily while glaring off into the cave...
GAME: Zapolklnex casts Acid Splash. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Zapolklnex rolls ranged: (8)+3: 11
Zapolklnex sighs, and tries again to fling acid at this being. Having to avoid hitting allies makes things so much harder. And it misses again, completely.
GAME: Ignis rolls weapon1+1: (17)+6+1: 24 GAME: Ignis rolls 1d10+3: (2)+3: 5
Again, Ignis blade flashes around as he circles the enemy while his mind whirls with possiblities. Is it feral? Is it simply maddened and confused..? Or..
"Hn. No." he finally determines, digging deep into himself and staring at the rabid creature with a glint of sunlight that seems to briefly drift across his eyes. An edge of determination begins to set on him now but then the force of his blow seems to have done the deed anyway as the enraged Sith-Makar goes down and Ignis takes a few steps backwards. Something is uttered in Tradespeak as the creature slowly expires and Ignis grunts out, "..Peace? ... May you have it, if you can find hereafter.."
"During our fight with this creature, there was movement within the cave. More creatures, similar to this?" Herne speaks out loud, even as he looks around to take stock of the group. In particular, he looks over at Jaen. "You remind me of a honey badger, defending her young. Unflinching and blood-crazed."
Zapolklnex shakes his head and walks up toward the downed opponent. "Facing multiple of them at once would be a challenge for us."
Jaen is left panting and bloodied, looking to the formerly enraged and now fallen threat. He looks to Herne, losing his own craze, or appearing to: claws and teeth recede to absence and normal, respectively. A nod and a point to the cave. "Something, others, there."
Ignis stares at the body of the fallen Sith and then turns, approaching Jaen. "It seemed to be pleased to be sent on its way. It said 'Peace' as it fell.." he muses. He tightens his grip on his blade at the thought of more being in the cave and he nods his head grimly to Zapo and Herne, "We can't leave things undone though. We need to find out what's going on here..."
He reaches down to try and lend Jaen a hand to rise. As he does, the warmth of the rising sun flows out through his hands. "Here. You may still need to be tended later to but I can help ease your wounds to a certain degree.."
GAME: Herne rolls survival: (9)+10: 19 GAME: Shin rolls Perception: (4)+0: 4 GAME: Ignis rolls perception: (17)+0: 17 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+7: (10)+7: 17 GAME: Jaen rolls survival: (17)+8: 25 GAME: Ignis rolls 1d6: (6): 6 GAME: Ignis rolls 1d6: (1): 1 GAME: Ignis rolls 1d6: (2): 2
You head up into the cave and find clear evidence that its been lived in. There's a fire, there's even blankets set up on to provide privacy to some areas of the surprisingly large cave. You find other evidence too. Evidence that while some of the people that were staying in this cave were warm by a fire, the rest were far from it and left to fend for themselves. Bits of the man who was killed are found by this area. The last bit of the cave seems to be the domain of the sith-makar you found. You suspect this because of the fact that its closest to the exit out of the cave where it came from, and this is where the majority of the man's bones are.
As for whomever was in here, they made a quick retreat out the side of the cave whilst you were fighting. Jaen and Herne estimate that the group is eight people large. A mixed group of small sith-makar and humanoids wearing shoes if the prints in the snow are any indication.
Shin considers as he looks around the cave. "Well, there was a fire... I wonder what is going on? That one didn't seem like any Sith-Makar that I have met before. They didn't have wings for one." He looks towards the side of the cave where the obvious retreat is and starts that way, his tigress following and sniffing as if trying to identify whatever it is she's smelling.
"..He may have been under some sort of external influence. Evil was present in him..I know that for certain but what he said when he died..he was glad to be sent on." remarks Ignis after a moment of contemplation and study of the cave with others. "Still..this is confusing. Was he attempting to protect these smaller sith-maker? And perhaps these other tracks are others who were kidnapped?" He grimaces at the remains of the body that sent them on this mission in the first place and then nods his head, "We should see if the tracks can be followed and if there's anyone who needs more help.."
Herne turns to the group, with red eyes that look like berries, or perhaps skinned olives. "The creature had friends, and they've escaped out into the world when we were busy fighting. I will continue to follow them, if you wish to give chase."
GAME: Ignis rolls knowledge/religion: (13)+5: 18 GAME: Zapolklnex rolls knowledge/history: (17)+5: 22
Zapolklnex removes his hood again, and turns to the others. "This whole situation is reminiscent of a practice in Charn, of feeding young Sith Makar flesh, and training them into being beasts of war that hunger for their enemies. Why that is happening here is unclear to me. But it does suggest the tracks we see, might not be innocent."
GAME: Shin rolls Knowledge/Local: (15)+8: 23
This seems to trigger a thought in Ignis, "It's a practice that may not be limited to Charn. It might be a deliberate choice to become more like dragons. Hence the wings and the original thought that a dragon was lurking." He shakes his head and says, "We need to check these tracks and find out for sure. There very well could be others who were kidnapped for this purpose..and the one who attacked us, though he'd lost his mind, intent on changing other Sith Makar. Perhaps even against their will. Let's move and be certain."
Great brows furrowed, Herne follows the group. Though in the back of his mind he wonders...how could tracks be innocent? Or guilty?
GAME: Herne rolls survival: (9)+10: 19
Frowning, Shin starts to follow. "Slavery. I have dealt with pirates who had a hand in it before. We need to find these slavers and put them to the sword before they do more harm to the people of this land."
GAME: Ignis rolls survival: (14)+0: 14
It's slow going tracking people over a mountain, even with the snow to offer you some hint now and again as to where they have gone. Unfortunately you don't seem to be getting any closer to them, though they don't seem to be getting any further away either. It's getting late now, and you're getting into very unknown territory. In other words this is taking far more time than you originally anticipated.
He doesn't want to give up..but practicality and limitations and this not being something they were prepared for are simply an unavoidable reality. Ignis grimaces. pulling his hood up and his cloak closer to protect against the cold, "Yeah..this doesn't seem to be working.. And if we cant find our way back down..."
Herne looks around, before glancing outward at the trail, and backward toward the caves. "Staying out here during a cold winter night...I've seen many a beast and bird succumb to such conditions. If continuing onward is not an option, might I suggest we use the cave we just left as shelter for the night."
Zapolklnex has his hood back on as he travels with the others. "As much as I would prefer one, caves seem more dangerous than finding a way to encamp outside. Unless you're sure precisely how deep the cave goes, and who lives inside."
"If we're going to stop to camp we might as well turn back... They'll keep moving and their tracks will get harder and harder to follow. If we could close the distance just to get a look.." Ignis' frustration mounts but there's little he can do other then complain..which raises his ire more. Eventually he seems to pull it back together and notes, "The cave may prove better shelter. IF we set a watch I think we can manage. Plus it may yield more clues.. but we should be prepared to lose the tracks.."
GAME: Herne rolls knowledge/nature: (17)+8: 25
Shin looks thoughtful, then shakes his head. "We will lose them possibly. They are probably more used to the climate as well. We are not." The tigress gives a growl beside him. He looks to Mirai, "We do not all have fur."
"The complaining man is correct. Tonight, it will snow heavily, and the lead we have will be lost. But if we choose to turn back, we will have the safety of the caves. Plus, if it is their den, they might choose to return." Offers Herne.
Shin hums, then looks to the one who might be caster-ish. Namely the plant thing (aka Herne) as he seems to consider, "Do you have any spells or the like that can keep us safe if we continue on?"
"My name is Ignis, and forgive me for verbalizing frustration at the possibility of losing either our quarry or people in desperate need of help." says Ignis bitterly as he gives Herne a brief but annoyed glare at being labeled 'The Complaining Man' , "...But you're right. So we should decide and do so quickly."
GAME: Ignis rolls perception: (11)+0: 11 GAME: Shin rolls Perception: (15)+0: 15 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12
You continue on. In spite of the warning of snow incoming, and in spite of the growing dark. It becomes harder to trail the group in the dark, but you persevere until an arrow comes flying out of the shadows ahead of you and lands just in front of your feet. It comes with a voice calling out with a clear Charnese accent. "Stop there or you'll be shot. Turn back."
GAME: Herne rolls perception: (13)+8: 21 GAME: Zapolklnex rolls perception: (14)+5: 19
Zapolklnex shouts a loud "No!" in a Mul'niessa-accented Sildanyari, drops to his hands and knees, and starts crawling forward, trying to get closer to the bowman.
Well it was a warning shot. That counts for something. Ignis raises both of his hands, coming to a stop.
"Wait. We're here to help. Hold your fire. We just want to find out what's going on--"
And then Zapolknex drops to the ground. "Well, okay then..."
GAME: Ignis rolls diplomacy: (11)+10: 21 GAME: Shin rolls Diplomacy: (18)+11: 29
"I'm afraid we can not do that. You see, we were hired by a man to track down something that is killing people. He said it came out of a cave that we have recently followed tracks this way that belonged to no man that we know of. Perhaps you might tell us why you are firing arrows at people who are harmlessly going about on their hunt for dangerous beasts? Are you perhaps willing to tell us where we might have a bit of warmth for the night? We unfortunately did not expect the snow, nor did we expect to be shot at by those that might be friends possibly." Shin starts to approach carefully. His tiger, meanwhile, tries to keep Shin between the arrow's possible direction and Shin.
Herne does not speak. But when Shin walks forward, the green man puts his left hand on the ranger's back, and points with his right hand toward where they are. He is holding his staff, though he does not point with it.
Another arrow comes arching out and lands neatly in front of Shin's tiger and this time the mulniessa man sounds quite irate. "What part of stay there didn't you hear?"
"Wait, are they reinforcements, that guy looks..."
"They're adventurers from Alexandria you fool." The last comment comes from the guy who has his bow leveled at you from behind the rock. "We don't care what you're after. You come any closer and we'll pincushion the lot of you."
Zapolklnex stops crawling for the moment. Since the others are trying diplomacy, he'll stop trying to advance. But he's not getting up.
Turning to the group, Herne attempts to speak quietly.
"If you choose to fight, I will fight with you. They have no claim to this road as no man has true claim to the wild. But I am not sure if we would win."
"Reinforcements.." Ignis frowns mildly and then raises an eyebrow, hand dropping to his sword hilt, "..From Charn? Where apparently the practice of attempting to corrupt Sith Makar is a known practice? Or maybe Bludgun? Put your weapons down so we can sort this out. If you know we're adventurers from Alexandria then you know what we're capable of doing. But if you act peacefully and cooperate then we will work with you and a fight can be avoided. I won't ask again."
Shin plants the butt of his glaive in the ground, and pulls his bow as he looks down to where the rock is. He reaches for an arrow just to be ready. "Impressive if you are this far from Charn. Might we speak with your leader, to ascertain whether we might join you?" He looks around carefully, trying to see how many are around. So far only two voices, after all. And last time he was in this situation, there was one trying to come from the side!
GAME: Zapolklnex rolls bluff: (17)+9: 26 GAME: Shin rolls Bluff: (16)+5: 21
Zapolklnex keeps his head down, but does call out, with grim determination, "We work for whomever we wish. Gold only goes so far, out in the wild. Speak and we have options, before yours or our reinforcements come."
"See! That guy makes a lot of sense! He doesn't want to fight us, he's mul'niessa too. I'm sure they'll understand if we offer them enough gold. Maybe they'll even aid us. I say we take the chance."
"Don't be stupid they're just saying that to make us lay down our guard."
This time though the guy with the bow isn't being listened to and the second man comes out from behind the rocks they're using as cover and holds up his hands. "Look, we've got a small band of slaves we raised from the egg. I can't go into details, but if you come with us and protect us while we head back to Bludgun instead of turning us over to whatever authorities sent you... we'll pay you well. There's good money in what we're doing."
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (12)+7: 19 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (6)+7: 13 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+1: (1)+1: 2 GAME: Shin rolls weapon2: (13)+5: 18 GAME: Shin rolls 1d8+4: (1)+4: 5
Shin moves forward, leaving his glaive behind as he fires off an arrow at the one that managed to nick the side of his face. The other three barely miss him in one case, just glancing off of his shoulder as he fires back at the first one. Mirai, meanwhile, takes off. The armor wearing white tiger gives a roar as she approaches, going for the first guy at terrifying speed as her claws come out and she's obviously ready to go to town on the poor guy.
"Well..I guess there was no other way this was going to end.." states Ignis unsheaths his ancestral blade in a lightning quick motion and breaks into a run at the same time, barreling through the snow and over foliage towards the Mul nearest to him.
Massive oak shield strapped to his left arm now had an arrow sticking out of it, and the massive green man Herne looked down at it before glancing up to look at the archer now dealing with a tiger. Sneering in anger, the big man ran forward slowly but surely, and as he did so, he yelled out.
"You try to bribe or attack a shepherd of the wild? A warden of Ea?! There will be consequences!"
As he moves, he raises his staff in his right hand, and vines from his arm seem to wrap around it. It grows larger and more gnarled, slightly glowing as if surrounded by fireflies. It probably would not feel good to be hit by this thing.
GAME: Herne casts Shillelagh. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14
Zapolklnex sees that a big tiger is lunging at them, and others are attacking, so he feels comfortable getting up and approaching.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (4)+7: 11 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+1: (7)+1: 8
Another hail of arrows rains down and this time it includes one from the man that dove behind a rock. Though the only arrow that hits comes from the mul that has to quick-step back from Ignis. Possibly because the man is suddenly only five feet away from him.
GAME: Shin rolls weapon2: (15)+5: 20 GAME: Shin rolls 1d8+4: (5)+4: 9 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+4: (6)+4: 10
Shin fires off another arrow before dropping the bow to pull his large sword out of the scabbard across his back. The green steel glints in the light as he looks between the four, looking on who to approach first.
The tiger, meanwhile, happens to try to bite into the first one but misses unfortunately.
GAME: Ignis rolls 1d20+10: (2)+10: 12 GAME: Herne rolls Weapon1: (15)+0: 15
Light rushes along the golden colored blade in Ignis hand as if it were reflecting the noon day sun itself. He drives forward, pushing through the pain and spinning the sword around, trailing contrails and motes of sunlight in an effect that would have been impressive...but for the fact that it's a wild miss. It takes a good junk of foliage out and causes him to slide forward abit through the snow, but he quickly repositions himself. His intention was to try and end this quickly but it seems that won't be happening.
Herne is mighty, but wild and certainly no trained warrior. He swings that staff violently like a club, but that possible beheader is one that is easily ducked and dodged by any soldier worth his salt.
GAME: Zapolklnex casts Acid Splash. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Zapolklnex rolls ranged: (4)+3: 7
Zapolklnex once again attempts to fling acid at one of the threats to the group, but again isn't coming particularly close. "These are not good combat circumstances for me."
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (4)+7: 11 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (6)+7: 13
The soldiers move like a unit, retreating somewhat in the face of the adventurers they find themselves faced with, and fire at point-blank range. Nothing hits however, showing a telling story about how much resolve they have to face you.
GAME: Shin rolls weapon7: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Shin rolls 2d6+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14
Shin steps right into melee range, and brings down the green steel great sword on the poor hapless first archer. The sword takes a massive bite out of the guy as Shin swings it two handed, moving it back to be ready to defend himself or take another swing. The tiger meanwhile tries to take a bite out of another's leg as she tries to get a good hold on one.
GAME: Ignis rolls 1d20+10: (4)+10: 14 GAME: Herne rolls weapon3+1: (19)+4+1: 24
Ignis presses his way forward, unrelenting as he drives his weapon around and back again for another strike against the Mul he's facing. Sadly it's another wild swing as he stumbles through the snow and foliage. His face twists into a look of annoyance and mild frustration - the pain of his injuries not helping there either - but he presses on.
GAME: Herne rolls 2d6+3: (5)+3: 8 GAME: Zapolklnex casts Acid Splash. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Zapolklnex rolls ranged: (14)+3: 17
While the creature is occupied with an angry tiger, the green Druid steps forward and brings that club of his downward, smashing it against a possibly helmeted head. It is not pretty, but it connects solidly.
GAME: Zapolklnex rolls 1d3: (3): 3
Zapolklnex is persistent if nothing else. HE ONCE AGAIN attempts to fling acid at the target everyone else is attacking, and this time manages to make the arcane fluid land right on the elf.
GAME: Shin rolls Perception: (20)+0: 20 GAME: Zapolklnex rolls perception: (9)+5: 14 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25 GAME: Ignis rolls perception: (12)+0: 12 GAME: Herne rolls perception: (12)+8: 20
The mul'niessia retreat. Leaving behind one dead body and a splattering of blood in their wake. That and... you find immediately that there is a small group of young sith-makar sitting behind one of the rocks nearby. You can hear their frightened whispering and as you come around you can see them. They're terribly thin as if they haven't eaten in ages, and they look at you in absolute terror. Eyes flickering to the dead mul'niessa behind you.
"Pleasssse." Says what looks to be the largest of them. "Do not make ussss eat him. We do not want to be Forgotten."
Ignis took quite the hit in that skirmish and as his adrenaline leaves him, he drops down slightly, using his sword to prop himself up long enough to lay a hand over the wound on his torso. The light from his blade fades away but a soft glow emits from his hand. He says nothing but just nods to the others, especially as the Sith-Makar children are revealed. It looks like mission accomplished.
Shin frowns, then shakes his head, "You will not have to eat him. Nor any like him again. My name is Shin. The tigress is Mirai. We will take you to others like you who are not like that. In the mean time, tell us what has happened." He puts the sword away. The tigress, meanwhile, chomps down on a leg and drags the corpse away before moving to get Shin's glaive and bring it to him, followed by the bow. Then it moves up to the sith-makar and purrs a bit, trying to be comforting.
Zapolklnex removes his hood, and looks to the young ones. "No. Come with us. You will never again eat rothe. You will have real food, and reject their ways."
As the men flee, the Druid lets the magic drain from his weapon while he looks up at the party members. Looking down at the children, and back to the party a few times.
"It appears the danger is passed, and the slave creatures are in servitude no longer."
Was that a good thing? Herne had no opinion either way. He'd seen ant colonies engage in slavery and genocide, and seen what bees and wasps do to their own 'queens'. But in any case, it meant they were no longer in danger. And he supposed that was good
-End