Seek the Sun [IC]

[Snacs]

The Great City of the west, grand Uru'ah, is in flames. Barbaric invaders form the North come bearing metal weapons and fearsome warbeasts. Word has spread that the defenders were slain while they slumbered by followers of Gron-Lau, the Fourth Sun's younger brother. If this is true, it has grave consequences for the faithful.

The Eastern skyline was particularly red this evening, lasting far longer into the night than normal.

The messenger arrived just as the sun set over the tip of the Temple proper. Panting and shaking like an overworked goat, and his side dark with blood. His last words were pained and stunning. Of strange monsters, demon-eyed figures, and the brave men of Uru'Ah slain in their beds by their opposite in the night guard of Gron-Lau. Of Great Uru'Ah in flames, temples toppled and few spared. The messenger had been part of a group of thirty fleeing the violence, hoping Westward, away from the invasion, would be best.

He was all that managed to reach anywhere, and he died twenty feet from the temple Steps as he breathed his last, in shadow. A grave portent indeed.

The Elder had the large drum at the top of the Temple sounded, to summon the remaining Hunters back from their work with haste. Outlying family members were collected into a group to debate what to do. Some had already begun to pack and flee. Stragglers, strangers with no home in the Temple, no family but who they called Brother or Sister.


The Elder of the small temple had given Golthir a small, spartan room of the Temple to stay in. Not large, but the Elder's granddaughter would stop in during the evening to stoke the fire, and the pile of furs that was his bed was thick and soft with the kills of the lucrative bounty the Jungle provided.

It was the granddaughter that came running into his chambers to tell him the news, though too panicked to go into detail. She rushes off before she can be questioned deeply, though the agitated sounds of a large crowd are clear even through the stout stone walls of the ziggurat. The Dwarf only knows that something has happened to his home city of Uru'Ah and that a man has died.



The Drum is what called you back. The Elder(your cousin's Uncle's relative of some sort, a very tenuous connection but one that had earned you a warm place to sleep at night with a roof over your head) was standing in a crowd of shouting, milling people. His voice is clearly shaken but deep with calm as he tries to placate his extended brood and the two dozen or so nonhuman, nonelven inhabitants of the Temple grounds. Occasionally a young Hunter rushes in to speak with him, then rushes off on his orders.

He meets your eyes with a harassed, and oddly suspicious look in his eyes, but finally nods in greeting as he turns back to speak with another Hunter.



You saw the man as he came limping in. In fact, you were one of the first to rush towards him, but his terrified howl at the sight of your horns and eyes stopped you short. Others get to him a moment later, but you're close enough to hear him speak. Uru'Ah is in flames. Treachery has slain the ranks of Soa's bravest warriors, killed by those in service to Gron-Lau. Normally you'd protest such a ridiculous blasphemy, but the man wore the symbol of Soa's warrior-caste on his person. The Elder arrives, and you are mostly ignored as you usually are.



Something has troubled the Temple-people. The whole brood has poured out from their ramshackle houses and the Temple like a kicked over anthill. It's hard to hear what they are saying from your spot on the edge of the temple, sheltered from rain under the slanted walls. Besides, you have had a successful hunt and are halfway through a particularly fine jug of something quite potent traded for the pelt of the third animal you caught that afternoon. Soa has been kind to you today.

Still, even through the faint glow of alcohol you can see the urgency and worry in the way people are moving.



Normally the Drum only sounds in the morning, wishing the Hunters good luck on their day. It's weird that they're sounding now, just as night time has fallen. What little you know of Gron-Lau's worship from your time trading pelts and meat for tools and luxuries says there should be no Drums tonight.

Today has been a long, strange one. The Animals were plentiful and easy to catch, though always moving, heading Westward away from the Temple. The whole jungle feels...off. The air is thick with a tense waiting.

Things are moving in the Jungle. Not quiet or stealthy either. You can hear strange voices on the wind from the East, and the creak and rustle of underbrush being trampled. The Temple is behind you to the West.





Characters


Player
Character
Class/Race



Bulwere
Golthir (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=1008826)
Dwarven Cleric/Archer


Chain
Ophai (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=25559)
Elf Ranger


Cognomen
Zaid (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=28983)
Tiefling Duskblade


DeRerumNatura
Black Smoking Mirror (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=1005895)
Catfolk Barbarian


WogWoggle
Vayla Zundan (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=1008910)
Half-Elf Beastmaster

[Ezeze]

Ophai is a lovely, graceful elf; still blessed with both despite her advancing age due to the longevity of her race. But at the moment her face is contorted in outrage and she is shouting over most of the other noise.

This is slander! Heresy! The guard of Gron-Lau are men and women of honor! They would not betray their oaths in such a manner!

The fury in Ophai's voice is palpable - and shocking to those who have known her until now as a kind, patient woman,

I will travel West to Uru'ah, and I will bring back the truth of what has happened there!

[Woggle]

Vayla's growing sense of unease at the irregular behavior of the jungle and its denizens throughout the day culminates with the low throb of the drums from the temple. So unexpected is it that she glances momentarily upwards, before reminding herself that it is still night. Something is very wrong, she thinks to herself.

The sound of strange, loud movement through the jungle to the East settles her mind on a course of action: She calls softly to her hunting cat and commands it to follow, then, with a quick survey of her surroundings for immediate danger, she heads West towards the drums and the Temple. Though her curiosity calls for her to seek out the movement, the strangeness of the day and the drumming urges caution.


Handle Animal (Heel, DC 15) take ten = 19 (if not, then [roll0])
Perception [roll1]
Stealth [roll2] to move through the jungle
Survival (to determine the direction of the Temple, if need be) take ten = 15

[DeRerumNatura]

It is the screeching of the elf which finally makes the leopardkin leave his shelter, prowling to the center of the commotion.
The exile placing pushes the throng, with no care taken for weaker, straightening to his full massive, and slightly drunk, size to sneer About what treachery are you talking elf

[Ezeze]

The elf turns on the leopardkin and, though nearly twice her height and innocent of any provocation, he becomes the focus of her ire.

A man has died at the temple gates! she practically roars though not before first accusing the Night Guard of Uru'ah of the highest possible blasphemy! He claims they slit the throats of their kin - followers of Soa - in their beds!

[DeRerumNatura]

For a moment Black Smoking Mirror seems baffled, like a leopard attacked by a rabbit, then his drunken mind decides instead of taken the outburst of the elf as a challenge to take it with humour.
But before he starts to his laugh he finally catches on what the elf has said instead of how she said. it

The night guard has murdered their comrades in arms?
.
The leopardkin sounds slightly freaked out.

[Snacs]

"No one is going anywhere West right now." The voice is loud but not hoarse or yelling. The Temple Elder looks grave as he slowly walks up towards Ophai and Black Smoking Mirror.

"At the moment we will need every hand here to make sure the children and unfit are safe. I will not have everyone scattering to the winds."He is less than a fifth of Ophai's age but his bearing demands total authority.

"We are not sure what has happened yet, but the words of a dying man are rarely false."He holds a hand up to forestall any outburst from Ophai.

"We do not know the circumstances. Let us honor the poor soul who has brought us warning by Soa's guidance." He lets his head dip briefly, even as Mothers and Fathers bundle children, food and water towards the temple behind them. Hunters run, fleet footed and armed to make sure every house against the walls is emptied. He's soon directing orders again, too busy with his immediate family to give you much more attention.




The strange crashing continues on, heading in much the same direction as Vayla. However, it is clear the half-elf and her hunting cat are far better suited to the dense jungle foliage than whatever movement followed her, as it quickly fades into the background of the jungle's always riotous noise. The moon rising is full, breaking through the tree-line just frequently enough to make it easy to travel. The low slung, slanted stone walls of the Temple appear in front of her, though the normally empty entryway is flanked by nervous looking Hunters bearing spears.



The Elder is hiding it well, but there's a clear division in his gaze when he looks at you and when he looks at the rest of his family. It's an unsettling look. You don't think he'd let you just leave. At the same time, his quick speech about the fallen warrior has distracted the crowd, which judging by the sudden space in certain places has splintered. The Hunters who offer to Soa, the day-time defenders of the Temple, have spaced themselves openly away from former brothers with worried looks.

[Ezeze]

Ophai's face flashes through a few expressions, but what she finally says is Yes, people to protect... Of course...

Rather than trouble herself with the unsettling speed at which those around her grow suspicious of one another Ophai looks to the trees around them, her aim being to find a perch from which she can look Westward, watching for any further danger - or for any more messengers.

If she finds a suitable one she attempts to climb it and to get a good view.


[roll1]
[roll="Perception"1d20+9

[Woggle]

Despite calming her nerves slightly as the sound of crashing movement behind her lessens, and finally dies, Vayla's concern remains. When the Temple walls finally come into view, her heart skips a beat at the sight of hunters guarding the gate. What has happened? she thinks again.

Keeping a firm hand on her cat's harness, she calls out to the hunters at the gate: "I came when I heard the drum. Noisy, slow beings move through the jungle heading this way, though I did not see them. What has happened?"
Vayla approaches the gate, glancing back and forth between the guards and keeping an eye and ear out towards the jungle, worry apparent on her face.


Perception [roll0] Vayla keeps half her attention on the jungle behind her.

[Snacs]

The Elder is too busy to note your listless response.

Perhaps it's the shocking speed the way divisions form, or that unsettling look of uncertainty on a relatives face, but it actually takes a few ungainly, graceless tries to work your way into a large tree growing in the center of the temple grounds. Up in the tree the air is a lot more peaceful, the Moon's light bathing your shoulders. Like always the Jungle is alive, even in the dead of night. Animals hoot and chatter, the branches and trees creak in low winds, and the angry buzz and mutter of the people rushing about below just become another part of the forest.

From this higher vantage point you can see a Hunter and her cat approaching the gates at a steady pace, late to the summons. The Elder is quick at least- There are now armed Hunters and Soa-Guards at the gate-less entryway. The normally busy, fire-strewn open grounds between the ziggurat and the walls are empty, lean-tos open-mouthed with doors ajar.




Something has clearly gotten under the Elf Hunter's skin. The last dregs of the fine alcohol you had enjoyed burns away with the sobering thought of Great Uru'Ah in flames. The Elder has clearly forgotten you in the bustle of people, though it lets you watch the elf clamber with less than grace up into the big tree tilting out of the ground next to the Temple proper.

[Cognomen]

Zaïd is used to strangers panicking at the sight of her, and even more used to people like the Elder ignoring her. Not so long ago she would have insisted on imposing herself, but Hilith spent years teaching her to be more patient, and in any case the messenger's final words are so disturbing that she doesn't mind a moment to herself to mull them over. Uru'ah in flames? The servants of Gron-Lau murderers? This is impossible blasphemy of course, but... what if it isn't? She's always known how Tiluk lurks in the minds of men, trying to corrupt, trying to madden.

Her first thought is to her mother. Armina has always been even more of an outcast than her daughter, and Zaïd doesn't trust anyone to help her if help becomes necessary. She decides to make a circuit of the Temple, looking out for anything else unusual, on her way to check that Armina is all right.


Hokay, some rolls:
Perception: [roll0]
K: Local: [roll1]

[DeRerumNatura]

For a Black Smoking Mirror just stands still, as being suddenly turned into a statue, his mind turning.

Uru'ah fallen? What about his father, his family? His chance to return and show them that he was a true warrior?

Finally he starts to move again.

Atleast the elf was ready to spill some blood. But first things first.

Striding through the chaos he gets to his huts and start to arm and armore himself.

It was time to spill some blood.

[Bulwer]

When the alarm reached him, Golthir was comfortably asleep on his pile of furs, but he rises immediately to his feet with a groan from his protesting joints. By the time the Elder's granddaughter's footfalls fade from earshot, he has his thick leather coat on over his first layer of robes. He begins methodically slotting stone plates into its stiff pockets, transforming it into a rigid piece of armor.

By the time he strides out into the hallway, the old dwarf is in his full regalia, white mitre atop his grey hair, a wooden holy symbol in his beard, and orange-and-white cotton robes draped over top of the armor. His belts, hung with hammers and arrows, interrupt the clean lines of his uniform.

Golthir seeks the Elder. As he walks, he hears fragments of rumors-- Uru'ah in flames, the gods at war in the sky, an army in the forest waiting to attack the temple. He believes none of it.

As he nears the gates, he draws a small book from his pocket and begins to read a prayer aloud in a deep, booming voice.

"As we gird ourselves for battle this night
We are sure in our knowledge of the sunrise;
As we sharpen our swords,
Our minds turn to Soa..."


Book of War Prayers: This small, leather-bound collection of war prayers features pages of fine vellum. If you have a Charisma of 13 or higher, or at least 1 rank in Perform (oratory), you can read aloud prayers from the book before battle to hearten others for the trials to come. Reading prayers for this effect takes 10 minutes. You grant those who hear your prayers a +2 morale bonus on the next saving throw against fear they attempt, as long as that saving throw is made in the next 24 hours.

[Snacs]

Nothing seems out of the ordinary beyond the obvious. In times of danger however most of the inhabitants are drawn into the Temple. Zaid's mother is not one of those who has been helped to shelter. Zaid finds her standing worried by the door to the small wooden lean-to the pair call home.

"What is it Zaid? None of the Hunters would tell me anything." She hugs her daughter as she approaches, clearly glad the younger duskblade is safe.



"What is that foo-"The Elder's low grumble is cut off as it replaces itself with a respectful tone.
"Teacher Golthir, please. It would be most kind if you wo-"His voice is cut off as a large Crack echoes from the jungle




A sound has been growing, low and bass and at first easily mistaken as the large drum topping the temple. Ophai high in her spot is the first to see something through the dense overgrowth. The nearest trees to the gate shudder, then bend and snap beneath the bulk of something massive. Whatever it is, it muscles between the trees shadowing the path from the gates with a loud, shrieking trumpet that drowns out even Golthir's deep voice.

The creature is massive and shaggy, twice as tall as Black Smoking Mirror. Two massive, gleaming tusks jut from beneath its broad, flat head. Each one is almost the length of a man, and as it squeezes between the trees it bellows again. Broad straps of leather criss-cross the beast's hide, and a figure is mounted just behind the broad head, ducking carefully beneath low hanging branches.

It stomps its way towards the gate at a deceptively quick speed. Behind it figures move and writhe and crash through the underbrush. An odd whistling sound fills the air, and the two hunters standing terrified by the open gate slowly slump over, sporting oddly short, sleek arrows from throat and chest each.



Roll perception, then initiative.

[Ezeze]

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Woggle]

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Bulwer]

Perception: [roll0]

Initiative: [roll1]

[Cognomen]

Perception: [roll0]
Initiative: [roll1]

[Snacs]

The figure astride the great beast is garbed in black fabric from head to toe. It's face is a horrifying scarlet visage with curved horns framing a pointed chin-At least, it is until you realize it is not the creature's true face, but some sort of elaborate mask. It is holding a strap of leather leading to the beast's neck, while the other rests on the pommel of a weapon tucked into its wide cloth belt. Behind the beast is a war host, though its hard to catch more than movement behind the huge beast bearing down on the now open, defenseless gates.



The figure riding the beast is draped head to toe and black, with a horrifying red face, horned. It is clearly directing the beast.



The long-tusked creature bellows once more and reaches the broad, open gateway to the temple. The ancient, ivy-draped stone walls shatter a third of the way to the top to let the beasts shoulders through. The temple hunters in the open area start to scatter with cries of alarm and fear.

[Woggle]

Surpressing her fear at the sight of the tusked warbeast and its demon-faced rider as they crash into the temple gateway, Vayla retreats toward the temple proper, her cat at her side. As she moves she readies her atlatl. Gron Lau grant me strength, and let my aim be true she beseaches as she launches a dart at the demon atop the beast with as much force as she can muster.


Vayla takes a move action away from the Beast while readying her atlatl, then makes a single ranged attack (if possible staying just within 50 ft. of the Beast).

[roll0] Vayla launches a dart with her atlatl at the red-faced rider (range inc. 50 feet)
Damage = 9 (rolled in Ooc thread, if it hits)

[DeRerumNatura]

Black Smoking Mirror
Ini:18 HP: 30 AC: 11
Rage 1/12
Flat-Footed

Attracted by the noise Black Smoking Mirror leaves his hut, now armored and armed.
The second he realizes that the villages is under attacks he smiles, a greed for violence glinting in his eyes.
The second afterthat he starts running towards the wall, penpedicular to the the moving warbeast, and heaves himself up.
He keeps running along the top of the wall, till he is level with the monster and with a huge roar he jumps to the top of it.



A little tired and distracted.

[Ezeze]

Ophai doesn't move from where she is, finding comfortable cover from within the tree branches. She takes aim and fires at the figure riding the pig.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Bulwer]

With a sigh, Golthir drops the prayer book into one of his front pockets and draws his longbow.

Anyone with any sense or experience is ducking for cover or retreating. Some of the keener fighters of the temple have already started to strike back-- the tall one with the leopard-cat and a few of the temple archers were aiming for the beast rider.

He spies another flash of spotted fur-- the leopard-boy, a singularly uncooperative pupil, is preparing to make a bold pounce onto the beast's back. Golthir seizes to opportunity to loose an arrow at the masked rider, hopefully enough to distract him as the boy leaps.


Arrow: [roll0]
Damage: 5
(Measured Response-- I'm taking average-round-down for damage.)

EDIT: That's at a -4 if BSM is in combat with the beast-rider at the time of the shot.

[Woggle]

As Vayla watches her dart fly to its target, she sifts through her mind for any knowledge of a beast like the one currently before her.


1d20+3 K. Nature check to determine the tusked beasts powers.
Edit: Messed up, will roll in Ooc Thread. Sorry :smallfrown:
Edit: Edit: Roll was a 4, so shouldn't have any effect anyway.

[Ezeze]

Oh, hey, Knowledge (nature) - not a bad idea :smalltongue:

[roll0]

[Snacs]

Vayla
Vayla's aim is true this day, and the long dart thumps firmly into the red-faced rider mounted on the great war-beast. It impacts on the figures shoulder, tilting him briefly in place. Vayla cannot place the beast at all, a foreign thing unknown to the Soa Lands.

Black Smoking Mirror
The Beast below you bellows at feeling something hanging on to its back, but continues its charge as you grip its thick, shaggy fur and hold on. The rider twists as a long wooden dart(probably from one of the Hunters less hopped up on bloodlust and alcohol than you) sprouts from its shoulder. Unfortunately this lets the figure spot you, and it wastes no time in drawing its weapon. It has a long, convex half-moon curve and appears to be made of some sharp, gleaming material that is neither wood nor metal. Shifting around, the long curve scores a long, painful wound to the catfolk's closest shoulder, drawing blood and coloring his fur.

Ophai
Either the waving branches, or the Beast's deceptive speed makes it hard to aim, as Ophai's arrow ends up slicing uselessly into the shaggy coat of the tusked Beast and hanging there limply, causing neither harm to rider nor Beast.

Golthir
Golthir's shot likewise goes sour, pitching too high above and whistling uselessly into the tree line. The Beast's head tips, tusks driving a divot in the ground as it picks up speed yet again.







The Beast is about to run you over. You can choose to try and keep standing still and let it trample over you, or move.



Who said it was a pig? It doesn't look like any pig Ophai's ever seen. You've never seen an animal like it.



Take 7 damage. Ow. Also make a perception check please.

[Cognomen]

Aïda is more than capable of defending herself, but Zaïd can't help but be protective of her mother. She pushes in front of Aïda, ushering the older woman back into her hut with one hand while drawing her longbow with the other. The young duskblade mutters a prayer to Soa, takes careful aim at the figure astride the huge beast, and fires.



Attack figure on beastie: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Trying to figure out what that thing is:
K: Nature: [roll2]

[Woggle]

Her confidence bolstered by striking true with her throw, Vayla moves again to maintain distance from the tusked beast. Seeing the Catfolk leopard-warrior engaged with the red-faced rider, she shifts her focus to the beast. Aiming this time for the beast's eye, she readies a dart and hurls it. With no new commands, her hunting cat waits at her side, tense and alert.


[roll0] (if needed in order to aim specifically at the beast's eye, otherwise just aim for the face/head)
[roll1]
[roll2]

Vayla uses a move action to get away from the beast (but staying within 50', if possible) and reloads her atlatl at the same time, then makes a ranged attack against the beast. With no new commands, her cat should stay by her side (still following the original heel command.)

Sorry about warning the rider :smalleek:

[Ezeze]

Dammit Ophai whispers. She takes aim at the figure in the mask again, trying to take advantage of the fact that he has turned to face the catfolk...


[roll0]
[roll1]

[Bulwer]

Golthir heads back and to his right, away from the gate and hopefully out of the Beast's path. Absent any cover, he pauses to mutter a prayer. The words are in a tongue alien to him, but these are the words Soa has given him. He feels the power radiate out from his holy symbol, seeking the eyes and minds of the temple's defenders.

Blessed Aim: +2 morale bonus to ranged attack rolls for allies within 50 feet. Lasts 2 minutes.

[Snacs]

The Beast, now bearing a fighting Black Smoking Mirror and the robed figure, continues on its charge just past Golthir's quickly retreating frame. It stops its charge by plowing head-long into a lean-to at the base of the Temple, reducing it to timbers and splinters in moments. There are brief screams of a Hunter that had hid in the lean-to, quickly silenced as the large beast thrashes and tried to turn itself, large tusks sending a spray of shattered wood around it.

A number of the Hunters, either inspired by Golthir and the others(or just self-preservation) begin hurling their spears or arrows at the Beast as well.

Vayla's arm snaps as she hurls her dart towards the beast's eyes. But she fails to strike too, her dart glancing off one huge tusk. The great beast snorts, turning towards a perceived challenge. Its head lowers as it paws at the ground.


This time Ophai strikes true, plunging deep into the figure's shoulder a few inches from Vayla's previous dart.

There is a strange ululating cry from the now emptied gates. Three large, broad-billed birds the size of a man leap nimbly through the dark, shattered gateway. Each one bears a black-robed(though mask-less) figure. They dive on the nearest Hunters still reeling from the larger Beast's charge, beaks snapping and gleaming, the robed figures bearing long, curved weapons similar to the one the first is using against Black Smoking Mirror.



This might help to explain how to do called shots (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/ultimateCombat/variants/calledShots.html).



Both you and the figure have to grip on tight as the Beast plows into the building below you. luckily its great height means you are not harmed by the exploding hut below. You will have to make a reflex save to stay on.

As it leans forward to grip the shaggy hair of the beast with its injured arm, it gives a pained hiss of displeasure. Even through your blood lust, you manage to catch sight of a gleaming shape beneath the figure's robes. It is a metal carving of some sort, in the symbol of Gron-Lau!



Aida backs into the hut obediently at your push, but your arrow fails to reach its target, firing too high and clattering uselessly into the broad steps of the Temple above it.

You've never seen such a beast! It's at least twice as tall as the tallest person in the village, and shaggy. And Mean. That's about all you know.

[Ezeze]

Ophai refuses to let up on a wounded target. Once again she knocks an arrow and lets it fly at the first masked man.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Woggle]

Seeing the bird-riders charge through the gateway, Vayla commands her hunting cat to attack the nearest of them and aid her fellow hunters. She then retreats further from the tusked beast while readying another dart.


[roll0] to command the cat to attack the nearest bird.

Rolls for Cat (Assuming that I roll for it, and not DM. In that case please ignore)

Charge + Pounce
[roll1] [roll2] (+2 bonus to attack for charge added)
[roll3] [roll4]
[roll5] [roll6]
[roll7] [roll8]

Stat Block for Jaguar (if needed)

Jaguar (Trained for Hunting), Medium Cat (equivalent to Leopard):
Init. +4 Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.
Senses: low-light vision, scent, Perception +5

Defense
AC:15, touch 14, flat-footed 11 (+4 Dex, +1 natural)
hp: 19 (3d8+6)
Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +2

Offense
Melee: bite +6 (1d6+3 plus grab), 2 claws +6 (1d3+3)
Special Attacks: pounce, rake (2 claws +6, 1d3+3)

Stats
Str 16, Dex 19, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Base Atk +2; CMB +5 (+9 grapple); CMD 19 (23 vs. trip)
Feats: Skill Focus (Stealth), Weapon Finesse
Skills: Acrobatics +8, Climb +11, Perception +5, Stealth +11 (+15 in undergrowth); Racial Modifiers +4 on Stealth in undergrowth

[DeRerumNatura]

2nd Round
Black Smoking Mirror
Ini:18 HP: 23/30 AC: 15
Rage 2/12

As Black Smoking mirrors slashes at his enemy he roars again, and also his his voice is distorted by rage and furry, by blood lust and ire words can be made out, barely.
TRAITOR HERETIC


Perception
(1d20+9)[26]
POWERATTACK!
Attack 1
(1d20+5)[22]
Damage
(1d6+7)[8]
Attack 2
(1d20+5)[9]
Damage
(1d6+7)[9]
Reflex
(1d20+4)[19]

[Cognomen]

Zaid is about to fire a second arrow at the masked man atop that monstrous ... thing ... when three new enemies appear. Since Black Smoking Mirror is much closer to the original target and it looks like more than one person is attacking the first masked man, the duskblade picks the next closest target from among the bird-men, maneuvers herself into a better position, and fires at him.


If it's necessary to move to get a clear shot, Zaid will, up to her 30 ft maximum.

Standard attack on the closest bird-man, with a longbow.
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Bulwer]

Golthir turns to face the great shaggy beast. The birds were harassment, a distraction to keep the defenders from striking down the real threat. He takes a few more strides backwards and looses an arrow at the masked rider.

[roll0] for 5 damage. (-4 to that if I'm firing into combat at this point)

Don't forget your +2 to ranged attacks from Blessed Aim!

[Snacs]

The figure is startled by Black Smoking Mirror's roar, which lets the catfolk tear a long gash across the rider's arm. However, the wild attacks manages to unbalance the catfolk, who tumbles off the Beast's right flank. He lands safely as the Beast trumpets and charges past.

Both Ophai and Golthir's shots go wide as the beast tramples forward with a roar, the rider ducking down tighter towards the Beasts neck, its wounded arm and shoulder held closer to its body. The Beast thunders across the Temple grounds towards Vayla. It trumpets, and with a sickening thud catches the young hunter with one large tusk. luckily, it twisted its head to send the hunter flying contemptuously, rather than goring her on its horns. Vayla is hurled bodily away from the beast, tumbling end over end.

Her jaguar tangles itself around the large bird and starts ripping large chunks from the bird, which lets out an angry squawk of pain and replies in kind. Its rider tumbles free from the bird as the two animals grapple.

Zaid's shot just barely misses a bird-rider in combat with two of the Temple's Hunters. It distracts the rider long enough for the Hunters to drag the figure off its mount with their spears, though one of them gives a blood-curling scream as the bird's sharp, broad beak tears deeply through his shoulder.




Vayla takes 16 damage.
Her pet takes 8 damage.

[DeRerumNatura]

3rd
Black Smoking Mirror
Ini:18 HP: 23/30 AC: 15
Rage 3/12

Slightly rattled from the fall the catfolk shakes himself before giving in to his the bloodlust and charging the bird-riders, pouncing upon them.

Move and Attack if they are close enough, else an charge full-round action.
Attacking the closest rider.
Round 3
POWERATTACK!
Attack 1
(1d20+6)[19]
Damage
(1d6+7)[11]
Attack 2
(1d20+6)[14]
Damage
(1d6+7)[10]

[Ezeze]

Ophai's face visibly blanches at the Catfolk's roar. Heretic? Was it true, then? She had to know.

The elf slips her bow into her quiver and slips forward through the branches, trying to time her jump for when the great warbeast is beneath her - attempting to land on it, and to hold on long enough to see this mysterious attacker's face.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Bulwer]

Golthir keeps backing up until he feels a wall against his back, and then pauses for a moment to assess. The tall one's down for now, but her leopard's tangling with one of the birds. Another bird is riderless, leaving just one still active.

He fixes his eyes back on the beast rider and begins another brief chant, another chunk of power he'd been allotted. This one was in old Undercommon, <Your enemies surround you. Your death comes.>

Doom! DC 17 Will or he's Shaken.

[Woggle]

As the warbeast swings its tusk around, Vayla manages to roll with the force of the blow. She tumbles across the temple ground, battered but not yet broken. Picking herself up she retreats further from the warbeast, and instead turns her attention to the bird-rider who was unseated by her hunting cat's charge. She pulls back her arm, and lets fly a dart at the black-clothed figure, while her cat continues to fight ferociously with its bird-mount.


Ow. If Vayla is knocked prone, she will use a move action to get to her feet, then attack.
[roll0] Vayla launches a dart at the unseated bird-rider.
[roll1]

Jaguar Attack:
[roll2] Cat will bite, and attempt a grapple (free action, no AoO) with the bird if it lands.
[roll3]
[roll4] (if the bite lands, the cat tries to initiate a grapple)

Jaguar (Trained for Hunting), Medium Cat (equivalent to Leopard):
Init. +4 Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.
Senses: low-light vision, scent, Perception +5

Defense
AC:15, touch 14, flat-footed 11 (+4 Dex, +1 natural)
hp: 19 (3d8+6) CURRENT HP: 11
Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +2

Offense
Melee: bite +6 (1d6+3 plus grab), 2 claws +6 (1d3+3)
Special Attacks: pounce, rake (2 claws +6, 1d3+3)

Stats
Str 16, Dex 19, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Base Atk +2; CMB +5 (+9 grapple); CMD 19 (23 vs. trip)
Feats: Skill Focus (Stealth), Weapon Finesse
Skills: Acrobatics +8, Climb +11, Perception +5, Stealth +11 (+15 in undergrowth); Racial Modifiers +4 on Stealth in undergrowth

[Cognomen]

Zaïd hisses a curse under her breath as her latest shot misses, and then murmurs another prayer to Soa. The only thing to be done is to keep trying. She pulls another arrow from her quiver as she circles, looking for a good shot. After a moment, maneuvering into position, she takes aim at the last uninjured bird-rider and fires once more.


C'mon, dice roller, c'mon, c'mon...
Attack (including +2 from Golthir's spell): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Snacs]

Black Smoking Mirror's attack takes the closest rider(the one that had already fallen off its mount) in a rush. The Rider swings its sword in kind, though the catfolk tears a long, bleeding gouge from the rider's side. The sharp crescent-blade leaves another slice along the catfolk's side, drawing blood.

Take 7 damage


Golthir chants, and the figure recoils briefly, even as the beast below it reaches a trio of Hunters, smashing through them like paper as they hurl ineffectual spears into its hide.

The large beast smashes through a second hut as it loops the courtyard again, passing beneath Ophai's perch. She manages to land square on the beasts back, but slips over the curve, hands struggling to find a grip.

Make a reflex save for me, otherwise you may fall under it:O


Vayla's dart brushes the tight robes of the rider she fired at, but fails to draw blood. Her Jaguar fares far better, latching on to the creature and sinking its jaws into the bird it has been fighting. It fails to escape the jaguar's clutches, its squawking loud and pain-filled. It lashes out desperately with its beak, but the cat is too close up its throat for it to bring the dangerous shape into play.

Zaid's shot finally finds its mark, the stone-tipped projectile sprouting from the rider's side. One of the Birds disappears beneath shouting temple Hunters, who move in for the kill now that its rider has been unseated. The second rider, Zaid's target, ducks down as the bird throws itself through the broad opening of the Tower's base. There are loud screams from the temple-people inside. One of the wounded birds gives a loud, piercing call. In the distance an answering cry replies in kind.

[Woggle]

Cautiously maintaining her distance from the birds and bird-riders, Vayla takes a few steps back while loading yet another dart. She takes a little closer note of the large birds, racking her mind for any tales or memories of such creatures. Seeing her hunting cat taking care of the bird it charged, Vayla slings another dart toward its unseated, black-robed rider.


[roll0] To determine the strengths and weaknesses of the large birds.

Vayla moves to maintain as much of 50' distance between her and the unseated rider as possible, then attacks.
Ranged Attack (Atlatl)]1d20+6 = 15 (rolled in the OOC)
[roll2]

Jaguar will attempt to continue its grapple with the bird, and attack if it succeeds.
[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]
[roll6] If the Jaguar maintains grapple, it will make two rake special attacks.
[roll7]
[roll8]
[roll9]

Current Health= 14

EDIT: Messed up Vayla's Attack roll, will roll in OOC.

[Ezeze]

Next actions will depend on whether or not Ophai falls.
[roll0]

[Bulwer]

The tide was turning, but the temple's defense was still scattered. Golthir scans the dim chaos of the courtyard, looking for injured hunters he was close enough to help. The tall one with the cat had been injured, he could see.

With a decisive dash, Golthir plants himself as best he can among the defenders and sends a wave of Soa's light our over them.

Perception to find a position from which to heal several allies: [roll0]

Channel Energy to heal the living w/in 30 feet: [roll1]

[DeRerumNatura]

4rd Round
Black Smoking Mirror
Ini:18 HP: 16/30 AC: 15
Rage 4/12

His blood lust not yet sated the catfolk tries to rend his opponen from limb to limb.


POWERATTACK!
Attack 1
[roll0]
Damage
[roll1]
Attack 2
[roll2]
Damage
[roll3]

[Cognomen]

Zaïd crows with delight as one of her shots finally connects - then curses again (she always did get in trouble for that with the clergy) as the bird-rider invades the Temple and she hears the screams. Dropping her bow, she rushes into the Temple after them, pulling her greataxe off of her back as she does so.


So I'm not sure whether dropping the bow is a move action or a free action. If it's a move action, Zaïd just expends two move actions on dropping the bow and following the enemy. If it's a free action or otherwise allows for a standard action, Zaïd drops the bow, runs after them and then attacks the bird-rider with her axe. Here are rolls for that:

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Snacs]

Though Black Smoking mirror's strength is fueled by rage and anger, his wounds and bloodlust leave him swiping at empty air as his opponent ducks and weaves from the catfolk's furious attacks. His opponent steps between the catfolks arms, blade lifted to slay the beserking catfolk, but fails to bring the blade down as Zaid's dart strikes the figure in the side of the head, felling it on the spot!

Ophai falls hard on her tailbone. Painful, stinging, and a bit embarrassing but leaving her without significant injury. The Beast above her stamps its feet, rearing back angrily, but the lithe hunter is able to spring out of the way as it crashes down, kicking up mounds of dirt.


Zaid finds herself in the open chamber usually reserved as equal parts communal meeting space and the place where hut-less Hunters bed on rainy nights. The small statues of Gron-Lau and Soa are splashed with blood. The bird-rider is dismounted, and has just plunged its blade into the Elder's shoulder. Zaid's axe sinks deep into the already-wounded rider's side and finishes the job her arrow started. Its mount screeches, flapping its short, sleek wings angrily and striking out with its beak.

An angry shout comes from one of the huts nearby. Zaid's mother is standing in the doorway, and flings her arm out angrily at the beast. A ray of flame leaps towards the beast, which rears again, almost bucking its clearly injured rider. The Beast trumpets, backing away and ramming itself into the tree Ophai had been clinging too as it tries to put its forelegs out. The Rider shouts out in a strange language, trying to calm the beast. Ululating cries from beyond the walls are growing closer.

Armina(Zaid's mother), sways on her feet and slumps against her hut's doorway, clearly exhausted. There are no riders or birds in the main courtyard(just the large beast and its rider), though a loud, male yell of pain can be heard from the temple.



If you have spellcraft or anything like that, feel free to roll for Zaid's Momma.

BMS
Heal 5 from Golthir.

Ophai
High AC dex builds are helpful, no damage this turn

Golthir

Zaid
Dropping an item is a free action, and you can draw your weapon while moving.

[Woggle]

Seeing the last of the bird-riders fall and the older Tiefling woman unleash some kind of magic at the beast, Vayla calls her cat back to her side. Then, moving as quickly as her battered form can manage, she makes her way toward the old Dwarven Cleric, readying her shield as she does so, and keeping one eye on the entrance to the temple grounds.


[roll0] Command: Heel.
[roll1]

[DeRerumNatura]

5th Round
Black Smoking Mirror
Ini:18 HP: 21/30 AC: 15
Rage 5/12

With nothing close by to kill Black Smoking Mirror turns and start to run towards the gigantic beast, planning to climb it when he arrives.


Either move action and standart action to get on the beast or full.round running,
depending on the distance I have to cover.
Rolling for my climb:
[roll0]
Rolling for acrobatics:
[roll1]

[Ezeze]

Ophai rolls back out of the way, continues the roll until she is back up on her feet, then runs after the beast and attempts to climb it again.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Cognomen]

Zaid scowls at the sight of the defaced altars, but there's no time to do anything but defend herself from the now-riderless bird-creature. She lashes out with her axe once more, the dark blade glinting.


Slashing at the bird-thing!

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Bulwer]

Now out in the open, Golthir keeps moving, still on the lookout for wounded. Based on that scream, the temple would have to be his next destination, but until then...

He stops to fire another shot at the rider.

[roll0] for 5 damage

[Snacs]

Black Smoking Mirror
Despite his rage, and the powerful muscles hurling him up the Beast's shaggy hide, its wild thrashing and the flames licking around its forearms make climbing difficult to impossible. The Catfolk is nimble enough to avoid being trampled, but finds it too difficult to do more than grab and hang on for a few moments before dropping to the ground again.

Golthir
Golthir's shot sinks into the rider's side, who gives a low moan of pain and crouches lower over the beast's humped spine, gripping for dear life.

Ophai
Ophai finds herself in much the same situation as Black Smoking mirror, but with the opposite problem. She finds it easy to hold on to the beast, but nearly impossible to haul herself upwards. Like Black Smoking Mirror she manages to avoid the beast's crashing footfalls.

Vayla
There is nothing yet, and the reply call is far off-though slightly closer than it was before.

Everyone outside
The rider stands, awkwardly as the Beast bucks below it, clutching an arm still sporting one of Golthir's arrows sticking high out from its shoulder. Its head turns and scans the varied group as the beast spreads the flames to the tree Ophai had been sitting in earlier. Hunters hurl spears and darts up into the beast, which bellows and rears. At the apex the figure leaps, an ignoble screech of pain coming as it disappears over the wall with a crash of underbrush.

All the riders and their birds in the open temple grounds lay dead, with the bodies of slain hunters around them. There are still screams from inside, and a half dozen of the Elder's clansmen are trying to keep the beast from rampaging any further.

Two of the huts have caught fire, as has the tree.






The bird-thing, screeching angrily as Zaid slaughters its rider, turns on her, puffing out its feathers, nearly doubling in size. The effect is quite terrifying, but Zaid's axe catches it across the beak, drawing a bleeding cut along its face. It twists its head, trying to drive its sharp, broad beak into Zaid's shoulder, but misses with a loud ClUk! as its jaws snap together.

[DeRerumNatura]

6th Round
Black Smoking Mirror
Ini:18 HP: 21/30 AC: 15
Rage 6/12

Fuelled by ire and blood lust the catfolk follows the leader leaping up the wall and down on the other side.


What ever is needed
Climb
1d20+10
Acrobatics
1d20+9

[Ezeze]

I've got to know

Ophai continues to try to haul herself up the side of the warbeast.

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Woggle]

Hearing the screams from within the temple, Vayla sends her cat to seek out the last of the birds. Vayla herself remains outside, moving away from the angered beast and readying an atlatl dart.


[roll0] Command the cat to seek out the bird in the temple.

[Bulwer]

As the rider vanishes over the wall, Golthir enjoys a moment of pure martial triumph, a bloodlust as untamed as that of the leopard-boy. When he was a young dwarf, black of beard and keen of sight, this feeling lived with him every day. In the centuries since, that particular blade had grown dull. He'd forgotten how powerful the feeling was.

He runs toward the gate, trying to get behind the beast. If he gets its attention, so much the better.

With his next shot, Golthir abandons some of the restraint he's cultivated, firing with all his might at the back of the beast's right knee.

Called shot, limb: [roll0] for [roll1] damage.

[Cognomen]

Zaid dodges away from the bird-creature and laughs in its evil face as it snaps futilely at the air. Bringing her axe around in a wide arc, she lunges for its neck, hoping to decapitate it.


Slash! Bash!
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Snacs]

Black Smoking Mirror
Black Smoking mirror clears the wall easily, even with wounds and a belly full of alcohol-tinged blood lust. The jungle is deceptively quiet on this side of the wall, beyond the cries of the beast being killed in the courtyard behind him. The abundant foliage sways and rustles in the breeze, the sounds of night animals returning slowly as the din in the temple starts to die down.

There is no immediate sign of the object of his rage.



Golthir
Golthir's arrow strikes true, as the remaining Hunters from the temple circle and toss spears or shoot arrows into the beast's hide as well.

Ophai
The Warbeast trumpets above her, and despite finally able to grip at the beast's shaggy fur, its thrashing prevents Ophai from making any progress. One of its tusks comes dangerously close to crushing her skull, and its lack of a rider might make trying to mount it again a poor idea.

Vayla
Vayla's cat bounds out of view towards the temple entrance obediently at her order.

everyone there
The beast finally wavers and slumps on to its great knees, the Thud loud enough to be heard throughout the whole courtyard. It's not dead yet, feebly wailing and thrashing as hunters stab at it repeatedly. It has finally put itself out, and it rolls its eyes in pain, trumpeting. Its tusks manage to clip a Hunter too eager for the kill, the sound of his ribs shattering loud.

The large tree in the center of the courtyard is now fully ablaze, and there are still screams and the sound of fighting from the temple proper's entrance.





Zaid
Hilith always tried to drum in that overconfidence would be the death of her. As her axe swings, the bird darts nimbly forward and below the hungry swing with a loud shriek of rage. The axe-shaped beak strikes, twisting sharply into Zaid's side. Something rips terribly inside her.

If it were not for Vayla's hunting cat, Zaid would have ended up the bird's meal at that point, as the cat leaps atop the bird, mauling it savagely. The two beasts go tumbling into a statue of Gron-lau, sending it tumbling and cracking in half.

More importantly, Zaid can feel her life-blood seeping from her side, legs and arms unresponsive and axe dropped to the floor.

Zaid takes 13 damage. She's currently at -1 and bleeding out!!!

[Bulwer]

Golthir doesn't bother to watch the beast fall-- as its knee begins to buckle, he turns to head toward the temple. His bow at hand, he seeks to get a good view of what enemies remain.

Perception, to see if there's somewhere to stand where only allies are within 30 feet: [roll0]. If there is such a space, Channel Energy [roll1]. If not, fire an arrow at the most convenient enemy [roll]1d20+9[roll] for 5 damage.

[DeRerumNatura]

Hitting the ground on the other side the traitor seems to has vanished.
Looking around and sniffing the ground Smoking Mirror tries to find his trace.


Survival to find him
[roll0]

[Woggle]

Vayla is careful to stay a safe distance from the beast as it topples to the ground. She notices Black Smoking Mirror vault the temple wall in pursuit of the war-beast's rider, but turns to the temple proper. She follows the Dwarven Cleric to the entrance, seeking her hunting cat. Reaching the entrance, she glances about, taking stock of the situation.


[roll0] To see her cat, and anything else which may be happening.

[Ezeze]

Ugh! Dammit! Ophai spits a number of unflattering epithets in elven, then turns and runs towards the source of the fighting. Discovering the attackers' identities would have to wait.

[Snacs]

The Dwarf is the first to reach the entrance to the temple. The first thing Golthir catches sight of is the Elder's grand-daughter, white as a sheet but otherwise unharmed, holding a blanket against the Elder's shoulder, who is stretched out and trying to comfort her as his life bleeds out. His hand goes limp from her arm just as the dwarf puffs his way to the entrance.

Between them Vayla's hunting cat is tangled up in a furious struggle with one of the bird-rider's mounts. The rider itself is sprawled, unmoving, against a small wooden carving of Gron-Lau. A few feet from the struggle is Zaid, who is likewise laid across the floor. Her side is spilling rich, fresh blood, though her eyes are open and she's grimly keeping pressure on the huge wound.

Golthir's arrow take the bird at near-point blank, snapping its head around long enough for Vayla's cat to rip out its throat. The big feline is bleeding and covered in gashes and claw marks, and hisses, eyes wide and as it tears chunks out of its gurgling opponent.


Zaid is down, but stable for the moment. Vayla's cat is at exactly one HP. The Elder died the moment you entered the room.





Black Smoking Mirror's foe is good at fleeing, but the jungle is the catfolk's home, and this 'traitor' is clearly not from the jungle. Its step was light, but there is just enough of a trail to follow from where it clearly fell hard after leaping the wall. It leads directly away from the temple, in as open a flight as wounded prey.

[DeRerumNatura]

Black Smoking Mirror smiles, or atleast shows his teeth.
He still got the chance to kill something worthwhile today.
Following the trail as fast as he can ready to pounce on his enemy when he shows himself.

[Ezeze]

Assured that the wounded are being seen to, Ophai finds the nearest soldier and removes his mask, determined to see what made the catfolk exclaim like that.

[Woggle]

Vayla makes her way toward her hunting cat, placing a calming hand on its back in an attempt to reassure it. Taking out her animal healing kit, she checks over her cat to see if there is anything she can do for it.


Heal check for stabilization or treating of wounds, if there is time for such.

[roll0] (+3 from Veterinarian's kit, when used on an animal)

[Snacs]

Black Smoking Mirror's prey is fast, even wounded. It takes all the catfolk's dexterity, and knowledge of the local bush, to make up the head start his prey has gotten.

The catfolk finally sees his prey across a clearing created by a fallen tree. It is not alone. A small stream, barely a few inches deep, separates the catfolk from his prey. The rider is wavering on its feet. Two similarly robed figures are propping it up, one speaking softly in a language Black Smoking Mirror has never heard before and gesturing over its wounded arm. A far taller and broad-shouldered figure is standing in front of the wounded prey, and backhands it roughly, once. A trio of the blunt-headed birds are nosing at the ground nearby, clucking softly to themselves.

They have not yet seen Black Smoking Mirror.



With the threat gone, the non-combatants of the Temple emerge from rooms and hiding spaces behind statues. All in all, the rider managed to kill three or four of the Temple occupants, including the Elder-a major blow considering the small size of the Temple's population.

The Elder's granddaughter clearly has his spine, as after only a brief moment of grief has stood and directed the other non-hunters to gathering and straightening out the large meeting space. Her eyes pick out Golthir, and she gestures towards Zaid in worry. Two of the Temple's elderly population are holding cloth to her wounds and trying to keep her conscious, but Golthir has been the Temple's main Healer for quite some time, since prior to his arrival healing was a matter of 'hope it gets better' for the most part. The dead are being quietly laid out, as young ones rush gathering supplies.

Vayla's cat hisses at first, eyes wild, but recognizes its handler's soothing voice and the touch of healing herbs. She manages to get it patched up somewhat, and it settles near her, licking itself clean of blood.

Ophai finds the dead rider easy enough. A large axe wound is what finished it off, probably from the weapon laying next to the downed Zaid. With the mask off, Ophai gets the first look at their attackers. Her face is angular, with high cheekbones. Human, with a lighter tone than most Soa-People, her blank eyes are darker than the average, with tight, clipped dark hair. A delicate network of tattoos spiral across one side of her cheek, and although Ophai has never seen such designs before, most of it grows out from a slender crescent-moon shape that curls behind one of the rider's ears.

No initiative since you're not fighting. Do stuff as appropriate:p
Ophai, feel free to give me search rolls.

[Ezeze]

Pathfinder doesn't have "Search." I can definitively give you a "Perception" roll, though :smallwink:
[roll0]

[Snacs]

There's little on the rider- a half dozen strange, hard metal coins about an inch across you've never seen before, imprinted with a twisting pattern. The woman's sword is nearby, bent backwards in a crescent-moon shape. The material isn't metal, too light and easy to lift. It's been engraved with tiny twisting patterns, though if there's any language in it it's none Ophai has ever seen. The material(bone?maybe?) is unique but doesn't answer the question Ophai wants. There's little else on the dead rider besides her clothing, which is tight-fitting and bulky, and of a fantastically soft material.

The tattoo that spreads down from behind her ear is a lot more interesting. Slender crescent-moon shapes and iconography grow more present the lower down Ophai goes...though the axe that killed her destroyed the main portion of the tattoo, which would have stretched over her collar bone.

[Ezeze]

Ophai growls in frustration and seeks out another body, determined to see if they have the same tattoo.

[roll0]

[DeRerumNatura]

First impulseis to charge, but sometimes even Smoking Mirrors knows when to stalk, and so seek cover, silently readying his bow, carefully aiming at the commander of the attack and finally letting his arrow fly.


Stealth(untrained)
[roll0]
Attack
[roll1]
Damage
[roll2]

Sorry for the wait.
Last couple of days was distracted/fried.
Had a deadling on Monday.

[Snacs]

Ophai is forced to leave the temple interior for the courtyard outside to find another downed rider. Thunder cracks outside, still off but approaching.


Outside is...it is not a good sight. The normally serene, overgrown courtyard has about a dozen bodies all told. Roughly two-thirds of them are temple Hunters, Gron-Lau and Soa shattered by the large beast or slain by the birds and their rider's swords. The great beast is clearly in its last breaths. Its low, keening moans are eerily intelligent as a few remaining Hunters jab at it carefully from a distance, too scared to go for a true kill.

The closest body has two Hunters standing over it, nudging it with their feet carefully. One of them is testing its strange sword.

As Ophai approaches, the hunter draws a wooden pendant from the figures neck. Even drenched in blood the blazing tree nearby shines enough light to show the symbol of Gron-Lau embossed on it.



Black Smoking Mirror finds the jungle undergrowth perfect for hiding his slow movements. His bow draws taut, the arrow looses. It sinks with a satisfying THUNK into the rider's's back, right below the shoulder.

The larger figure turns, looking into the darkness. The two figures escort the wounded rider towards the birds. One gives a short, hissing command and one of the birds leaps forward, fanning its wings out in front of them like a large feathery shield.

[Ezeze]

Ophai doesn't need to see any more. She seeks out the Elder's Granddaughter and, assuming as much authority and confidence as she can, pulls the woman aside for a word.


I'm sorry for your loss are the first words out of her mouth, and she lets them rest for a second before following up But you've got to know - the attackers were carrying symbols of Gron-Lau.

It's a trick, I'm sure of it. But it's a good trick, and our only recourse is to make sure that among the villagers the followers of Soa and the followers of Gron-Lau are seen to work together, else risk distrust amongst those who need one another now more than ever.

If you have a will to lead I will follow you as I would have followed your Grandfather.

[Woggle]

Her hunting cat check over, Vayla turns her attention to the Tiefling sprawled out nearby on the floor. Rummaging in her pack, she pulls out her healing kit to see if anything can be done in the meantime, while waiting for a proper healer. With Zaid attended to, Vayla looks up and notes Ophai examining the body of the dead rider, and then heading outside.

Vayla rises to her feet, calling to her cat to stay by her side, and carefully examines the body of the black-robed bird-rider.


Heal check for Zaid, if it can do anything.
[roll0] (+1 from Veterinarian's kit, used on a humanoid)

[roll1] to examine the bird rider more closesly (in case anything may have been missed)

Also, apologies for the delay in posting.

[DeRerumNatura]

Smoking Mirror silently stalks through the undergrow,, enjoying himself and changing his position as taught before releasing another arrow at his target.


Stealth
[roll0]
Attack w/ Composite Longbow
[roll1]
Damage
[roll2]

[Snacs]

The thick jungle undergrowth continues to hide Smoking Mirror-at least, by the way his opponents move he has not been spotted.

This time however his arrow goes wide, clipping a branch above the moving figures' heads. They mount up and the birds skip away with loud cries.


The large figure remains behind briefly, scanning the jungle before hefting itself on to the last bird, which grumbles at the extra weight.



Vayla's attentions are sadly little able to do more than keep pressure on Zaid's wounds and make her more comfortable until someone else can look at her. Vayla's cat limps stiffly next to her, keeping close.

The dead bodies give little clues to Vayla. The riders are clearly not Soa-people, though they are similar in build, if paler and a bit shorter than the average. Some of the Hunters are arguing or helping the wounded or to put out fires.



The Elder's granddaughter finishes caring for an older woman holding a rag to a cut across her head, before she allows Ophai to pull her away. She gestures for Golthir to follow.

The young woman sucks in a breath at Ophai's words, but her expression is smooth and steady.
"That will cause a lot of arguments I think. Whether it is a trick or not doesn't change that I trust my family not to betray us." She says this without a hint of uncertainty in her tone, pausing briefly to issue orders as a flock of younger children run up to be given orders, faces solemn and worried. When she turns back she nods once, a short, punctual understanding.

"Good." Her eyes slide away towards Zaid on the ground and she lifts a hand to stall anymore of Ophai's words. "Excuse me. There are...many wounded"She says politely, but firmly. Such a change a few hours make! That slight pause the only indication the formerly timid girl was barely holding it together.



It hurt. A lot. The uncomfortable stone floor had started to grow cold from the night air, sucking the warmth from the bleeding woman. Briefly there were rough hands, applying pressure, checking carefully. The hands pressed the tiefling's own down on what felt like coarse cloth.

Then she was left alone for what felt like an eternity, before softer, gentler hands arrived. The voice was familiar- one of the Temple girls. Her touch is soothing, somewhat. Zaid remembers little else after that.




Do whatever actions you feel like doing, because I'll be time-skipping a bit to move things along.

[Woggle]

With the fighting over for the moment, Vayla attempts to quiet the clamoring, conflicting thoughts vying for attention in her head. Letting the older Elf deal with the knowledge of possible treachery by followers of Gron Lau - But surely it is not possible? - Vayla kneels by Zaid's side, rummaging through her pack to retrieve what little healing equipment she has. Vayla stays by her, cleaning and binding her wounds as best she can for the next hour or so, hopefully improving her condition somewhat.


Vayla will attempt to treat Deadly Wounds (provided she has the requisite hour of time available) on Zaid.
[roll0] Treat Deadly Wounds, requires to heal kits (in this case two veterinarian's kits)

Also, sorry about the delay in posting. I should be much more prompt from now on.