[PF] Mal De Mar: IC

[Cardea]

Player
Character
Class
Race
Summary


Athaleon
Urist "Krag" Kragannan (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1201187)
Fighter
Dwarf
Mercenary Blacksmith


Aldurin
Montague "Monty" (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1198006)
Avowed: Court Fey
Human
Summer Court Attendant


RPZip
Hestia d'Arlais (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1199982)
Avowed: Draconic
Human
Sister Dragon


steinulfr
Aiva (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1210644)
Spiritualist: Phantom Blade
Rougarou
Predator


Swami Monsoon
Amir Atashi (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1199113)
Oracle
Tiefling
Oracle Outsider



OOC (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?524974-PF-Mal-De-Mar-OOC)


Calca Rinlen, the Merchantlord of Kobolds, has retired. Officially his retirement started a week ago, but two weeks prior he sought out a group of folks to safeguard a shipment to the Academy of Storaf, across the wild grasslands of Aetra. Thirty crates of hourglasses, each one easily fifteen or twenty pounds, were put on a cart as hastily made as you five were assembled. The boards connecting the floor to the siding aren't exactly aligned, and the wheel sets aren't completely straight with the cart itself, cause just the tiniest bit of drag. And while the horse provided to you is young and outfitted with magic ropes and sash, it has done nothing for the cramped journey for those of you who have decided to sit in the wagon for the ride. Two weeks of rationed food when you decided not to scavenge, with only forty-three portions left, the only thing making the journey more bearable has been the pleasant weather and the sites. Northern Aetra has long since been nearly vacated, the nemesis event scattering those who lived here to an early grave or a new home, and while you pass many the abandoned ruins of what could have been small communities, much of the land is beautiful and untouched.

The signs have been helpful, at least. One every couple of days has made its presence known on the side of the road. While many of the town and village names have been scratched out, one has always remained legible and unscarred: Rikkenyarp. Rikkenyarp has always been forward north, Rikkenyarp has always been further along, Rikkenyarp has always been down the trail. But recently, a new addition to these road signs has been seen. Rikkenyarp, 50m. Rikkenyarp, 40m. Rikkenyarp, according to the latest sign, is only 20m away, and you should be able to reach it before nightfall. Packing up the night's camp, you head north once again through the lone countryside, the smells of nature running over you as a soft breeze joins you for the ride.

How are you doing, traveler? What are you doing?

[Athaleon]

"Only hope this 'Rikkenyarp' is a decent sized city. We can pick up some supplies, and get a decent wainwright to do what the first one should have done properly." Krag had tried not to make the journey even less pleasant by grumbling, but he assumed they were all thinking it. "Speaking of craftsmanship, do they not have glass-blowers where we're going? I've seen one turn a ball of molten glass into beautiful sculptures of horses and birds, and whatnot; a simple hourglass ought to be easy to make. Not that I'm complaining about the money, mind you."

[ylvathrall]

Aiva paces along beside the wagon, seemingly tireless despite the heavy pack she carries. She hasn't ridden in the wagon since the first day of travel, having quickly decided that walking was preferable to that. Her focus is more on the surroundings than on the road itself, the wilderness they travel through holding her attention. The wolfish woman's ears are perked, turning this way and that to catch the sounds of the world around her, and she scents the air often, relishing in the fresh scents on the wind. Her sharp amber eyes carry just the slightest hint of deep crimson when they catch the sun right, but it's easy enough to dismiss as a trick of the light.

She has routinely brought down game and foraged for edible plants to supplement the rations on the trip thus far. Today, though, she is sticking with the wagon instead. They can find food in the town, most likely. Assuming it hasn't been corrupted or destroyed like so many places were in the war. And if it has, well, better to find out with the rest than alone.

"It is...odd that they can afford to hire an escort at such a high price, but couldn't find a decent wagon," she says in response to Krag. Her tone is thoughtful, almost concerned, and as she speaks she checks for the fourth time today that her breastplate is properly fastened in place.

[Swami Monsoon]

"The wealthiest people are often the cheapest people. And they'll be proud to tell you that's why they're wealthy..." Amir checks, yet again, to make sure the cargo hasn't shifted. If nothing else, the task makes the day move on a tiny bit faster. "I don't really know how easy it is to make glasses like these, or if they can do that where we're going. But I'm pretty sure the stuff inside is important too, and I have no idea where that comes from."

[Aldurin]

Monty falls back into pace with the wagon, having just completed another check of the terrain. He'd spent most of his time away from the cart, scouting the best trails and for signs of dangerous wildlife, but never straying further than a few hundred feet from the group. The outing into the wilderness had been enjoyable so far, save for the frustrating pace the defective wagon imposed. Occasionally he felt uneasy about the situation, bringing fleeting moments of paranoia when he put serious thought into the possibility that the delivery was a setup. Now that the others were voicing curiosity, the unease came back. "It's an eccentric delivery, for sure. Might be a monetary transfer. It's not unheard of for merchants to hang on to the majority of their value via goods that can be speculated on, rather than coin or gems. Risky though, hourglasses are fragile and the actual value of them upon arrival might be lower than Rinlen predicts, if that's what this delivery is about. Still doesn't explain the wagon's condition, unfortunately." He took a long look at the wagon, a faint glossy shimmer in his eyes. His raccoon also appeared from under his cape, the same shimmer in its eyes as both examined the wagon.

Detect Magic from Monty, shared to his familiar. Looking for auras on the cart that don't originate on the horse's gear. Rolls pending if anything comes up.

[RPZip]

Hestia looks up from her sketchpad as the wagon thunks over a piece of uneven road, the slat she was laying her sketchpad against jarring loose from its fellows and raising into the air. She blows the hair out of her face, frowning as she reaches into her pocket for a piece of rubber and uses it to painstakingly remove the long, jagged line the errant motion made across the detailed sketch of an interesting piece of architecture. "It's passing strange, to be sure," she says, brow furrowed in concentration as she moves the rubber across the sketchpad, cleaning the mistakes off. "You do hear about old traders going a bit... funny, though. Or it could be part of some elaborate disguise, I suppose, but it seems like any kind of wagon in these parts would be cause for comment no matter the condition."

[Athaleon]

"You know, I bet folk in high places with highfalutin' things to think about probably don't consider small stuff like the wagons used to cart their goods around," Krag mused, before switching the topic abruptly. "I don't mind the trip, really. You know I started in the blacksmithing trade with a mercenary company? Travelin' around in my youth, just like this, helping to grind the nicks out of swords and hammer the dents out of helmets in the downtime."

[Cardea]

The morning turns to midday with no event, the clouds rolling by steadily. The sun in its perch warms the ground and the air, and while hot, it at least isn't humid. The road becomes smoother, oddly enough, as you pass by a sign that says RIKKENYARP 16M, proving that you are making steady progress. Perhaps the smoother road is simply a thing when you get closer to towns, after.

While the cart itself is nonmagical, you do see a faint aura coming from inside the crates.

[ylvathrall]

Aiva follows the conversation of the others, but only absently. Much of her attention is still held by her surroundings, the world around her. The heat is a touch irksome, particularly with her fur, but it is survivable. The rougarou would prefer to travel at night, and sleep in the hot hours of the day, but it isn't an urgent enough preference to bother asking the others.

Her attentiveness pays off around midday. It's difficult to say precisely what tips her off to the tiger; the creature is, as would be expected from such a fine predator, not obvious. Not until it strikes. But she hears the barest trace of a rustle within the tall grass behind the wagon, sees a momentary flicker of orange fur before it crouches deeper into the grasses, smells a trace of fur and musk on the breeze. Small cues, but they are enough.

She can't help but admire the beast. Its size, its obvious expertise, the sheer magnificence of the creature is glorious.

That admiration doesn't slow her down at all, though. The instant she registers its presence she launches herself at it, lips peeling back from her teeth as she snarls in wordless hunger and excitement. As she moves towards the creature one hand rises into a savage blow with all the weight of her charge behind it. Flickers of deep crimson light crawl over her hand in the moments before impact, and she feels Amaranthine's satisfaction and excitement rising to meet hers within her mind.

Making a charge attack on the dire tiger in the surprise round, as informed by GM. Amaranthine is harbored, giving the bonuses to unarmed strikes.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Cardea]

A growl goes out into the air as Aiva strikes a previously unseen, would-be assailant. The feline, massive, black-striped and covered in bone spurs, rears up from its hiding spot, growling at Aiva and the new wound she has given it.


PARTY HAS WON INITIATIVE

Roll20 Link. (https://app.roll20.net/join/2278993/UBlgBA)

[ylvathrall]

Aiva lets out a wild laugh, the sound almost like a howl and filled with glee. She snaps her hand, now stained with the tiger's blood, out to the side, reaching out to the deep hunger within her. Amaranthine manifests itself in her hand, already in her grip. The massive crimson blade doesn't so much appear as impose itself on the world, the bloody color of the weapon so vivid it hardly seems real. The touch of the weapon, the hunger within her mind resonating with her own, anchors her, provides her with a stable mental foundation. Working from that foundation she builds up, shaping the hunger and need into a tangible force. The cold magic aches within her as she pushes it out, forcing it to manifest in the world.

The whole process takes only moments, so fast it passes in a single beat of her heart. Then the blade comes crashing down with brutal force, wreathed in cold blue light. She makes two strokes, each carrying that light, and each falling with all the force she can put behind it. Amaranthine seems almost to fade in and out of reality as it moves, shivering through different phases of existence. As she finishes the second stroke, almost as an afterthought, she lunges for the tiger, her smile splitting open into a savage bite at its throat.

Rolled my concentration check in the OOC thread and passed. As a free action, spending one point from my ectoplasmic pool to manifest Amaranthine. As a free action, spending two points to make all attacks with Amaranthine resolve against touch AC for one round.

Attack (including the -2 penalty for spell combat and the -1 penalty she incurred during the concentration check): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
On hit, delivers chill touch. This deals [roll2] points of negative energy damage (assuming the tiger is not undead). The tiger must also make a DC 16 Fortitude save or take 1 point of Strength damage.

Attack: [roll3]
Damage: [roll4] + [roll5] negative from chill touch, save as above.

Bite: [roll6] (this is against full AC, not touch)
Damage: [roll7] + [roll8] negative from chill touch, save as above.

[Aldurin]

Monty stays with the wagon when Aiva dives at the tiger, and upon recognizing the creature immediately draws his bow. He is frustrated to not have noticed the beast stalking them, and doesn't want anything else to happen while he helps dispatch it. He directs his familiar to climb atop his head and check the area for other creatures, then he raises his free hand. A faint silver glow emanates from his palm, then in a blink of the eye energy arcs between his fingers then launches at the tiger, leaving a faint glittering trail that fades as quickly as it appears. Before the shimmering projectile finishes its path, he begins shouting to the others. "Watch your distance! It'll tear you in half if you give it the chance!"

Aether Pulse at the tiger
[roll0] vs touch AC
[roll1] damage

Monty's familiar moves into the same square as Monty, then makes a perception check looking for other signs of danger. [roll2]

[Swami Monsoon]

Amir is startled from his examination of the cargo by the sounds of combat. He loads his crossbow, but before firing he concentrates for a moment and utters a few syllables. The others in the party feel a tingling of energy...

Move: Ready crossbow
Standard: Cast Bless

[RPZip]

Hestia's head whips up from her sketchpad as Aiva dives at the tiger, her hand gripping the shaft of her weapon as she jumps out after the wolf woman. She stalks forward as Aiva savages the beast, stopping a few paces behind her, and breathes.

A wave of shattering force erupts from the small woman's mouth, shaking the air and flattening the grass around them. As the wave reaches Aiva a mark on the side of her neck glows blue and the wave flows around her, flowing like a river around a pebble, before resuming its normal force and crashing into the tiger. The force buffets its skin, tearing the wounds Aiva inflicted further open, and Hestia's face opens into a grin. "At least something is finally happening!"

Move action to get out of the cart and move behind Aiva, ready to poke the tiger with my Bardiche if it moves into range without 5' stepping. Standard to use Aether Breath in a 15' cone, targeting the Dire Tiger. The breath doesn't damage Aiva due to the Weatherproofing mark Hestia applies each morning.

[roll0] damage, DC 20 reflex save for half. If the tiger fails its save it takes an additional [roll1] damage at the start of my next turn. The 15' cone is also effected by the area version of the Shatter spell, but this should be mostly cosmetic unless the grass is made out of porcelain.

[Athaleon]

Krag hopped down from the cart and stalked towards the tiger as he let the old fury overtake him. With a savage, wordless yell, he hefted his long-hafted axe and brought it down on the beast the moment he was close enough.


Raging, and attacking with Power Attack.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Cardea]

Swiftly do attacks bear down upon the feline, chilling magic sapping strength from its bones, sharp edges drawing blood from its veins, it coughs up something black into the ground. In fury, it lashes out at Urist, seeing the raging dwarf as the largest threat.

Full-Attack on Urist
Claw One: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Claw Two: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

Bite: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]

Edit: 36 damage total on Urist, three sources.

Edit: You all have control of your individual tiles now.

[Athaleon]

Urist roared a litany of curses as he stepped aside to get some space and hewed again, heedless of his wounds. He never felt pain when his blood was up like this, it just made him angrier.


Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Cardea]

With a yelp, the predator becomes preyed upon, Urist's axe embedding itself in the tigers shoulder. It slumps to the ground, blood coming from its wound, and a black liquid seeping out of its mouth.


Party is victorious. Each member gets 1,200 XP.

[Swami Monsoon]

Amir hops down from the wagon and tends to Urist...

"Attacking an armed party in broad daylight... it's like that tiger was on a suicide mission. Was it sick or is something else going on?"

Cast Cure Moderate Wounds on Urist
[roll0]

[Athaleon]

Urist lowered his axe, panting through clenched teeth as the creature finally went down. As the adrenaline ebbed away, the pain of his wounds finally set in, though mitigated somewhat by Amir's timely aid. "Look at that black stuff," he pointed at the tiger's mouth. "Doubt it was sick, aren't rabid animals supposed to be foaming at the mouth? Hope none of that got in the bite," he muttered with sudden worry.

[ylvathrall]

Aiva laughs, looking around wildly for the next target. When nothing immediately shows itself, she lets Amaranthine fade, the blade whispering out of existence and back into her mind. She draws a more mundane blade from her belt, a heavy hunting knife with a wooden handle and a blade worn down by repeated sharpening, as she kneels beside the animal. "Not sick," she says confidently, beginning to work the blade under the animal's skin. "Corrupted. Tainted. Probably why it attacked in the first place.

Rolling survival to skin the tiger: [roll0]

[Aldurin]

Monty doesn't even get the chance to draw back the bowstring when the tiger falls. Slightly torn between relief and disappointment, he puts away the bow and approaches the creature's corpse. While the others try to inspect and skin the creature, he takes a closer look at the black liquid in the tiger's mouth. When he's done with that, he examines the exposed flesh to determine if the substance is visibly present within the tiger's body, potentially enough to contaminate it. His familiar's gaze follows the same path, in silent conversation with his master over what they can determine.

Rolling Knowledge: Arcana, Knowledge: Nature, Knowledge: Local and Survival to determine what the substance is and if the tiger's meat will be safe to eat. Detect Magic is up for both Monty and his familiar for this examination.
Monty's Rolls:
Arcana: [roll0]
Local: [roll1]
Nature (taking the highest of the two rolls): [roll2] [roll3]
Survival (taking the highest of the two rolls): [roll4] [roll5]

Raccoon's rolls:
Knowledge Nature (taking best of the two rolls): [roll6] [roll7]
Survival (taking the best of the two rolls): [roll8] [roll9]

[Swami Monsoon]

Amir channels a bit more healing energy into Urist and then joins Monty in examining the carcass...

Cure Light Wounds on Urist
[roll0]
Knowledge Nature [roll1]

[RPZip]

Hestia leans over the corpse as Aiva works her knife through the tiger's skin, exposing more and more of the corruption. The ground around the creature is stained by the black sludge, the grass and shrub flattened by the effects of her breath soaking in the substance. "Definitely... strange. Do any of you recognize this?"

Checking Arcana and Planes on the off-chance they're helpful.

Arcana: Best of [roll0][roll1]
Planes: Best of [roll2][roll3]

Finally remembered to hit the 'post' button.

[Cardea]

The knife finds easy purchase under the hunter's care, separating muscle and skin. In time the pelt comes off, but the bone spurs prove difficult, and additional cuts and knicks and tearing lower the quality of the skin taken. While its not as nice as it was thought out to be, its still serviceable.

The ground near the tiger's mouth and vomit is covered in black soot, and among the debris is small animal pelts,
and some small animal bones.

Arcana: Animals who cough up detritus such as this were common during the last war, and the soot itself is valued for its alchemical properties.

[Athaleon]

"Thank you, Amir," Urist said earnestly. Inspecting the impromptu autopsy, he has little to comment on. "Can't say I do recognize it. I mean, I suppose the small bones and pelts make sense."

[Swami Monsoon]

"Rabbits and... coal? Odd diet for a cat..." Amir leaves the others to their work and watches the treeline, crossbow in hand, just in case the tiger wasn't alone...

[Aldurin]

Monty doesn't have much to comment on while the animal is being skinned. When they finish, he returns to the cart and resumes keeping a look out for other trouble. "We were lucky, the tiger could have announced itself by killing one of us. Don't try salvaging any of it for food, it's possible that the flesh is contaminated. How's your wound, Krag? Might want to clean it in case whatever that tiger was suffering from can be spread." He doesn't look at any specific person as he speaks, but rather beyond their immediate area, eyes darting to different points on the horizon. The sudden break to their peace has unnerved him, and nagging thoughts of possible other beasts hunting them keep him from fully calming down.

[Athaleon]

"Clean them?" Urist frowned. "Our healer's talent has closed my wounds fully. Barely even any scars left on 'em. But I agree we shouldn't try to eat this critter in turn, poetic as that would be."

[ylvathrall]

Aiva listens to the others talk, but doesn't speak herself. She is staring at the tiger's body, her expression almost meditative; it appears that she is deeply lost in thought.

Then, suddenly, her hand plunges into the tiger's viscera. Her hand roots around for a moment before she finds the heart and rips it out. She spends a moment holding it in front of her face, sampling the scent of it and looking at it with that same odd expression. Her eyes have just the slightest shade of crimson to them, now, Amaranthine coming to the forefront of her mind and filling her with its deep, insatiable hunger. Her expression twists slightly at the sight - and smell - of the organ, however, and it seems she almost has to force herself to take a single, tiny bite of the tiger's heart.

[Cardea]

The tiger's heart is tougher on the outside, but the outside cracks as Aiva takes a bite out of it. Not so much a meaty texture, so much as it flakes and tastes of wax.

[Athaleon]

Urist looked on with a suspicious expression at Aiva's behavior, but didn't comment on it.

[Swami Monsoon]

Amir winces as he watches Aiva finish her snack. With his background, he is all too aware of reinforcing stereotypes, but she clearly has no such concerns. He just hopes that eating that thing won't make her sick...

[RPZip]

Hestia tilts her head to the side, watching Aiva absently while she collects some of the soot the tiger vomited up as it died. "Gross," she says before leaning back in to focus on her work. "The soot is valuable, at least. You'd see corruption like this during the last war. Not so much after, of course."

Wiping her hands on her pants, the short woman gets to her feet. "We probably shouldn't stick around, in case there's any more. We should keep an eye out for a spot to fort up for the night as well, come to think of it. Wouldn't want to wake up to one of these slinking into camp."

Rolling Knowledge: History for 'The Last War'.

[roll0]

[ylvathrall]

"Simpler to push on. Should be able to make town by night still if we push for it," Aiva says, tossing the rest of the tiger's heart aside. She makes no explanation for her actions as she collects the skin and begins walking down the road, though she can feel a ferocious new tone within her mind for a moment before it fades into the background.

[Athaleon]

"Right, I'd prefer to get some walls around us for the night, especially if there are more of these critters around." With that, Urist returned to the wagon and began to wipe the blood off his axe.

[Swami Monsoon]

"I agree. If it looks like we're not making good time we can find a spot before nightfall, but we should try to get into town if we can..."

[Aldurin]

Monty does his best to not look back as he hears what must be someone trying to eat the tiger, despite his advice. He directs the horse to continue moving forward, then moves away to resume his scouting of the cart's vicinity. "Let's get moving, then. At the very least we should put distance between us and the corpse."

[Cardea]

With bloody skin in tow, the group continues onward with some on the wagon, and some not. After a few hours, a new sign appears, this time saying 5m at the top of a hill, and in the distance you can see what you could safely assume is Rikkenyarp. Blue tiled ceilings adorn some larger buildings near a lake, and across a small river splitting the town are some houses. Much farther in the distance, you can see a mountain range, with dark clouds descending slowly in the wind towards the town. You can be in town around the time the rain might hit, if you keep moving forward.

Game function here: you're more than able to make perception checks on things in the distance, such as a town like this. Normally the DC for looking at something at long range increases by +1 per 10 feet, but for this context you're just trying to gauge what's in a town, I'm willing to waive those. IRL, you can recognize a lighthouse even if you're a few miles out. I'm willing to believe that someone with a high enough perception check can recognize key buildings. Relevant Knowledge checks may also help, depending on what you're trying to look at.

[Aldurin]

Monty slows his pace slightly and pulls out his spyglass, examining the buildings in the distance. Focusing on windows, chimneys and doors, he tries to identify any activity in the town. If the town seems too busy or too still from this distance, he'll want to make sure that everyone is cautious when they approach.

Perception [roll0] to look for signs of activity in the town, using the spyglass for better results. Knowledge: Local [roll1] for any relevant information about the town in order to judge if that activity is normal.

[Athaleon]

Urist squinted out from beneath his heavy brow, looking for any sign of trouble that might be recognizable at this distance—and also scanning for any more trouble closer to hand.


Perception: [roll0]

[Swami Monsoon]

Amir also keeps a close watch on his surroundings.

"Now that we've made it in time, no reason to rush in before we know what's going on..."

[RPZip]

Hestia cranes her head back to check the progress of the oncoming storm. "Well, there's at least one reason to hurry on. I really don't want to get stuck in the rain again," she says, shaking her head and reaching for the battered raincloak to keep it close at hand. "I've had enough of that already this trip."

Perception: [roll0]
History: [roll1]

[ylvathrall]

Aiva grunts in agreement with Amir. "Never know what you're in for out here," she says grimly. "Especially with tainted creatures that close. Could be nothing, could be not. Better wet than dead."

Perception: [roll0]
Knowledge (geography): [roll1]

[Cardea]

You can make out two larger buildings near the road entering into town, with a small clearing next to it. Across a small river are more buildings after that.

From your angle its hard to make out but on the road opposite the small clearing, but on the same side of the river, is what appears to be an inn, tavern and stables.

No lights appear to be on in the windows, despite the coming night time.

The larger buildings have a distinctive blue tile for the roof, which hasn't been in circulation for decades due to the loss of a certain flower that went extinct during the last war. Based on how the tiles seemed to be formed, as well as the build of the structures, you can surmise that on the left as you enter town is a blacksmith, and on the right is a large manor.

[Athaleon]

"Can't make out much, but for two large buildings near the road, with a small clearing next to them. Maybe guard houses? Can't tell much about the buildings beyond, either. Guess we'll find out when we're closer, Urist said with a shrug.

[ylvathrall]

"No lights," Aiva muses. "No sign of life at all. No movement in the streets. Might be worth sending someone in to scout it out first, make sure nothing is wrong." Unspoken is the assumption that she would, with her practice in stalking prey without being seen or heard, be the best choice to send.

[Swami Monsoon]

"That sounds like a good idea."

Amir looks around for some cover near the buildings where the others could watch and wait.

[Aldurin]

"Scouting would make sense, I'll check it out once we get closer and wave back if things are normal." Monty says, not understanding Aiva's intent to be the scout. Familiar on his back, he warily approaches the town. The raccoon on his back holds the spyglass, using it to examine the town more closely as they get near.

Stealth [roll0] [roll1] taking the better of the two rolls.
Perception [roll2]
Familiar's perception (using the spyglass) [roll3]

[ylvathrall]

Aiva lopes forward, setting a surprisingly fast pace for the armor and packs she is carrying. As she walks past Monty she flashes her teeth at him in something that could pass for a grin. Without breaking stride, her form flickers and shifts. Within the space of a heartbeat, the rougarou is gone, replaced by a large wolf with crimson eyes. Amaranthine's shade fades from her eyes after a moment, leaving the same amber irises that Aiva usually shows.

The wolf trots forward into the woods, vanishing after a few steps.

Using my change shape ability, which gives her a wolf's move speed of 50. Also casting invisibility once she's within a mile of the town, assuming she doesn't detect anything before that.

[Athaleon]

"Hmf. Handy trick," Urist muttered as he watched. He knew, though, that he was just about the last member of this party that ought to move ahead to scout.

[RPZip]

Hestia clicks her tongue and grabs the wagon's reigns, snapping them once and setting the horse off on a slow trot towards the town. "While they scout we can get a little closer.
No point in scouting if we're too far behind them and something happens, after all." The lack of lights is bothering Hestia more than she lets on - growing up on a caravan, she knows that a town like this should be starting to light up for the night - but it's also not a situation she's well-equipped to deal with. Well, except for just bulling her way through it. "Besides, I still want to get in out of the rain."

[Swami Monsoon]

Amir leaves his cover and moves with the wagon, staying behind it so his presence isn't obvious to anyone watching from the town...

[Cardea]

The distance to the town shrinks and shrinks, as does the distance to the dark clouds ahead. The closer you get to the town, the more you can make out the sound of thunder, with brief glimpses of lightning. And once at the threshold of the town, light rain has already begun, pouring over you all, your horse, your cargo. Immediately to your right is the large building you saw from afar, and a smaller building across from it. Two more buildings follow on the right hand side of the down, with a small lake behind them, and a field clearing with some stalls across from them. A river divides this side of town from the rest of the town, consisting of two dozen or so houses, which feeds into the lake.

It is currently raining: you have half-visibility, a -4 on Perception checks, ranged weapon attacks, and a -4 on Fly checks.

[ylvathrall]

Aiva creeps closer, shrouded in her magic, looking for any movement within the town. She barely even seems to notice the rain falling on her. It's nothing she hasn't seen before, after all, and her fur keeps it from affecting her much anyway.

[Athaleon]

Urist looked on stoically, his helmet and cloak keeping most of the rain off him. He made a deliberate effort not to watch his companions sneaking ahead, and instead kept a close eye on windows and rooftops.

[Aldurin]

Monty keeps his hood covering him to block the rain, and his familiar retreats under the shoulder of the cloak to remain dry in the same way. The lack of activity makes him uneasy, so he swiftly moves to the large building on the right, peeking into a window to see if anything is trying to hide in the darkness while he strains to listen for any noises within the structure.

Monty perception (rain penalty factored in) [roll0]
Familiar perception [roll1]
Both benefit from the Sightseer clause.

[Swami Monsoon]

Amir stays with the wagon and takes a long look at the buildings, looking for signs of life. Everything seems too dark and too still...

He whispers to Hestia, "Is this place abandoned? Or is worse than that?"

[RPZip]

Hestia pokes her head out from under the wagon's covering, scowling up into the rain as she holds a hand out and catches some of the drops on her hand. She clicks her tongue at the horse, slowing down the walking pace of the wagon even more to give the scouts more of a lead. "It's... probably worse," Hestia says, scanning the area around her. "Abandoned towns usually leave some sign that they're being abandoned. Literal signs, often enough."

Just got back from a business trip, posting shouldn't be as spotty from now on.

Perception check - looking for signs of abandonment, something to indicate that the town is intended to be empty.
[roll0]

[Cardea]

As your group, in its two line formation, ventures deeper into the town, Monty can make out a single source of light. Dim and flickering, with the rain giving no aid despite the man's supernatural ability, peering through slots in the windows of one of the buildings on the right hand side of the road, just before the river. The larger of two, in fact, and the one with stables. Hestia is unable to see any signs of abandonment or indicators of absence, but is able to see one thing: the larger building near the river has its doors and windows barricaded with planks and tables.

[Aldurin]

"I see a faint light in this building, but I'm not sure what it is. No signs of activity otherwise." Monty reports as he peeks through the window. "This feels wrong, should be more lamplight at this time of evening, I think. But we need shelter. Which of the buildings would be best to search and at least deem safe?"

[RPZip]

Hestia raises a finger to point towards the large building with the boarded-up windows. "There, see? It's boarded up. It'd be a bit more work to get in, but if something happened here then it's where people would have been holed up," she says, hopping off the wagon's board and patting the horse absently. "Come on, let's take a closer look."

[Athaleon]

"Nearest one's safest, I reckon, but I'll back you up if you choose another. And if any of you can open the door without making a hole or breaking the lock, so much the better," Urist said in a low voice.

[Swami Monsoon]

"We might want to hole up in one of the outbuildings until daylight. If there are people barricaded in that bigger building, expecting to be attacked, they might not react well to strangers approaching in the dark."

[ylvathrall]

Aiva melts back into her bipedal form as she approaches the others, though she remains shrouded behind her veil of magic. "Best to stay outside the town," she says, the voice seeming to come from thin air. "I don't trust this place."

[RPZip]

Hestia throws her hands up into the air when Aiva melts back into view. "And then what? Camp out in the rain? Try to sneak the horse around the village? We're here, we may as well find someplace to be. If they are hiding from something, I don't want to be stuck out here," she says, her eyes flashing. "And these podunk little villagers can just deal with it if they're upset." With that the short woman stalks off towards the barricaded house, cupping her hands around her mouth to amplify her voice. "Hallo the house! We're traders looking for a place to stay and stable our horse! If nobody says anything we're coming in because we don't want to be out here in the rain!"

Hestia's version of 'caution' has more to do with 'barreling ahead full force' than 'sneaking'.

[ylvathrall]

Aiva sighs, letting Amaranthine ease out of her mind and into her hand. She's a feeling she'll need the sword sooner than later, and better to have it and not need it than the opposite.

[Swami Monsoon]

Amir hopes this won't turn into a fight. but better safe than sorry... He concentrates for a few seconds, muttering a few words under his breath. Suddenly his senses, and those of his comrades, grow keener and the surroundings seem to come into slightly sharper focus...


Cast Bless

[Cardea]

The light through the cracks disappears, and you can hear the sound of a few slams coming from inside the building, despite the rain. A man's voice calls out, and through the rain you can tell he's wary. "Prove you haven't stolen those voices! How many winters have you seen?"

[Aldurin]

Monty feels relief when the voice responds to Hestia's call, but it quickly gives way to confusion when he realizes the oddness of the first sentence. He opts to let the others answer first as he ponders what kind of creature could warrant this caution from townsfolk.

Knowledge checks to think of the possible creatures that can imitate or steal people's voices.
Arcana [roll0]
Local [roll1]
Nature (best of these two rolls) [roll2] [roll3]

[Athaleon]

"Eighty this winter, but then I'm a Dwarf," Urist responded earnestly, though his expression was utterly puzzled as he looked back at his companions.

[RPZip]

Hestia shrugs at Urist and turns back to the door. "Twenty seven. Why are you asking? What's going on here?"

Arcana: [roll0][roll1]
Planes: [roll2][roll3]

Take the better of the two rolls for Arcana and Planes, seeing if something trips a memory for what would make people act like this.

[Swami Monsoon]

"Sixty one. And this is the voice I was born with." Amir leaves out any qualifiers about his heritage. He doubts that these people would find that reassuring...

[Cardea]

"Just the three of you, then? Come around to the side, there's a panel I can move out the way, but you need to move!" There's a loud shuffling and thudding of furniture coming from inside, then silence.

[Aldurin]

Monty is quick to speak up, wanting to avoid creating distrust in the stranger. "There's me as well. Thirty winters, just the recent ones have made me cautious." He moves to the side of the house, looking for movement in the panels. "How does this prove our voices aren't stolen? What's made the town like this?"

[ylvathrall]

Aiva stays silent for the moment. It's rude not to announce herself when so clearly asked, but something is clearly wrong here, and having a hole card is rarely a bad thing. Better to remain invisible, silent, and undetected for now, rather than give away a possible advantage so readily.

[Cardea]

"Keep askin' questions out there, and you ain't gettin' in!" The voice hollers out, full of anger. Around the side of the building, a section of a makeshift barricade is raised and slid out of its place. In the portal stands a man in a breastplate with a furred collar, holding an handaxe in one hand, and the barricade section as a shield in the other. Behind him you can see the interior of the inn, its light pouring out into the dark, wet outdoors. He addresses Monty. "Alright, how many winters is the dwarf?"

[Athaleon]

Urist glared at the man in the door, but bit down the urge to repeat himself, and decided to let Monty answer for him. Clearly something very odd was going on, and the thought of it made him look around nervously at their surroundings once again.

[Aldurin]

"Seventy-nine, with this upcoming winter it'll be eighty." Monty calmly replies, hiding his puzzlement at the strange quiz.

[Cardea]

The man is no less stressed, but moves out of the way of the for you four to enter. "If you've any horses, its best to bring them in too. Cargo too, if you've a wagon. The things out know what to take."

[RPZip]

Hestia clicks her tongue and walks past Aiva, giving the tall rougarou a worried look as she moves to unhitch the horse from the wagon. "Okay, I'm feeling less and less good about this place," she says, voice pitched low to not carry. "What's your play? Keep watch, or try to sneak in?"

[Aldurin]

Monty looks concerned, but turns to the others and beckons over. "Bring the cart inside for now." Turning back to the stranger and stepping inside, he takes a look around the interior.

Perception to spot anything of note that Monty can see from the entrance.
Monty's roll: [roll0]
Familiar's roll: [roll1]

[ylvathrall]

Aiva remains silent, but a quick flick of her fingers draws a line in the dirt between herself and the building, Amaranthine slicing easily through. Hopefully Hestia will catch the message that she is remaining outside, to keep an eye on their surroundings. No way yet of guessing what was coming next.

[Swami Monsoon]

Amir follows the instruction. He walks back to the cart, releases the brake and prepares to move it inside, hoping for a little help with the pushing...

[Athaleon]

Urist moved to help with the cart, knowing he was well-suited to it. He wouldn't ask about what "things" the townspeople were so afraid of until they were all safely inside.

[Cardea]

The cart is moved to the side of the inn easily, but the size of the entryway into the Inn is just big enough to let the horse in, let alone the cart. The man nods and walks inside with Monty, setting his barricade-shield against the entryway, returning shortly with a longbow. He stands just outside the entryway with an arrow ready, looking at the surroundings. "You'll want to be quick with moving everything inside. The less time we have out here, the shorter we're at risk."

Inside the Inn (http://i.imgur.com/Tz6VKgl.png), its clear something was harmed. While the chairs and tables have been nailed or propped in some way to block the windows and the front door, there are deep scratch marks on the floors and the front bar. A staircase leads upstairs, while to its left there's a door heading into a separate room behind the counter, and to the right there is a door heading outside. A fire lights up the room from a single lantern on the counter, making the heavy stone fireplace in the Inn worthless. Along the counter there are a few rations, a few bottles of alcohol of some kind, and a boar's corpse.

[Athaleon]

Urist strained to get the horse inside as quickly as possible. "Once we're all in, you're gonna tell us just what going on," he said quietly to the man urging them in.


Edit: Changed his action since I didn't read the description closely enough :smallfrown:

[Swami Monsoon]

Amir sees that the cart will not make it inside.

"We should put it up against the wall here, under the eaves next to the door. If things get really crazy we could use it as an extra barricade."

[RPZip]

Hestia leads the horse in to the inn, clucking softly as she goes and leaving the cart and Aiva outside as she does. Once she's passed the threshold she takes a look around at the mess before turning back to the man, her eyes narrowing. Her voice is pitched to carry, loud enough that Aiva outside should be able to hear the conversation without too much strain. "You've got our names. Now we'd like yours, and an explanation of what's going on here. What's the meaning of this?"

[Cardea]

The man watches as you all usher your horse in, and as you slowly bring in your cargo. Once in, he lifts the barricade section back into his post, hooks on the section attaching to bars and nails on the wall. He sets his handaxe on the counter, pulling out a loaf of bread an some cheese from behind it. He takes a deep drink from a waterskin and then speaks. "My name is Calix, and I've been trapped here for a week. I was going to leave town when I couldn't find anyone when I first arrived. With abandoned places such as these, you don't know what kind of ne'er do well has it staked for ambush. But I wasn't ambushed by countryside thugs. I was ambushed by these... things. No bigger than a hound, they were covered in soot bodies, running on four claws. They gnash and bite with beaks. They lashed me a few times, made what wounds I already took were made even worse. I would have tried to leave again, but they killed my horse before we could get inside here. Bled to death running back up the road. I holed up here for a night, woke up, still storming. Now, I wake up, and I'm hearing all this talk outside my door. I open it up, and its just them, sounding off about the lake fishing and salt. So I fend them off, shut the doors. But after dealing with them enough times, I have their method. I think they killed the people in this town a while ago, and what they say is just what they heard, much like a parrot, and they have some degree of awareness that they are talking, but they aren't too clever. Namely, they don't know right away to answer questions of another person. Me demanding your names was to make sure I wasn't going mad. The handaxe was to kill you if you were more of those things."

He takes another drink from his waterskin, then looks across the room at you all. "So, now you're stuck here with me. I hope you brought food."

[Aldurin]

Monty pulls out his bow and looks around the room to make sure what was described wasn't already present, when the worry passes he paces around the room. "We encountered a tiger that had a soot-ridden body, but it didn't speak to us before we killed it." He walks closer to the panel for Aiva's benefit, making sure his voice can carry through. "They're probably confident against isolated targets depending on the situation. Could be watching the building right now. Calix, is there any specific time when they're most active, and have you seen or heard them climb the buildings? We can probably evade or kill these things once we're sure of their behavior and abilities."

[RPZip]

Hestia pats the placid horse on the side of the head, tying its reigns up to the bar where it'll be out of the way as she listens to Calix's story. "That's... an interesting tale," she says. "Soot, you said? We did run across a creature like that, but I don't remember it saying anything. It might not have had the chance, I suppose." The short woman walks over to the boar corpse, leaning in to examine it for signs of the soot they found outside the town. "This is one of them, I take it?"

Not sure what to roll, if anything - already did Knowledge checks for this kind of soot.

[Swami Monsoon]

"You're injured? I can help with that."

If he allows it, Amir will check Calix for injuries and other ailments.

Cast Cure Light Wounds (if needed) on Calix
[roll0]

[Athaleon]

Urist frowned deeply, pondering the man's words. "On our way here we had a run-in with a big cat afflicted with something similar, but not quite identical. Almost like it wasn't yet fully overtaken by whatever this sooty affliction is. But I don't know much about diseases, nor voice-stealers."

[Cardea]

"Specific time? I'd say they're active at night," Calix says, deadpanning Monty. "Maybe that tiger you found ate one of the things. Least I know for certain not to try that. Never heard them climbing, but they may just be using the rain as cover." He shakes his head at Hestia. "No. That's food I managed to find in the larder, or what was left of it." He holds his hands up apologetically to Amir, shaking his head. "I already attended to my own scrapes, but good to know you can do that."

"To be fair, I don't know much about diseases or these voice-stealers. I don't know how long I've got left here before I lose my patience and make another run for it."

[Aldurin]

Monty remains silent for a moment, considering the options. "We can probably figure out a plan of action for the morning, unless those creatures you've described try something first. I'll take first watch. I want to check the exterior of the building for vulnerabilities and see if I can spot their movements."

[Athaleon]

"I'll take the second watch then," Urist volunteered. "And I think we ought to try a breakout sooner than later. We were hoping to resupply in this town, and we may yet be able to salvage some rations in the daytime. I pray the creatures haven't tainted the food, or devoured the grain as well as the folk."

[Swami Monsoon]

"That sounds like a workable plan. I'll take third watch."

[RPZip]

"Hmm," Hestia says, standing up and moving away from the boar now that she knows it's just dinner. Or breakfast. She gives Monty a Significant Look as he gets ready to go take first watch, and hopefully communicates the plan to Aiva. Who now gets to stay outside all night, she supposes. "We certainly won't be staying long. I guess we could extend our stay for the night, but I'm almost tempted to make a run for it now. We only encountered the first of them on the way in, you know."

Taking another crack at identifying the soot now that there's more information.

Arcana: Best of [roll0][roll1]

[ylvathrall]

Aiva nods silently, not entirely surprised by this turn of events. Nothing for it but to settle in for the night, she supposes, and so thinking she begins to look for a good place near the building to dig herself in. There's no sense in making her presence obvious, after all.

Taking 20 on stealth for a 29, if possible.

[Cardea]

Monty takes a look around the building as the rest of you all take your rest, with your impromptu host collapsing in a makeshift bed or bedroll and blankets. The exterior is solidly built, logs held in place with mortar. The rain has done nothing to harm it, and what scratch marks can be found haven't marred the joining stone. After a walkabout, Monty returns, putting the wall section back in place, and keeping a stern eye on it until Urist takes up watch. After a restful sleep, one by one you wake up, stirring yourselves awake.

Rain can still be heard hitting the roof. Calix makes a notch on the countertop edge.

The composition is different from what you would be used to, so you wouldn't have guessed at first, but all signs are pointing to some form of homunculus made, at least partially,
out of soot.
You're able to make a dry spot for yourself in the stables attached to the Inn, able to hide yourself among the dry hay not yet stepped on or used by horses that would have once come through. Once you're confident in your vantage spot, rest finds you. You stir after a long sleep, only to see both the rain and the night still continuing.

[Athaleon]

"I daresay that went well. Now let's get hitched back up and get out of here," Urist urged his companions. "Right after a little peek outside, I suppose."

[Aldurin]

Monty waits next to the panel as others pack up. "Hopefully we can pass through the town safely, but the rain is concerning. We'll need to be cautious of keeping the wagon out of deep mud, as well as make sure nothing uses the rain as cover to sneak up on us. I'm gonna make sure the wagon is still there." He slides the the wall panel aside enough to slip outside, wary of anything potentially waiting beyond.

Perception to look for nearby signs of the monsters and to check the condition of the wagon. [roll0]

[Swami Monsoon]

Amir watches Calix marking the table. "What are the notches for?"

When Monty goes out to check the wagon he follows, just in case...

[ylvathrall]

Aiva growls as she sees the rain continuing. Rain means harder travel, no tracks, and wet fur. She can deal with the discomfort, but as of now it's a disadvantage in enemy territory, and that makes it a concern.

It's not one that she can do anything about, though, so after a quick stretch she nestles back into the straw, watching the surroundings closely.

[RPZip]

Hestia bounces up excitedly, clapping her hands together. "Great! Time to go, everyone! Let's get the hell out of here and go find a different crappy town."

[Cardea]

Moving the panel up and away from its slot, Urist takes a peek outside to find the night still pervading with its cloak of rain. Monty and Amir head out to inspect the wagon, only to find deep cuts made into the wheels and wagon floor, and in some places you are able to see through it where holes have been carved. Calix heads over to the opening in the wall, answering Amir's question. "Times I've slept. It helps to keep count."

As the inspection of the wagon comes to a close, over the sound of the rain, you can clearly hear a voice calling out, a young woman's, no doubt. "Papa? There's a wolf in the hay." You hear the same line continued out half a dozen times from above, and in the glow of the Inn's light pouring from the portal, you're able to see a small, feathered creature with the head of an owl staring down at your small gathering. While it has no wings keeping it aloft, its claws sunken into the wood of the Inn provide its positioning. Behind it, you see three more.

As you nestle back into the straw, you spy at the stable opening a four legged creature, its claws leaving long lines in the ground as it walks. Feathers coat its body in place of fur, and an owl's head adorns its shoulders. It calls out, the voice of a woodsman, gruff and strong. "Papa? There's a wolf in the hay."

[RPZip]

Hestia claps her hands together, her eyes not leaving the trio of creatures. "Well, that's creepy," she says, walking backwards until her hands make contact with the cart behind her. "Let's get a move on. I'll watch these, the rest of you keep your eyes peeled for any more. I don't think we want to be here any longer." She cups her hands around her mouth, ready to launch an attack if necessary, and calls out. "Aiva? We're about to get going. You should get down here, please."

[Swami Monsoon]

"Heads up! Bad guys on the roof... we're about to be attacked."

Amir steps back to the doorway and speaks a few more words under his breath. Everyone's senses tingle and the world seems to move just a bit slower...


Cast Bless

[Aldurin]

Monty could feel the tingle of fear as he heard the voices came from above, and when he turned to see the creatures his mind raced. Suppressing the deluge of questions and thoughts, he tried to focus on the relevant details. They hadn't attacked, but were definitely about to. "Above us! Weapons out!" He shouts as he acts. With his left hand he draws his bow, and with his right he points an open palm at the group of creatures, summoning a burst of silvery light on them.

Move action to draw his bow, standard action to cast Aether Wrath. Aether Wrath is a 5 ft wide, 10 ft tall cylinder that Monty is trying to catch as many of the creatures in as possible. [roll0] damage, reflex DC 15 for half.

[Athaleon]

Urist also went for his bow, and sent an arrow after the creatures in case Monty's spell wasn't enough.


Drawing and shooting his bow.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[ylvathrall]

Aiva draws Amaranthine forth from its home inside her mind, glorying in the rush of bloodlust that hits her as the sword realizes the situation. She remains still and silent for the moment, though, waiting to use the advantage of surprise to best effect.