Strange Aeons 2: The Thrushmoor Terror [IC]

[lostsole31]

"Of course, but just you two," the giant says, allowing Brother Jaume to pass him by.

Flair goes by Maeni to see if he can't spot the cairn, but he can't. The cairn was not fixed right smack in the middle of the entrance to the grotto to be a trip hazard, but was off to the western edge.

The giant then moves the screen out of the way.

What now, as Dorn begins moving beyond?

[digiman619]

As Flair makes his way back to the pot, he tepes to the teammates outside the cave.

Spoiler

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Are the cairns disturbed?

[bcool999]

Jens

Seeing as much of their dilemma seems to be whether or not to trust this giant, Jens lowers his own mental barriers, hoping to get a feel for the Giant.

Spoiler: OOC

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Taking the -4 penalty to fear and mind affecting saves for 1 minute to use my Empath feat to attempt to read the Giant’s emotion aura as a Full round action. This should tell me it’s disposition and attitude toward us if successful. This also tells me if it is currently effected by a fear or mind affecting effect.

Sense Motive: (1d20+12)[20] vs 20+HD DC. Failure means the aura is not read.

[lostsole31]

As Flair goes over to the pot and sounds out his missive, Jens tries to get a read on the monster .... but it is too inhuman for him.

Meanwhile, as Dorn sends back a telepathic "The cairn is sunken in, probably because the body is no longer there," Tritrion takes the screen and puts it back with a resounding *CLACK!*

"There, that's much better, don't you think?" Marsh Tritrion asks. "Those silly godsfolk won't spoil a good meal for us."

From his filthy bag at his side he pulls out a portion of antler that has been sharpened, and he hammer that into the side of the slat to hold it firmly in place.

"So? Who's hungry?"

[digiman619]

Flair took a deep breath. That slat being sealed brought his chance of survival down significantly. It was poor before, but now his life laid solely on the march giant's whim. He tepe'd to his teammates before simply nodding. "As you wish, my host."

Spoiler: tepe

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"The giant has sealed us in. The odds that the giant chooses to let us go are slim. If you see the boat, take it. Send it back in 8 hours; hopefully we'll be on the shore to greet you."

[bcool999]

Jens

Being locked in with the giant... was not how Jens wanted this to go. Perhaps he should have advocated jumping the giant after it opened the way to the exit. Either way it appeared to be time for breakfast and Jens didn't want to offer himself for the pot. He moves to sit and waits to be served his meal.

Spoiler: Jens >>> Collective

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"It's not guaranteed it will kill us. Let us go along with it and try to convince us to let us go after the meal. Hopefully you didn't lose your way with words with your hair Flair."

[Blackhawk101]

The portly friar paces the sand in frustration.

Spoiler: BJ>>>collective

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”I think we refuse the offered food. Who knows what that stuff will do to you.
If comes down to it and we must fight, then so be it. I will not abandon my friends to save my own hide!!”

BJ moves to the screen.

[digiman619]

Flair tepes, passing a message to Jaume, his face passive.

Spoiler: OOC

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Okay, if we are going to try and take this guy, knock on the slat and ask to be let back in. Once he opens the door, we run and scatter. With any luck, at least some of us can get to the boat while he's chasing the rest.

[Blackhawk101]

Spoiler: BJ >>> collective

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“Everyone good with that plan? I will try to distract and delay him at the door so those inside can escape.”

[lostsole31]

Dorn stands ready with his hammer, behind but not in front of Brother Jaume so he in no way affects the movement of any friends who would bolt.

---

Inside, Marsh Tritrion moves over to the cauldron and picks up the ladle.

[bcool999]

Jens

Spoiler: Jens >>> Collective

Show

”I will do my best to make obstacles for him. Remember that we will need to climb out. I have low hopes for us all making it, but maybe someone can escape.”

Jens looks for a bowl to give to the Giant to fill.

[Blackhawk101]

BJ Knocks loudly on the screen.
“Hello?”

​He jams his staff into the soft earth of the cave floor so that it is near to hand.

[lostsole31]

Marsh Tritrion ladles some stew into a bowl, holding it out for Flair.

[digiman619]

Flair takes the bowl, turning to the door. "Hey, that must be the others coming back. Aren't you going to let them back in?"

Spoiler: tepe

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"Okay, I'm going to try and talk him into opening the door. If that works, I want you to start to walk in as if nothing's up and then hold the slat against him. We'll rush out past you and then make a mad dash to the shore. If we're lucky, the boat will be waiting and we sail away from here."

Spoiler: OOC

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Needless to say, any benefit I have towards bluff and/or diplomacy I can leverage here, do.

[lostsole31]

"Eat first. They wouldn't like this stew. Eat." When he says the last word, he says it with more impressed behind it as to be as much of a veiled threat than a command.

[digiman619]

Flair makes a tepe to his friends outside before bringing the soup to his lips.

Spoiler: tepe

Show

Make a more concerned knock, let the worry spill out.

[lostsole31]

So, in "bringing soup to his lips," Flair does taste the stew (stew, not soup)?

[digiman619]

If his allies interrupt, he won't. If they don't, he'll take a sip.

[silphael]

Maeni seems fascinated by the bowl of stew.

Spoiler: Collective

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"That smells quite good, and I feel like I haven't eaten in ages... Maybe we could do that after eating ?"

[Blackhawk101]

BJ bangs several times on the barrier.
“What’s Happening!? Let us in!”

Spoiler: BJ >>> Collective

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”Good. We are ready. How is the barricade locked? Can you unlock it if he refuses to open ?”

Spoiler

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Brother Jaume studies the barricade for the best way to remove / destroy it.

[digiman619]

Flair sighed and lowered his bowl. "We're fine! Don't worry!" Flair called back to his teammates, taking the time to tepe them on how the slat was sealed. He turned to his host. "Sorry. They worry." He looked at his bowl for a second before taking a breath and looked back at his host. "Please don't take offense if your stew is too powerful my frail human stomach, though." And with a deep exhale he covered as cooling the stew, he took a sip of the vile concoction.

Spoiler: tepe

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"He hammered an antler into the side of the stone to hold it in place. Focus your attacks there. Once that's dealt with, it is imperative that you stop him from blocking the entrance to the cave. Once we're past you, hold it off long enough for us to climb up. Use the slat as a shield if you can."

Spoiler: Second, inadvertent tepe

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"I can't believe I'm doing this. @#$%."

Spoiler: OOC

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If this calls for a Fort save, use my 1/round INT to save.

[Blackhawk101]

Brother Jaume will target the area of the barricade near the lock with a series of enlarged kicks.

Spoiler

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Full Attack, PA, enlarge, Flurry of blows, spend Ki point for additional attack
to hit#1 - (1d20+6)[7]
to dam#1 - (2d6+13)[17]
to hit#2 - (1d20+6)[24]
to dam#2 - (2d6+13)[20]
to hit#3 - (1d20+6)[24]
to dam#3 - (2d6+13)[21]

[lostsole31]

Brother Jaume ki-enhances himself, grows, and then punches the hard wooden screen only for his fist to hit him in the center of the forehead .... dazing him!

Spoiler: OOC

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Which means he also is effectively insensate and unable to communicate

Meanwhile, inside .... Maeni's not wrong, it does actually smell good.

Flair, you take a taste and .... sonofabitch .... it is actually delicious. Like, this marsh guy really seems to know his way around marsh herbs and the like. You don't have to roll a Fort save at all. Fresh meat, along with some recently procured tubers and root vegetables and simple-plant-based spices, and this is delicious, gods be damned. It is good.

Marsh Tritrion ignores the single loud pound on the door on the other side, ladles stew into a bowl and hands it out to Maeni.

Jens, what do you do?

[bcool999]

Jens

Jens will just wait for his bowl.

[lostsole31]

A tepe comes in from Dorn...

Spoiler: Dorn >>> Collective

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"So, Brother Jaume just pinged himself in the head on a blowback from punching the screen. He's gonna need a few."

Maeni, do you take your bowl and eat?

[digiman619]

Flair tepes back to his friends and takes another sip. While Flair doesn't say anything, he does make 'this food is tasty' noises of appreciation.

Spoiler: tepe

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"Hurry. I can only take so long to sip at this stew and I really don't want to be forced to eat the meat itself."

[silphael]

Maeni grabs a bowl and starts eating as well.

[lostsole31]

As you said .... Maeni "eats" and not just "sips." Oh, gods ...... so, good. And you know you are eating meat that anyone else would balk at having, but it is so delicious. So, sooo delicious.

Marsh Tritrion ladles out a bowl for Jens and hands it out for Jens to take.

Jens, what do you do?

[bcool999]

Jens

Jens will eat.

[lostsole31]

Jens .... as discussed for the others .... this is amazing stew. The meat is perfectly seasoned, but not too saturated, either.

Just as Brother Jaume is finally shaking off his dazed condition, Saint Dorn is tepeing in ...

Spoiler: Dorn >>> Collective

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"I haven't heard anything. Brother Jaume is just coming out of having bopped himself accidentally. How are you? Are you okay? I haven't heard anything."