The Sisters' Chronicles Thread 2: Nobody likes Abadaius

[Valmark]

Spoiler: Ooc

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Well if you're lucky the bullette's actually slow Dex-wise.

(1d20-1)[4] Bullette

(1d20+3)[15] Ethrindae
(1d20+5)[6] Kathleyîënis
(1d20+4)[7] T'k Th't

(1d20+2)[3] Bunch of Thri-kreens and sun elves which I had forgotten about but who will still get the same initiative roll

Distance is 100 feet- difficult terrain, but aside from that nothing noteworthy.

Kat spinned the dagger in her hand.
"Very well"

[Valmark]

Ethrindae lifted her acorn.
"I will buy time for you to close in" she told Boots and cast her pendant- opening up, a panther was released that pounced on the bullette gnawing on its tough skin.

Then her eyes became lava, which she cried on her hand and threw with precision at the bleeding out tri-kreen- the lava flew inside of it and the insectoid drew a deep breath.

Spoiler: Ooc

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Your Summon Beast is actually kinda bad at this point.

(1d20+7)[14] (1d8+6)[11]

Bonus action Balm of the Volcano Lands! (1d6)[1] hp to the dying creature and 1 thp.

T'k Th't chittered and spurred his tick forward, crashing into the bullette- pulling out four knives, he repeatedly stabbed the bullete leaving several puncture wounds.

Spoiler: Ooc

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(1d20+7)[24] (1d4+4)[8]
(1d20+7)[9] (1d4+4)[7]
(1d20+7)[16] (1d4+4)[5]
(1d20+7)[25] (1d4+4)[7]
(1d20+7)[20] (1d4+4)[8]

The second that hits deals an additional (1d8)[4] damage from Colossus Slayer.

Aaaand it's Alifa.

[Xihirli]

Alifa considered the fight... the Bulette was immobilized. It was probably best to just hit it, right?
She called upon the desert sands and the heat within. The fire burning, waiting to be unleashed in waves of power... she awoke it. Out of the sand came smoke... which burst out in a roaring inferno that twisted the desert air and collected a fwoosh that pushed everyone back.
Boots gawked.
"Leflabah would be proud of an explosion like that."

Spoiler: OOC

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Okay, let's just end this.

Sixth level Conjure Minor Elementals to get sixteen smoke mephits.

Aaaaaaaaand
(6d8)[36] fire
(6d8)[21] fire
(6d8)[16] fire
(6d8)[30] fire

(6d8)[27] fire
(6d8)[18] fire
(6d8)[29] fire
(6d8)[34] fire

(6d8)[21] fire
(6d8)[28] fire
(6d8)[18] fire
(6d8)[33] fire

(6d8)[37] fire
(6d8)[31] fire
(6d8)[24] fire
(6d8)[24] fire

[Valmark]

Spoiler: Ooc

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...end of initiative :p

The bullete went out with a long, drawn out death cry as it... Honestly got cooked and ready to be eaten.

Well no but it definitely looked like it got cooked alive.

The desert travelers led their mounts over, with the two left on foot climbing up with them.
"I don't know how will we thank you"
"Yeah, hunting is hard"

T'k Th't came over, a little stunned from what happened. Especially since it was right in the middle of it.
"Yes... Especially with a completely unsuitable formation like this"

[Xihirli]

"Please, let us walk you back to your camp. There might be more of those things today, and you are not at full strength."
Alifa rode up to the corpse and prodded it with her staff.

[Valmark]

The bullete was very well-cooked. It stared back at Alifa with the empty expression of an animal that was bled and burned alive.

"Oh, we need to tear the corpse into pieces for the ticks to drag" one of the elves spoke "There's really no need to wait around, we know better then to pick another fight"

[Xihirli]

"Be that as it may," Boots said;
"I insist."

[Valmark]

Spoiler: Ooc

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I forgot that elves would be too covered up to be easily recognizable, but eh. You've basically only seen tri-kreens and elves out here, so it's a safe assumption.

Humans are in the minority outside the Inner Lands.

The group of desert dwellers looked at one another, and the tri-kreen that had been facing the bullette head on nodded.
"Very well"

Over the course of two hours, which T'k Th't commented as 'unacceptable' by hunter standards, the bullette had been dismembered into portions the mounts could drag and put into nets that kept them on top of palanquin-like platforms to avoid the meat getting smeared all over the desert.

T'k Th't took its leave at a certain point.
"I will go find my people while you deal with... Whoever they are" he said subtly enough for the others to not overhear "They'll make sure you can cover the rest of your travel safely while I go back to the Crossing"

Once everything was ready the simil-hunters started leaving for presumably their camp.

Spoiler: Ooc

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Any questions? I assume you're following them.

[Xihirli]

"Thank you again," Boots said to T'k Th't.

Spoiler: OOC

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Follow time!

[Valmark]

The group was led to an encampment deeper into the desert- as the sun started its descent, they arrived at a walled camp that contained several people like them.

Relatively large, it featured multiple enclosures that contained animals and small monsters. There were at least two butcheries, and wagons being prepared to take meat to probably sell it.

It didn't look like sapient slaves were present- a case could be made for animal cruelty, as the animals and monsters contained were quite obviously kept locked in conditions that just weren't good ones until the time came to butcher them. And it wasn't necessarily illegal around these parts.

Spoiler: Ooc

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I'm not sure wether Sapient or Sentient is the correct term- essentially creatures that only have animal-like intelligence.

At least the village was founded around/on a oasis, which made life sustainable and also a decent place to rest at.

At least, if you could mind the smell of, well, raw meat that had Ethrindae wrinkle her nose and Benji cough harmless spores.

"These animals are being treated horribly"
"We're, ah, still... Adjusting to the new laws and making do. Bring it in!" The burliest tri-kreen and simil leader commanded the others to take the bullette's pieces to where they could be handled.

[Xihirli]

Spoiler: OOC

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Sentient means they can feel "have senses," sapient means they can think.

Also, Alifa has never read a law in her life.

Alifa frowned at the animals. We're releasing them.
Sure, the village is on an oasis, they can hunt what's next.
"What steps are being taken to improve the lives of these animals?"

[Valmark]

"Ah..."
"Uhmmmm..."
"Well..."

"Wimps" another robed figure butted in. Pulling the face free once within the walls that shielded from the winds, a stone faced elf not much older then Kat addressed the group "No steps. We first need to make sure we and our families can survive- then we will worry about what the animals we capture to skin and cook and sell feel in their last hours or days" he said, angrily. It didn't look like he was specifically angry at Alifa, mostly he looked like someone generally angry that will get an awful ulcer when older.
"If you have an issue, you can take it up to the new barons. They forced us into making do with a new lifestyle"

"And before you were?"
"Slavers. Used to be legal before the Merry-Go-Rounders wrecked the previous baron and started hunting down anybody who dared own someone- now we use the pens for creatures everybody likes dead"

[Xihirli]

"Huh." Boots turned to Alifa.
"So, we just... kill them all, or what?"
"What new barons?" Alifa asked.

[Valmark]

At the word 'kill' pretty much everybody who wasn't the hard-faced the elf took a step back, and one said "I-I need to make sure my son's safe!" And started running.

The elf instead groaned.
"They call themselves the Merry-Go-Round. Four people that killed the previous lord of this desert and took up residence- can't miss them if you go in their general direction, they summoned an entire lake into the desert and some swear a kraken lives there" he frowned "They've been pretty hard on slavers, and made it illegal, so we are turning hunters"

[Xihirli]

Spoiler: OOC

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What animals are here?

Alifa shook her head at Boots. "They're not slavers now. Seems like the barons mostly have it handled?"
"Have you all considered building corrals? Wider open spaces for your animals? You live in a desert, you've got plenty of space."

[Valmark]

Spoiler: Ooc

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Desert goats, giant versions of animals like scorpions or snakes, camels, coyotes, fennecs, etc.

Camels and Giant Ticks seem mostly reserved to acting as mounts.

There are some small monsters that resemble small cats and the like, nothing bigger- probably because they don't know how to hunt bigger monsters.

"Well... We have. The issue is, most animals don't want to stay" the elf frowned "We will build larger cages... No... Pens in time for the livestock. Maybe try to addomesticate some. We don't have good experience handling dumb creatures"

"Seems to me that they are smart for not wanting to stay" Ethrindae frowned "Can't you hire someone who knows these things? Or meet up with groups that have been hunting since the start?"

"Sure. As soon as we find somebody that trusts us enough"

[Xihirli]

Boots glanced at Alifa, who shrugged. "It's another step forward. We've both let go of worse."
"When did I ever do that?"
"With..." Alifa glanced at Ethrindae. "...mother. You know she did terrible things in her war against her sister."
"Hmm. Fine. These animals have feelings." Boots said. "And on my way back after my business past the desert is complete, I'd better see some changes!" She glanced at their resident druid.
"Just a stern warning good for now, hun?"

[Valmark]

Spoiler: Ooc

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Does Boots even know the specifics of Ethrindae's past? Only Alifa and Kat were present when Firaga narrated them.

(Ethrindae wouldn't have kept it hidden if asked)

"Yes. Killing these people would be no more just then leaving these animals be. If we have the time, bringing the issue up to the rulers of this desert would be the best- unless you plan on checking up on these people after more then a day" Eth assured Boots.

"Great. Thank you heavily armed travelers for not slaughtering us" the elf sighed "Anything we can do to help you move along?"
"If we wait here or go back, T'k's tribe might be able to track us down" Kat noted.
"I... Admit that I'm not sure in which direction the Divine Peak is from here"

[Xihirli]

Spoiler: OOC

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Boots does not know. She is under the assumption that Ethrindae killed her infected family and that’s it.

Alifa thought Ethrindae had told Boots until just now.

"I say we ask for guidance from the barons of these lands, who happen to be personal friends of ours." Boots headed Tilly away.
"Alright, let’s not bother them any longer."
Alifa thought to Eth as she followed. Ethrindae, are you a vegetarian?

[Valmark]

Yes Ethrindae smiled at Alifa You are as well, right? I think I never saw you try to eat any meat or similar.

"Oh, really? You've made powerful friends everywhere" Ethrindae smiled "But... Does that mean you actually know where they live? To go in that direction"

[Xihirli]

Boots turned back to the elf.
"Which direction?"

Alifa cast Detect Thoughts, looking into the elf’s eyes to see the truth.

Spoiler: OOC

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Why let him lie?

Just surface thoughts, no save.

[Valmark]

The elf covered his face and peeked out of the walls, pointing sideways compared the direction they had come from. To the right.
"Can't miss it. Looks like a lavish residence next to a lake too big to be real in a desert"

Spoiler: Surface thoughts

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Yes please get the **** out.

[Xihirli]

"Thanks!"
Alifa gave a thumbs up and didn’t probe anyone else.
I am. Uh… Boots doesn’t know.

[Valmark]

And the group was en route!

I see. Happy to hear that. That you're vegetarian I mean. Is there a reason Boots doesn't know? Or it simply never came up?

As the sun neared the horizon and dusk started setting in the group, climbing over a dune, saw exactly what had been described.
A massive lake extended a few hundred meters in front of them, with some vegetation starting to grow around it. A rich mansion was built on the side with people settling around it.
"That lake isn't natural. Homewever they did it, they brought it recently here" Ethrindae said immediately "Otherwise there would be much more vegetation and we'd probably find settlements already built around the oasis"

[Xihirli]

No… real reason. After I started learning from a teacher she disapprove of, whenever I told her about what I’d learned, or how I changed… she got sad. So eventually I stopped telling her things about me. And she’s… not a very curious person. I’m sure you’ve noticed. So it hasn’t come up.
"They’re stronger than I thought if they can make a lake."
"Maybe they befriended a water spirit?" Alifa suggested. "We met them in the feywild. Er, Faerie. They helped us defeat an evil druid who was performing vile experiments on fey."

[Valmark]

Yes, I've noticed. And understandable- being as protective as she is, I can ser how she'd get upset and you'd stop telling her about it. I'm glad that hasn't ruined your bond. For what's worth, I'm happy about your choice.

"Alifa's suggestion has merit. Befriending a strong being would make this easier to accomplish" Ethrindae nodded.

As they approached the settlement they saw that people eyed them curiously, but otherwise didn't care- they were used to a small, well-armed group.
At the barons' castle two guards stood by the entrance. Due to the desert clothing it was hard to see anything but the eyes and the halberds.

[Xihirli]

"Hey guys," Boots said. "Schnazzy set-up you've got here." She grinned back at Alifa like Watch this it'll be so funny
"We'd like to challenge your bosses for barony of these lands."

[Valmark]

The two guards looked at one another in confusion as complete strangers showed up and asked to challenge the barons.
"Uuuuuhm... I don't... think it works like that"
"Didn't the barons do the same?"
"Yes but we liked them. Also they didn't ask"

The more indecisive guard looked the sisters and allies over.
"Challenge means violently right?"

It didn't look like these people had been guards for long.

[Xihirli]

"Yes, we want to fight them. And you don't want to fight us," Boots assured them. "So you should probably go get the Merry-Go-Rounders."

[Valmark]

"Or" the guard took out a pebble from his folds "You leave" and threw it in the water.

Spoiler: Ooc

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Or tries to anyway. Gonna stop him?