The End of an Era Part 1

[Metastachydium]

Leylek looks up at the sky, his wrath shrinking back into what one might describe as wounded disgust. Unlike the shaman, he cannot tell if the Oni is truly gone, but that doesn't worry him the most: he's yet to see a light drizzle putting out burning fat. The issue lies with the way forward. This bodes ill for the tracks. he stares into the clouds, his voice dry. And that he flicks a clawed finger towards the burning monster might bode ill for us. Shimura-sama, when I first found their trail, I noticed that a horse ran unshod. I thought little of it, at the time. But now I fear it was no horse. The Crabs might be consorting with strange powers.

[Cygnia]

Raksha slunk over to Ahalyā, whimpering "...I am sorry, mistress..."

"Hush, Raksha...facing an evil like that would unnerve even the bravest of souls." Ahalyā gently skritched behind the wolf's ears. "But we have returned that evil to the grave. Now, see if you can help Master Leylek find our quarry, yes?"

Inwardly, the shaman was concerned. It was one thing if this oni had been a chance assault, looking for easy prey. But if it had indeed been working with the thieves in some way...

(1d20+4)[15] Raksha: Aid Another Track (via Scent)

[Metastachydium]

Not waiting any further for an answer, lest the tracks get washed away altogether, Leylek turns around, falling very quiet for a moment as he studies the ground. That wretched thing has wasted enough of their time.

Spoiler: OOC

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Survival: (1d20+10)[17] (add another +2 if there are human tracks).

[Auranghzeb]

The rain soon turns the snow into mud, tracking becomes almost impossible. Your only clue is keeping the road uphill as intended, it is not intense enough to quench the fire that burns down the Oni.

Resigned, and after calming the panicked horses, you move on. As you march on, and turn around the mountain passes, you see the ocean far away, the water shinning under the sun beams that pierce the dark clouds. The rain eventually stops. You have moved about two hours since your encounter with the Oni. The road starts to descend into a forest of tall lean trees, the rain and snow don't seem to have reached this far and leylek can again find a track, six horses this time, probably crossed half a day ago, split in two groups.

Ahalya, you sense something changed for good after the Oni's death and as Leylek is trying to re-stablish the trail, Raksha's neck goes tense and a moment after a doe spirit jumps into the road and faces you, only you and Raksha seem to notice it.

[Cygnia]

Ahalyā bowed her head in respect as the spirit passed, murmuring her thanks softly to it in the Spirit Tongue. The woods were in balance again with the defeat of the oni -- she could feel it. Perhaps finding the path of their quarry again was the spirits' gratitude at work.

Or, just a happy coincidence. Either way, the shaman knew it was best to give the spirits their due in situations like this.

[Metastachydium]

Perfectly unaware of the silent encounter between shaman and spirit going on in what is, for him, the background, Leylek busies himself with his own task, his head jotting up and down, scanning the horizon now, and the ground immediately after. Their lead grows. he grumps. I count six. Not riding together anymore. he hisses something more under his breath, probably a swear word too horrible to even contemplate, in a tongue alien to his companions' ears. He leans forward once more, going over both sets of tracks, looking for the trail of the shoeless horse bearing no rider. Could it have really been the Oni? Soon enough, he should know for certain.

Spoiler: OOC

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Survival, if needed: (1d20+10)[13], assuming Raksha can bother to assist; and
Knowledge (geography): (1d20+3)[23]

[BelGareth]

"Leylek-san" Shimura responded in mind, if not a little late, he was still within his own thoughts, and the meaning of what they had just fought, the shock was plain on his wide eyes, supernatural Oni was not something they teach you in the Dojo's of the Dragon clan. "If not the Crab clan, then someone else wants us to believe they are. When dealing with honerless foes, everything is a feint, every move, every action planned out, we must not falter, either path is good, when one is not the needed path, we will know the other is."

Spoiler

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Any healing would help

Miromoto Shimura
M LG Human (dragon) Samurai Level 5, Init 3, HP 37/51, Speed 30
AC 19 Touch 15 Flat-footed 15
Fort +7 Ref +4 Will +4
Abilities Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition 50% fortification
Special Law devotion [1/1], Belt of Healing [3/3], Anklets of Translocation [2/3]
Boon Mirumoto Niten dragonmark 2/2 essentia invested (25%/e fortification)
speech: 008080

[Alhallor]

Onka was pretty happy about the rain. They obviusly avoided a bad fortune and Leylek of course had no problems following the trail of they're targets. Though the dancer couldn't really help with the tracking he definitely did his due in the fight with the horrible abomination they faced.

You think we have to face even more foes like that one oni? It already was pretty horrifying.

[Cygnia]

"May it at least not be today..." murmured the shaman with some solemnity.

Then...

"EEP! Oh, foolish foolish me! You two are still wounded! This must be tended to with haste -- yes, yes, yes!" Ahalyā suddenly rapped her knuckles to her temple, then released her healing magiks upon Shimura and Leylek. "Ohhhh, may we not fall into battle again this day too!"

Spoiler: Action

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Converting a lvl 2 slot to Cure Moderate Wounds on Shimura (2d8+5)[13] and a lvl 3 slot to Cure Serious Wounds on Leylek (3d8+5)[19]

[Auranghzeb]

Ahalya
The spirt salutes you and hops out of sight as you move in to heal Shimura San

eylek
In your time in the region you have learn a few things. One group of riders is going south-east, into the valley of Eno, there's a small settlement there, loyal to the regent. It is about a three hours ride.

The other group moved east. That's the direction of the small port of Kare. A tiny commercial outpost embedded in the cliffs. That's about a day away.

Spoiler: OoC

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What do you do?

[Metastachydium]

Good of you to notice. Leylek tells the Vanara dryly, but with a thankful nod as he watches his wounds fade. As for paths. he scowls Some rode east, to Kare, no doubt. A stinking port, a day from here. Their obvious choice, I would say: though small, it lets them take the sea. He then motions at the other trail, almost contemtuoulsy. These took more to the south. Eno. It is close. Three hours, if we make good time. But it is true to the Regent: a curious destination for the treacherous. It would seem that had he teeth, the bird would now be grinding them. Shimura-sama, I'd urge you to choose the sea-path. Three hours seems little, but the thieves are far ahead. If they have a ship waiting, we'll lose them.

[BelGareth]

Shimura nods in thanks to the strange shaman as his wounds began to knit together, and the sharp pain of the wounds soothed into a slow throbbing dull pain, much easier to handle.

"You cut straight to it, the seaport seems the logical direction to me as well, how fast can we go?" he says in earnest

Spoiler

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Miromoto Shimura
M LG Human (dragon) Samurai Level 5, Init 3, HP 50/51, Speed 30
AC 19 Touch 15 Flat-footed 15
Fort +7 Ref +4 Will +4
Abilities Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition 50% fortification
Special Law devotion [1/1], Belt of Healing [3/3], Anklets of Translocation [2/3]
Boon Mirumoto Niten dragonmark 2/2 essentia invested (25%/e fortification)
speech: 008080

[Alhallor]

Onka thinks for a moment. The lay of the land was always puzzling for him if it wasn't a road to a specific destination.
Makes sense for them to really choose the seaport if they want to get as much distance as fast as possible.

[Metastachydium]

Leylek looks at his companions in turn, before resting his gaze on the samurai once more. That appears settled. How much haste we can make depends on how bold we are. he explains, his expression only halfway to a frown this once. More if we ride for Kare blindly, fast as the horses can run, less if I keep watching the ground, lest my instinct deceives us.

[Auranghzeb]

Deciding the port of Kare is the most likely destination, you step up the chase, pushing the horses to their limit you try to make up for the lost time. But the beasts are fatigued, taken to the brink of exhaustion by the climb and the freightening Oni's attack. As you ride almost oblivious through the forest, Ahalya senses a melancholy in the place, the well-kept road snakes through ancient dense maples, black and red pines, and tall cedars pass in a blur. The late winter sun starts setting when the horses finally give in, exhausted, moving increasingly slower.
You come up to a clearing almost without warning, and almost out of nowhere, you see the bodies of three horses lying around the charred wood of an extinguished bonfire.

Spoiler: Ooc

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WHAT DO YOU DO?

[Alhallor]

Spoiler: Constutition check

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(1d20+7)[12] included the +4 bonus for riding up until now.

At the beginning Onka spurred his horse like any other, but the fact that he wasn't a seasoned rider did soon catch up to him. He hurt in places he know he could hurt, but also some he didn't knew about before. But the dancer gritted his teeth. He had weathered harsher conditions before and the pain was almost nostalgic. He would emerge as a better rider at least.

When they reached the clearing Onka had a good excuse to get off his mount. The dancer winced when adjusting his weight but got closer to these horse bodies to take a look at them.

What happened here?

[Cygnia]

Spoiler

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CON checks DC 15
(1d20+8)[18] for Ahalyā
(1d20+5)[6] for Raksha

Ahalyā was still fine. Raksha (perhaps on the basis of carrying Ahalyā) was not. And promptly laid down, panting with fatigue.

Giving her wolf a reassuring pat, Ahalyā murmured a prayer for the souls of the dead horses. "Senseless, tsk. If they needed to reach the port in haste, why kill their steeds? Unless there is somewhere else in this area they wanted to go instead? Some place they did not want the hoofprints to lead us to..."

[Metastachydium]

Leylek stops himself, thoroughly winded. It's his sheer obstinacy alone that carried him this far at this pace: he spent so much time on the slow watch, and so much time on the slow hunt since he got stranded in these lands, as it would appear, that he no longer knows how to sweep through the plains like the summer storms, fast and tireless. He clenches both fists in frustration and anger. Is this where the winds are taking him?

But he, mercifully, doesn't get the time to truly wallow. There is work to do still. Do not be too quick in judgement. I've seen horses rrun to death. Wise warriors ride with more than one, change them every so often. Our foes did not ride with spares. he warns the Vanara, moving forward to inspect the ground, the horses, the fire, trying hard to hide how laborious his breath was made by the haste. Perhaps they changed steeds here, wastefully. We shall see.

Spoiler: OOC

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Survival (incl. for stuff like when did the fire burn out, not just how creatures moved about the clearing): (1d20+8)[18] (+10 to pick up the signs of Humans doing stuff)
Search: (1d20+8)[17]
Perception: (1d20+5)[6]
Knowledge (nature) (if it helps with telling how the horses died): (1d20+9)[29]

[BelGareth]

Riding his steed as hard he could, without causing it harm, and without stripping his companions, he used a modified canter, helping ease the ride...mostly.

Evenstill, when they got to the clearing, his horse was ragged breathed, eyes frowning, he reigned in the beast, and dismounted, tying the horse to a nearby tree branch. "What happened here indeed." he stated, repeating the Shugyosha Onka's words. He is on high alert, hands ready to draw his blade.

Spoiler

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Miromoto Shimura
M LG Human (dragon) Samurai Level 5, Init 3, HP 50/51, Speed 30
AC 19 Touch 15 Flat-footed 15
Fort +7 Ref +4 Will +4
Abilities Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition 50% fortification
Special Law devotion [1/1], Belt of Healing [3/3], Anklets of Translocation [2/3]
Boon Mirumoto Niten dragonmark 2/2 essentia invested (25%/e fortification)
speech: 008080

[Cygnia]

The shaman said nothing to Leylek's words, instead turning her own clinical eye towards the deceased horses. The fact that there was great sadness in this spot was not encouraging...

(1d20+10)[18] Heal check to determine cause of death & how long they've been dead (CAdv p101)

[Auranghzeb]

Leylek, you astutely understand the riders must have refresh horses here. The bonfire tells you right away that someone camped here last night and by the amount of footsteps and hoof tracks is evident that there were at least six horses leaving the camp.

They have the advantage. You are so focused on your tracking and deductions that you don’t see anything else during a few minutes.

Shimura, alert and aware, you keep a hand ready next to your sword as leylek explores the perimeter and Onka and Ahalya inspect the horses.

Ahalya and Onka. You approach the slaughtered animals. The cause is clear, their necks show a big gash and their heads lay in dark pools of blood. They are placed almost ritualistically. But you soon realized you have overstepped as an invisible wave of negative energy washes you both emanating from the ashes where a green ember glows briefly.

[Cygnia]

Spoiler: Will Save (DC12)

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(1d20+15)[21]

As the tainted magic attempted to strike her, Ahalyā hissed out a curse in her native tongue. Bad enough the horses were killed, but to disrespect their bodies even further in a filthy trap?! What if the local animals needed to feed, helping return the corpses to the earth?!

[Alhallor]

Leaving you're horses behind was one thing, but killing them in such a gruesome manner was something altogether. If the oni really was hired somehow by the crabs, combined with this...

Spoiler: Will save.

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Against 12: (1d20+2)[6]

Onka sees the flickering of a cursed ember instead of bracing against the impact he strides forward, plunging his hand into the ashes to get ahold of these accursed flames.

Spoiler: OOC

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Attack the ashes: (1d20+10)[20]
Damage: (1d8+4)[10] Charge bonus: (1d4)[3] Sonic. Unarmed attack counts as magic (Wyrmfang Amulet)

[Auranghzeb]

Onka jumps into the ashes with a descending chop that smashed the embers to dust and a Sonic effect that produces a small cloud of ashes to rise. The dancer clothes are covered with tiny ashes.
But that’s nothing. Raksha growls and the fur in its back stiffens in stress.
The horse that Ahalya is inspecting open its eye. A black pool of despair of an eye and in a second the flesh and muscles of the slain horse fold back as if someone had flayed the animal. There are three unnatural screams. And the horses start to rise.

[Alhallor]

Spoiler: Initiative

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It's an Initiative roll: (1d20+4)[7]

[BelGareth]

As he keeps a stoic eye on his companions, as well as the treeline, everything happens all at once, and all he can think of was: Of course.

Spoiler

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Initi - (1d20+3)[14]

Miromoto Shimura
M LG Human (dragon) Samurai Level 5, Init 3, HP 50/51, Speed 30
AC 19 Touch 15 Flat-footed 15
Fort +7 Ref +4 Will +4
Abilities Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition 50% fortification
Special Law devotion [1/1], Belt of Healing [3/3], Anklets of Translocation [2/3]
Boon Mirumoto Niten dragonmark 2/2 essentia invested (25%/e fortification)
speech: 008080

[Cygnia]

A chance to rest. That's all Raksha wanted.

Instead, as her mistress and the hoomin-with-the-spirit-in-him examined the corpses, something Evil got set off. That was bad enough. But then the hoomin decided to attack the campfire...

...

...

...and then all hell broke loose.

For all the complaintstalk about vanara being far too Curious about Things, hoomins seemed to be much worse in their recklessness!

Meanwhile, Ahalyā let out a surprised screech as the corpses of the horses began to get up. Frantically, her mind whirred about what unnatural things they had now become!

Spoiler: Rolls

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(1d20+2)[16] Initiative
(1d20+13)[25] Knowledge: Religion + Collector of Stories (for Knowledge Devotion)

[Metastachydium]

Leylek was quite ready to share his findings, but the commotion with the ashes and the rising horses are quick to change his priorities. Truly? he hisses, with the deepest disgust a bird can express in his voice and on his face. He is of the steppes, after all; and this is no way to treat a horse.

Spoiler: OOC

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Initiative: (1d20+3)[11]

[BelGareth]

Sucking in his breath, Shimura quickly advances to the foul things, his blade flashes like lightning, once, twice

Spoiler

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Move to AG8
Attack: (start with AF7)
Attack 1 - (1d20+11)[25]
Damage - (1d10+7)[13] and Iaijutsu Focus - (1d20+10)[25] for [16] damage (rolled in discord)

Attack 2 - (1d20+6)[11]
Damage - (1d10+7)[11]

Miromoto Shimura
M LG Human (dragon) Samurai Level 5, Init 3, HP 50/51, Speed 30
AC 19 Touch 15 Flat-footed 15
Fort +7 Ref +4 Will +4
Abilities Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition 50% fortification
Special Law devotion [1/1], Belt of Healing [3/3], Anklets of Translocation [2/3]
Boon Mirumoto Niten dragonmark 2/2 essentia invested (25%/e fortification)
speech: 008080

[Cygnia]

"ACK! Undead -- Onikage! What are they DOING here -- this is not the Shadowlands!" screeched Ahalyā. Such foul magicks must indeed be in play to pull unclean monsters into the land of the living!

Ahalyā immediately drew herself away from the rising equine corpses and Raksha followed suit with a tired whine. "HO! Ancestors, hear my plea! Drive this accursed spawn back to the Shadowlands and let these poor animals return to their eternal rest!" cried the shaman.

Spoiler: Actions

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5ft to AE9
Turning attempt (turns as a lvl 3 cleric)
(1d20+3)[5]
Potential Turning Dmg
(2d6+6)[17]
Declaring my Dodge on the Onikage at AF7
Raksha will use Aid Another to give Ahalyā +2 to her AC
Vs AC 10 (1d20+1)[2] (penalty for Fatigued factored in)

Spoiler: Statblock

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Ahalyā
F CG Vanara Shaman, Level 5, Init 2, HP 36/27, Speed 30
AC 15, Touch 12, Flat-footed 13, Fort 8, Ref 9, Will 15, Base Attack Bonus 3
Unarmed Strike +5 (1d6-1, x2)
MW Sickle +6 (1d6-1, x2)
Least Crystal of Adaptation Leather Armor +1 (+3 Armor, +2 Dex)
Abilities Str 9, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 20, Cha 16
Condition Endure Elements (from Least Crystal of Adaptation)
Low-Light Vision