Dreadnought has long since given up on following every word from the dwarf's mouth, instead settling on trying to get the gist. The gist seemed to be; Hudder, owing someone a debt, wished to help the group as well as enlist the services of a shifter.
It'd do for now, he decides.
"Well met, Hudder," the warforged ponderously replies. "The one you seek has led us to you."
As Dreadnought speaks, the branch with the large bird becomes a branch with a shifter. It looks down upon the group. "I am no tracker. I have not been told here Thrashak's be. Best you turn back."
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Hudder is still absorbing Dreadnought's words when Domoris reveals himself. He makes an involuntary half jump back and has his shield halfway off his back before he gets a good look at the shifter. Then he lets out a booming laugh "Ha! Right under me nose!"
"Yeh got some powerful magic in yah laddie, that's fer sure! Harysh was right onna money tell'n me 'bout yah! Tha' god's hav'n guided us tah yah is a sure sign tha' we need yer help!"
"As I was jus explaining it's a matter o' honor that we press on an get this thing done. No turning back, no way no how. Not till this thing is done." the newly arrived dwarf's face is the picture of resolution.
Morphs finds himself amused at the dwarf's discovery of the shifter. In a more serious tone he says, "Honor is nothing but an idea made up by dwarves and knights in shining armor. There is no honor here in Xen'drik, only death. We have already lost one of our number, and if you are going to follow us, you might as well join us. That is, as long as everybody else agrees."
Morph looks to the shifter. "What about you? Are you just going to melt away into the brush again? From the end of our last battle, it appears you might have a problem with apes, or at least what is going here in the jungle. From what I understand you shifters are in tune with nature. If what Hudder said is true, other creatures have been affected as well. This intrigues me as it probably interests you. Perhaps our interests may align for the moment. You get strength in numbers to fight the misshapen monstrosities that move within the boundaries of our home, and we get someone who knows this area and most of it's denizens firsthand."
The shifter looks sourly at the warforged. "I do not babysit. I do not know where the Tharashk have gotten themselves killed." His eyes narrow a bit. "But if abominations be tied to this, they must be ended. I shall assist."
Decision made, Domoris becomes the large bird again, waiting for the next move.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Hudder listens to Morph seriously. I'm sorry for yer loss, wish I'd arrived sooner. He says somberly.
As much as I'd like tah say that dwarves made up honor, in my experience it's prevalent in ala the races ta one dagree or annuder.
After Domoris finishes speaking Hudder bangs his shield "Yer making tha right decision! Betcha we poke around we can stir up some o' tha same trouble tha' 'em Marchers met wit'!" He looks over at Ganyon. "Good Finder! Which way were yer Housemates headed?"
Hudder raises an incredulous eyebrow upon hearing that Ganyon has never heard of him. But he diplomatically smooths his face into a smile.
Canna fault a fella for begin cautious.
Tah be honest I havena met good Nardon more'n a few times.
But yeh be want'n tah know somethin' I knows about ol' Barrak, nine protect 'n keep 'im. Tricky thing; don' waana be speaking ill o' the dead. Lessee I suppose I could say that he was an honest fella who never cheated at cards, and he never won neither onnacounta his habit of pull'n 'is lower lip when he had a decent 'and.
He was a Marcher through an' through but he was out here in Xen'drik fer years, he never said howcome, but I recon it had something to do with that girl with tha' birthmark over her eye, on tha' lived in tha' same village as 'im but married tha other fella.
He weren't tha type tah come out an' say it, o' course.
Met his brother once, Tardak. Muscular fella, eye patch. Said they used to call ol' Barrak "monkey foot" cause he could climb up a tree wit' jus' 'is feet.
That enough of the sorta o' details a friend o'Barrak, may tha' keepa be blind tah his passing, would be know'n?
Still staggering a little, a now much healthier looking Darv rejoins the party. "A pleasure to meet you, Master Hudder. And if you can use that axe half as well as you sell, I'll be even more delighted to know you. It's been a rather rough few days."
He turns, and bows in Domoris' direction. "And to you too, sir, I bid welcome to our company. Such as it is."
OOC
Darv will cast Mass Lesser Vigor to heal himself and the other wounded folks. Any chance of a Knowledge check to figure anything out about those apes?
I tried Knowledge: Nature and Knowledge: Arcana, and got a 29 on both, oddly enough.
And sorry I've been so quiet the past few days. Baby's got reflux, and we ain't gettin' no sleep. I'm trying to get back up to speed now.
"Well, I guess ya did know Barrak, God rist 'is soul."
A small smile briefly appears on the guides face.
"Anyone who knew 'is poker tell had tah have spent some time wit 'im."
The smile disappears.
"Welcome aboord ta ya then. Keep up and keep yer eyes peeled. We're startin' to get inta the Scorpion Claw clans territerry, so if'n yer gittin' da feelin' yer bein' watched, ye probably are."
"Right, now, lits git back on da trail fer the Titan Teeth."
He looks up to the sky to get his bearings, then draws his kukri and heads out. Using his blade as a machete on any of the jungle plants and vines that get in his way.
Still staggering a little, a now much healthier looking Darv rejoins the party. "A pleasure to meet you, Master Hudder. And if you can use that axe half as well as you sell, I'll be even more delighted to know you. It's been a rather rough few days."
Likewise! Hudder greets Darv with stout clap on the shoulder. I wager, Yeh'll have plenty o' chances to judge me axe-work for yourself. Hudder grins broadly.
Dunna mean tah jump tah conclusions but yeh look like a scholar! After a good guide, there's nothing more valuable in Xen'dric. Out here ignorance I'll kill yah here quick'n jump'n the Gap. So yeh be tha most important person here laddie!
You notice anything you wanna check or look over, or you think we need tah be careful 'bout sum'n you yell it out!
[edit: Hudder blinks as Darv's healing spell washes over them. An' a priest ta' boot! Tha's a rare combination indeed!]
Quote:
Originally Posted by s@s
"Welcome aboord ta ya then. Keep up and keep yer eyes peeled. We're startin' to get inta the Scorpion Claw clans territerry, so if'n yer gittin' da feelin' yer bein' watched, ye probably are."
"Right, now, lits git back on da trail fer the Titan Teeth."
He looks up to the sky to get his bearings, then draws his kukri and heads out. Using his blade as a machete on any of the jungle plants and vines that get in his way.
Hudder taps his helmet in acknowledgement of Ganyon's instructions and falls in beside Darv. "Speak'n o' not-so-academic type research'n stuff... you know any'ting about these funny looking animals tha jump'd me tha other day? Never seen tha like before...
Last edited by Graf; 19th April 2008 at 05:15 PM..
"Da Claws are a mean buncha drow. They've bin known tah sacrifice their own to there god, and have no issues doin' ta same to outsiders. They're also known fer workin' wit da damn scorrow -- mor'n any udder drow tribe."
He spits on the ground while continuing to cut a path through the thick vegetation.
"If'n ya git a scorrow on yer tail, you won't know it until the wurst possible time, den dey strike atcha. Damn gud hunters dey be."
As if on queue, the path that Ganyon cuts opens up into a small clearing, where several mounds of scorpions can be seen. None of them larger than a humans hand, they appear not to pose a threat.
"Damn bugs." Ganyon says as he skirts the open area to get to the other side.
"As fer how far we are away from the 'Teeth, I'd say dat da Traveller has been gud tah us so far, so I'd say another day or so."
Morph looks into the clearing before raising his hand towards the scorpions, palm outward. A small ball of fire erupts around the insects burning them and scorching the ground. "If it be only a day to our destination we should be more aware of those that would be spying upon us."
S@s
The scrying sensor still watching us (if we can tell)
Hudder is enthusiastically continuing to tell the story about one of his more ribald cousins, a story which is, according him "tha' reason I became the fine explorer yah see before yah taday".
"So anyway me cousin, says ta Baroness d'Sivis..."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganyon
"Da Claws are a mean buncha drow. They've bin known tah sacrifice their own to there god, and have no issues doin' ta same to outsiders. They're also known fer workin' wit da damn scorrow -- mor'n any udder drow tribe."
Hudder frowns at the scorpion covered mounds and casually swings his shield and ax off his back.
Best'ta finish tha' story annuder time.
OOC positioning
If Dreadnought is in the back then Hudder is in the middle of the party; if Dreadnought is near the middle or front he'll move to the back (so he can move quickly to intercept anything that comes in).
The goal is to have one heavily armored person (AKA tank) in the middle of the group and one in the back.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Morph
"If it be only a day to our destination we should be more aware of those that would be spying upon us."
I can protect yah 'gainst magical scrying 'n tha like, but I've got 'nothing particularly useful against someone follow'n quiet like.
Unless someone else speaks to him Hudder becomes silent, or at least silent for Hudder; which involves periodically muttering under his breath to himself.
Dreadnought takes his position near the front of the group unless told otherwise. When Hudder mentions protecting against scrying he pauses and looks back at the dwarf.
"Protection against magical scrying would be most useful," he rumbles. "Proceed."
Dreadnought takes his position near the front of the group unless told otherwise. When Hudder mentions protecting against scrying he pauses and looks back at the dwarf.
"Protection against magical scrying would be most useful," he rumbles. "Proceed."
What?
No' tha ah be mind'n o' course. But Dorn's left knuckle, who'n yah be thinking be scry'n us? Scry'n's a one-tah-one type thing. Tah properly block a scryer ah need to plug their target.
I'canna do everyone. Even' a heir o' Kundarak's got their limits.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rolzup
"Just a scholar," Darv assures him. "I hold no holy offices. I lack the proper temperment, I fear.
Ha! And humble too!
If tha' gods be blessing us when you make yer mumblings and wave yer hands then you got all tha offices tha' matta tah my way o' thinking.
In mah experience hold'n an' office isn' proof o' devotion. Not anymore anyway.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rolzup
And if you can do something about our eastwhile watcher, please -- do not hesitate! I've not been able to have much effect upon his scrying."
OK. I'm sure yah know, even wit' a fair sized mark s'not guaranteed thing. I'll give'er a go 'n see if we can shake 'em.
OOC
Assuming Morph lets him know that the golaith is currently being scried. Hudder "casts" nondetection on the goliath.
CL 14 so it should last for 14 hours; attempts to scry the goliath will need to make a caster level check DC 25
Hol' still there big fella. Hudder reaches out to touch the massive warrior's forearm. A subtle blue glow shimmers from his cheek for a minute.
Dragonmarks
Dragonmarked (CL 14)
Least alarm 1/day firetrap 1/day misdirection 1/day
Lesser glyph of warding 1/day nondetection1/day
Greater greater glyph of warding 1/day
Linear Mode
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