Underneath the Undeath [DM: Voda Vosa; Judge: ?]

Most of our heroes manage to defeat their opponents! They struggle in thicket to find their respective companions, drawn by the sounds of battle. It will still take time to gather up.

Logan continues to have the upper hand on the cougar, which has switched from stalking to fleeing. It only manages to stand up and stumble from one side to the other.

The giant sized mosquito buzzes angrily and sweeps down to attack again, and manages to attach itself yet another time, sticking its needle inside Boris. What a pest! It starts to suck right away.

[sblock=Battle divided!]
MAP and COMBAT Battle divided! sheet contains the map and references are found scrolling down a bit. In this case each group has its own minimap.

Players that have finished their fights, please stand by.

Monsters' actions
Stirge attack: Hits ac for 4 dmg, which turn into 3 (THP soak 2), and Boris is grabbed and has ongoing 4 (reduced from 5) until he escapes. Didn't pay attention to your reduce 1 to all dmg, sorry.
Cougar: Stands up

Questions? Doubts? How are you feeling so far?
I'll have the annoying habit of mentioning all of you in combat situation: [MENTION=211]Phoenix8008[/MENTION] [MENTION=6698492]BedLlama[/MENTION] [MENTION=69684]WEContact[/MENTION] [MENTION=92704]Grimmjow[/MENTION] [MENTION=75065]jbear[/MENTION] [MENTION=57009]Dekana[/MENTION]
[/sblock]

Logan throws another dagger, but the bound cat manages to evade it He frowns. The cat was retreating, the game was over. Chambers doesn't want to kill this creature, so it was time to get back to tracking Kurnos. "Better luck next time, buddy," he calls, and with another quick flick of the wrist he binds the cougar in place again, and then heads off to pick reacquire Kurnos' trail.

[sblock=Actions]
Standard: Clever Shot (Grappling Spirits) MISS Cougar AC 9
Spend AP: Clever Shot (Grappling Spirits) HIT Cougar AC 19
Move: ->A4
Result: Cougar takes 5 damage, is knocked prone, and is slowed and cannot shift until the start of Chambers' next turn

Immediate: Fox's Cunning, if the Cougar manages to engage Logan in melee.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Statblock]Logan Chambers - Male Human Seeker|Ranger 1 Status: Initiative: +4, Passive perception: 19, Passive Insight: 14 AC:16 Fort:12 Ref:15 Will:16 HP: 22/22 Bloodied: 11 Surge value: 5 Surges/day: 4/6 Speed: 6 squares, AP: 1, Second Wind: unused, Temporary HP: 0 Melee Basic Attack: +4 vs AC, 1d4
Powers:Clever Shot, Tidal Spirit Shot, Grappling Spirits, Hunter's Quarry, Fox's Cunning, Inevitable Shot, Swarming Bats, Spirits' Rebuke[/sblock]

"Sun guide me and burn this parasite!" growls Boris trying to shake the blood sucker off him once more. This time he manages to wrench it from his body before levelling a strike at the creature's head. It falls limply to the ground, its soul pulled from its body and into the warlock's helm, causing another gem to glow green.

Looking around himself he decides he prefers to walk than wait, heading back to the spot where he thinks he left his companions.

[sblock=Actions]Move: Escape grab attempt using Athletics (DC12)
Minor: Divine Challenge
Standard: Eldritch Strike: Hit: Slide 1 and gain 2 THP (irrelevant because it is dead and combat is over)
Free Action: Capture Soul of Stirge

If TCO can take a short rest he will spend a Surge and be back to full health. [/sblock]

[sblock=The Cursed One]
The Cursed One aka Boris
Human Hybrid Paladin | Warlock 3
Passive Perception/Insight 10
AC:20, Fort:17, Reflex:16, Will:17, Speed:5
HP: (+2 THP) 30/39, Bloodied:19, Surge Value:9, Surges left:9/11
Initiative +2
Action Points: 1 (encounter): USED

Conditions:
Buffs:

Powers:
MBA: Eldritch Strike +9 vs AC, 1d12+5 damage

Divine Challenge: S2
Divine Sanction:
Warlock's Curse: S2
Eldritch Strike, Ardent Strike, Dire Radiance
Helm of Seven Deaths: Souls Captured 3/7
Blade of Crimson: USED
Valorous Smite: USED
Otherwind Stride: USED
Helm of Seven Deaths:
Second Wind
Crown of Stars:
Bless Weapon:
Fullblade of Defense:
Dazzling Plate Armour:
Helm of Seven Deaths: Unavailable


Consumables:
Potions of Healing: 1/1
Augmenting Whetstone: 2/2

Combat notes:
Dazzling Plate: TCO gains +2 to all defenses vs Charm, Fear and Psychic attacks.
Gauntlets of Arcane Might: TCO gains 2 THP when he hits an enemy he marks with an arcane attack.
Fullblade of Defense: Resist 1 vs All dmg;
TCO will use his Fullblade of Defense Daily power to halve damage of an attack will reduce him below 0.
[/sblock]

Battles are over! Congratulations!

After some hours of stumbling in the woods, the heroes manage to find each other out. Ilse locates Zaroch, as the mage absent minded studies a peculiar mushroom he found. Logan locates Kurnos and Alek, while the pair was about to find Boris, who has a disgusted face on him.
Its getting late already, so the group decides to hurry up their peace; the edge of the forest is not far, and if they press along for a couple more hours, they might reach it and have the so deserved night's sleep.
As they march through the woods, each shares the tale of last night. How close they were of getting eaten by the giant troll, how they manage to evade the creature, and how they got split. What perils they found while trying to regroup, and how surprisingly fast the troll did moved when the sun rose.
The night is enjoyable, and the troll doesn’t seem to be in the surroundings, although the occasional shake of the earth reminds the group of the peril that will hunt them when they finish the job and return home… IF they manage to return.
The sound of wild animals and insects gets each time softer as the group leaves the forest dense thicket. Logan locates the huge tree from the map, it was concealed by the night, being its trunk dark as a trunk can get. The gigantic tree offers outstanding protection for the group to sleep, and they decide that they have had enough walking. They are exhausted! The heroes quickly set up camp. The first person engaging the watch quickly falls asleep, unable to resist the overwhelming fatigue.

The only thing that wakes up the team is the strong sun of midday, hitting their eyes from above. They are glad that nothing happened during the night, and thankful for the protection of the big oak. Gathering their belongings, the heroes decide to breakfast as they walk, to regain some of the lost time. With renewed strength and with the endurance gained by moving through the forest, they find the distance that stretch from the forest edge to the mountains to be a piece of cake. The huge mountain range that starts at this point seems impressive. The precise mountain where the mines are located comes into view first, as the team climbs up a small hill. It’s brown and rocky, probably newer than the rest, which seem more eroded, and covered with grass. By the end of the day, the group manages to reach the feet of the mountain. There are some torn and worn signs, indicating that the entrance of the mines are up ahead. The disrepair state of the signs accounts for the harsh weather surrounding the mines. Strong winds buffeted the faces of the adventurers, and moves their hairs in capricious directions. The wind is chilling, carrying down the frozen temperatures of the glaciers that lye hidden between the clouds, at the peak of the mountain. Finding shelter in this desolated landscape will prove challenging, even for the most outdoorish members of the group. Not even a warforged would feel comfortable here. The only other option would seem to be entering the mine, and seeking shelter within.

"This wind cuts our bones deeply. We know now how the restless dead must feel devoid of warmth. Let's take shelter within the mines. We prefer the darkness and its dangers to death by exposure."

If no one protests Boris continues on towards the mine that lies ahead.

Chambers shivers and glowers at everyone and everything. He says nothing, just grunts and follows Boris into the mines.

Kurnos nods agreement. "Yes, the mines should be more defensible as well if we camp just inside the entrance or first room."

Alek nods and smiles, "I agree the mine would be a safe spot to camp." He begins to head towards the mine, making sure that the tattoo on his arm is covered by his sleeve.

[sblock=Ilse]Alek is radiating a sense of belonging once inside the cave[/sblock]

As the group nears the cave, Chambers growls, "Remember... uh, Ilse, wasnit? Remember we're part of a plot to kill a lich. I doubt it's living things that we'll be worried about."