Sailors on the Starless Sea

doghead · Mar 3, 2014

Narančasta, Siva, Bijela, and Xim

GlassEye said:
Betsy moos and one of the bodies twitches and raises its head and looks down the hill towards the group. It is still too far to see who the unfortunate is.

"It seems Betsy has made the decision for us. We follow the path to the gatehouse and find out who those unfortunates are."

Narančasta notices Xim looking around the forest behind them. "Is there something bothering you, Xim?"

"Yes, there is. We need a place to meet if someone gets lost or separated ... Young-lings are always running off and getting lost. It can be quite trying," Xim add in way of an explanation.

"There," she announces finally, pointing back into the forest, "behind those rocks; out of sight but close enough to keep an eye on the path. Return here and wait. If no-one else returns by this time the day after tomorrow, return to the village."

"Does everyone understand?" adds Narančasta.

Once he is happy the plan is understood, he sets off down the path.

Dogmatron · Mar 3, 2014

"Did anyone else see that!" Exclaimed Fendrel. "Something up there was moving."

He scours the side of the road for any good chunks of rock that he might be able to throw.

Geoffrey sees what the halfing was doing and joins him, nervously kicking though the weeds on the side of the road for rocks.

fireinthedust · Mar 4, 2014

Alaric "hissst!"s at everyone and ducks back against the wall.

"We should go look at whoever those people are. It could be a trap of some sort."

Zim chuckles and taps Borok on the shoulder. "I'll stay back as lookout and see if anyone is watching from the walls while you go up there and have a look."

The dwarf grunts, then nods. "Aye. Could be tha kindly herbalist woman who was kidnapped. I think it may be a trap, though, or someone could be watching them. Cover me!"

Alaric nods, and as the dwarf heads up cautiously to the bodies, he follows at a distance to be nearby the dwarf. Dudles stays with Zim, while the halfling gets his sling out to strike at anyone jumping at the dwarf at range. Zim is at a distance, but close enough he can use his sling. Alaric has his blade out, ready to charge in and strike at anyone attacking Borok. Borok has his trusty hammer out and ready to smite anyone attacking him.

All are ready to flee back to the group at any sign of trouble.

OOC: really hope we don't all die. Ugh.

Dogmatron · Mar 4, 2014

Brom, Geoffrey, Fendrel, and Rodger all follow behind the others, weapons and rocks at the ready.

GlassEye · Mar 5, 2014

With Narančasta in the lead and Borok, Brom, and Rodger following close behind, the four stout-hearted head up the path towards the bodies bound to the poles. Alaric trails slightly behind and Dudles and Zim keep watch from one side.

Fendrel and Geoffrey having stopped to collect a handful of rocks fall a little behind the main group of eight (counting the cow) that creep up after Alaric.

Those in the front see the two bodies bound to poles with supple, green vines. At least, that is what they thought until they realize the wicked vines have wormed their way inside the bodies’ eyes, ears, and mouths and that the bodies move like twisted marionettes. As the forward group nears, the vines uncurl from around the poles and the two bodies shamble forward.

[sblock=Combat]Our first combat! I’m going for transparency here (a sort of ‘let the dice fall where they may’) and will be posting links to my rolls. I expect you all to do the same using Invisible Castle, Coyote Code, or whatever other dice roller that will allow you to link your rolls.

Initiative order as follows (terrible rolls!):
doghead (1d20+2=9)
Vine Horrors (1d20+2=7)
Deuce Traveler (1d20+1=7)
Fireinthedust (1d20+1=4)
Dogmatron (1d20=1)

Opponents:
Vine Horrors (x2): AC 13, hp ?, hp ?[/sblock]

fireinthedust · Mar 5, 2014

Borok, being but a blacksmith, will follow Narancasta's lead. If the knight attacks, so will he. If not, he'll flee.

Azalin will do likewise.

Zim isn't going to waste time, he'll be flinging sling stones asap.

Borok
[roll0]
[roll1]

Alaric
[roll2]
[roll3]

Zim
[roll4]
[roll5]

doghead · Mar 6, 2014

Narančasta, Siva, Bijela, and Xim

Narančasta pushes forwards, drawing his sword as he moves. He tries not to gag as the blade hacks into rotting flesh and as well as twisted twisting vine.

Siva, assuming she can get a clear shot before the rest close with the horrible vines, takes a shot. If not, she finds position from where she can keep a watch on the walls and the gatehouse beyond.

Xim and Bijela move up with the trailing group, with staff and stick respectively. While Xim holds back, not wishing to crowd those engaged, Bijela rushes in with a youth's impetuosity, battering at the monsters with his stick.

Narančasta 1d20=16, 1d8=6
Siva 1d20=18, 1d6=4
Xim 1d20=16, 1d4=1, Bejila 1d20=19, 1d4=1

GlassEye · Mar 6, 2014

Narančasta strikes at one of the horrors [roll0] and deals it a nasty blow. The vined horror retaliates against Narančasta and Roger just a step behind by flailing at the two men with tentacle-like vines. The noble is missed but Roger isn't so lucky and a vine whips around his throat and throttles the life from the hapless parsnip farmer. Borok, however, is close and bashes the creature a solid blow. Its body splits open as it dies and walnut-sized seeds with waving cilia are scattered about.

Siva does manage to get off a shot [roll1] but isn't able to target the same one as noble Narančasta. Bijela's attack with a stick, though valiant and impetuous, does little damage to the creature. A vine erupts from the creature's body and severely lashes the boy who falls dead on the spot. The creature stumbles torwards the mass following. Happy Lordlinker is unfortunate to be near the front of that group and takes a glancing whip-strike as the creature lashes him as well. Though injured, Happy survives. Alaric turns and cuts the vine horror in two. Like the other killed, seeds spill from the burst body.

GM:

Combat over.

[sblock=Combat]Ugg...
Bijela target (1d2=1)
H1: Atk1 vs. Bijela (1d20+2=19), Dmg vs. Bijela (1d4=4); Atk2 vs. Happy (1d20+2=16), Dmg vs. Happy (1d4=1)
H2: Atk1 vs. Narancasta (1d20+2=8), Atk2 vs. Roger (1d20+2=15), Dmg vs. Roger (1d4=2)
Horror 1: AC 13, Dead
Horror 2: AC 13, Dead[/sblock]

Deuce Traveler · Mar 6, 2014

Tender shouts, "Oh no! Happy you've been hurt! We got to stop the bleeding... oh God, we got to stop the bleeding!"

Happy grimaces in return and says, "Please calm down Tender. It's but a scratch, and though it itches a bit I am fine. Don't shout so or you might alert further dangers."

Boral winces and says, "Yes, please keep it down. You're worrying poor Betsy, and she was upset before we even got up here what with all the corpses and all. You'll make her spoil her milk."

Kurl chimes in, too. "If we are done moping about, we best take a look at those bodies and see who we've found here. Though it matters little now, I'm sure those easily upset folks back in town would appreciate knowing who we just hacked up. We might want to consider burning the bodies so no one realizes it was us who killed them a second time. Some folks might not be too understanding..."

Tender says, "We don't have the time to burn the bodies. Let's get a look at them and move on. Our honest word should be enough for our townsfolk." To this Kurl only shrugs.

doghead · Mar 7, 2014

Narančasta, Siva, Bijela, and Xim

Narančasta's elation at having survived the fight is short lived as he released two of the party, Bejila included, have not. Xim rushes forwards to where Bejila lies bloody and motionless. She desperately searches for signs of life, but it is evident that her search will be fruitless.

Siva moves up, surveying the area closely. Seeing the creepy wavy seeds, she takes up Xim's discarded staff and attempts to crush the nearest one.

Narančasta turns his attention to Kurl and Tender. "Tender is right, we don't have time to burn the bodies. Best we can do is try and identify them, and pass on the news to the families if need be. We will leave them here with Bejila and Roger. But first we need to get rid of the seeds, otherwise we may ... well, lets not find out."

Stepping over to Bejila, Narančasta scoops up the dead child and carries him away from the site of the fight (and the remaining seeds), and off the main path.