[Adventure] Serpent's Skull: Souls for Smuggler's Shiv (DM: Mewness; Judge: THB)

[Pentius]

OOC: Klorak, Wife Beating Champion, Smuggler's Shiv Regionals, 7 years running. I'll fluff it as something else.

As Noriaki recovers his strength, he hears a small voice, almost lost in the breeze, "Not bad, wielder. Keep it up..." As it fades, a length of white ribbon flutters into Noriaki's lap, carried adrift on the breeze. He smiles weakly, feeling a pulse of familiar strength in the cloth, and wraps it around his bare arm, just above the elbow.

Going down into the tunnels, Noriaki is wary and alert. As soon as the cloak is found and read, he starts looking in all directions, as if expecting a monstrous Kovack to leap out at any second.

 

[Dekana]

After the final message from Kovack is read, Castile stomps on the ground and says angrily, "I can't believe he'd just give up like that! If he turned into some... sort of demon, then he should have fought back against Ieana." She turns away from the cloak, not even wanting to look at it.

"'Destroy him'. Hah! I'll give him a solid wallop to the head and knock some sense into him."

 

[GROMkill]

Amongst the rubble and debris around the cannibal's camp, the dragonborn finds a dented pair of plated bracers. Slipping them on, over a spot in his armor amongst his upper arm, he immediately feels a difference. Gripping Nodachi Otaruhi, he makes a graceful swing. What was once a slight imbalance between his arms and the heavy, massive blade seems now to be a perfect balance and the blade arcs beautifully in the air. Nodding, Takahaan smiles at his discovery.

Later, Takahaan wearily reads the leather tablet and his eyes fall to the ground. "Kovack won't be the problem. I'd imagine releasing his soul from his demonic shell won't be too difficult. What I'm worried about is the demon-girl, and her trickery. I enjoy foes such as the big, stupid one that we just fought. But Ieana, she will be different."

His head sinks as he ponders the demon's powers. "I fear that she may turn us against ourselves. If we are to seek her out, her destruction in mind, we must bind our minds from her influence. I wonder if there is any magic spell or cantrip that can protect us from her mind-tricks. Gelik should know."

 

[jbear]

"There may indeed be someone else behind these cannibals," Hú Lí says. "At the hut of bones, it appeared that people had come to it without going inside, perhaps leaving the bones of their victims as offerings. These creatures' language was a type of Allarian. Perhaps there is a connection to that journal we found. That still does not tell us what or who they follow, but it is something to think about."[sblock=ooc]Use the last Majestic Word on myself, and 1 surge w/song of rest, and that gets me to 37/39 with 4 surges left.

Perception: 1(1d20) +10 = 11[/sblock][sblock=Hú Lí]The Black Fox Fox Spirit (Changeling) Bard 4
Initiative: +3, Passive Perception: 18, Passive Insight: 20
AC:21, Fort:14, Reflex:18, Will:19
+4 vs. AC, 1d6-1 damage

HP:37/39, Bloodied:19, Surge Value:9, Surges left:4/8
Action Points: 0, Second Wind: used
Powers: Fox Spirit Disguise, Wild Shape, Staggering Note, Vicious Mockery, Changeling's Armor
Blunder, Dissonant Strain, Fox Spirit Trick, Grasping Claws, Majestic Word x2, Words of Friendship, Noble Presence, Painted Drum
Stirring Shout, Canon of Avoidance, Amulet of Seduction

Virtue of Cunning: Once per round, when an enemy misses an ally within 9 squares of the Black Fox, the Fox may slide the ally 1 square as a free action.

Conditions:
[/sblock]

Kane raises an eyebrow of only mild surprise as Takahaan identifies the objects as coming from the Jenivere. "Th-then your c-captain and his w-woman must be c-close."

Kane nods at Hu Li's words. "Allarians. Thrune f-family. Th-this must be w-what they b-built here" He holds the green gem he found amongst the witches things to the light. "Marvellous!" He draws his blade which begins to hum as the gem nears. Kane touches it to the blade and the gem comes to life, taking the shape of a tiny green stone dragon. The tiny dragon shard walks to the hilt, climbs along and wraps it self around the pommel where it goes hard again, maintaining its tiny dragon shape. "Marvellous!"
He also slips on a pair of black leather gauntlets with scarlet studded knuckles. "Marvellous!"

When the group descends into the cavern system below the camp Kane becomes immediately wary of attack. He draws his blade and casts his light spell upon it, looking about himself as though expecting attack from one moment to the next.

Upon discovery of the scrap of leather he scowls and turns to stare at the murky pool nearby. "Your c-captain l-lost his m-mind. And now his b-body. This c-camp will n-not be s-safe til we d-destroy what he h-has b-become."

Kane bends down and cast light into the pool and examines the detritus floating in it.

[sblock=Time Gold]
Doh! I had indeed missed that one. Probably due to my glee at receiving the Shimmering Armor Adjusted and purchases made. [/sblock]

 

[Mewness]

GM: Prepping next fight. Everyone make a perception check, please!

 

[BenBrown]

"I wonder," Hú Lí says, "Did this Ieana lead the captain to this place intentionally? Was her goal to come here all along?"
She pauses, looking around pensively.
"Who can ponder the mind of such a creature--a beast who assumes the form of a woman in order to deceive."[sblock=roll]Perception: 14(1d20) +8 = 22[/sblock]

 

[jbear]

"A d-demon."

From the shadows slinks the fey beast who sits and calmly begins cleaning itself.

"W-where ...?"

With a smile and a shrug he accepts the creature's presence, enjoying the bond he can feel between them almost physically, almost tangible. He wonders how such a thing might have occured. He continues to examine the pool completely oblivious to anything that might be moving below the surface.

 

[Mewness]

GM: Whoops, sorry, forgot about that. There's nothing magical about the pool. The water is stagnant, and there are bones and other refuse in it.

 

[Dekana]

Castile keeps a watchful eye for either the captain or the temptress.

 

[GROMkill]

Takahaan raises an eyebrow as Kane's beast companion appears from nowhere and begins grooming its wounds, but he smiles at the man, happy to see they have a new friend to follow them around. He keeps his eyes open for danger in the dark, murky tunnel.