(Casual D&D V) The Tourne

[Guilt Puppy]

Xiao: The mounds are smaller, varying between three and six inches across. The dirt where they are isn't raised much (in some cases, it's depressed); primarily they are noticeable for their visibly different texture compared to the unbroken, packed earth around it.

As Raven digs, the Tourneans take a look around the camp. Harrold seems bothered with the camp's construction: "The posts are askew and the sides are uneven... Were they in a hurry?" The camp would look fine to any reasonable traveler's estimation, but given the number of times you've seen young Harrold take a palm this trip over an unlatched buckle or weak knot, his perspective is understood.

About three feet down, Raven feels his shovel break through the dirt and squish into something softer. He hears a deep hissing sound, almost like a sigh, and catches a brief sight of a slick moving surface, almost like the side of a large snake. It is a deep dirty red with barely-distinguishable yellow-orange stripes, and the light glints off it as though it were wet or oiled. It moves, pulls downward, and disappears under a soft cascade of dirt after only a moment.

There are thick streaks of a reddish-black substance around the tip of the shovel, thick and granular, almost tar-like in consistency.

 

[DrZombie]

Raven doesn't recall any beast which looks like that (K/nature 12). What he does know is that it isn't a good idea to be standing in the deep hole when they can dig like that.

"Bugger. Get out of here."

With a few long strides he goes for higher ground (top of cart, , gnarley roots of a tree, rock)

 

[dpdx]

[Sorry, guys. The one time I went to check the board, it was down.]

Hiritus continues outside after the caravan has stopped. His eyes meet with Raven's rapid strides toward him, and the paladin notices blood on Raven's shovel.

[Detecting taint at will in the vicinity of the campsite.]

"Wh-"

Stepping quickly back into the carriage, sword drawn, he mentions brusquely to Fendric: "Brother, look lively - trouble is afoot."

Nodding silently, Fendric stands up, putting his armor on. His hand feels quickly for his holy symbol, and once he needlessly but habitually confirms he is still wearing it, returns to the buckles and straps.

 

[hellrazor111]

What did you see? Cray calls to Raven, glancing at him for a moment, then looking down back at the ground. He then walks to the hole and peers in it, poking the dirt with the tip of his arrow, before taking a step away.

 

[DrZombie]

"Something red with yellow-orange stripes. Looked big. Like a snake. Maybe one of them landsharks or something. Never actually seen one of them buggers." Raven mutters.
"Should take it out if we can. They shouldn't roam in this area. They say they'll eat anything."

 

[DrZombie]

(edit : double post)

 

[Guilt Puppy]

Hiritus does detect the presence of evil in the thing before it disappears into the earth below.

 

[hellrazor111]

"It will eat anything!" exclaims Cray, "Sounds like a mighty creature. Get ready Puck, a challange is afoot!" You hear a small 'cry' from somewhere on Crays body.

Cray puts away his bow and draws his longsword and with a mutter of "hesjing" the blade is covered in ice.

 

[dpdx]

"On your guards!" shouts Hiritus in a rare display of leadership as he takes a wide berth from where he estimates the snake is and toward Justice. "It radiates taint! Be careful! We must decide whether or not we stand and fight!"

Fendric pokes his head outside of the cart, at this point dressed in the armor, but not bothering with the customary over-tunic. Looking over the scene, he discovers the mounds at once. [Pelor, Most Merciful, I extend You my gratitude for a non-airborne threat.]

"Friends, how may I be of assistance?"

 

[DrZombie]

"By not arguing with anyone for a week." Raven says dryly as he scans the ground. "But summoning something that can be used as bait somewhere over here" he points at a place nearby "would do for now."

Raven readys an action to full attack when the critter bursts from the ground. In my mind's eye he is standing on a rocky patch and he points to a place nearby on soft ground that he can reach without exposing himself.

OOC: dpdx, it's been ages since fendric and raven had a good argument. Is there a better time then in the middle of a fight?