Elven Navy Delta Squad: Hunters

[GruTheWanderer]

Erenal, you are correct. My mistake.

Amanu, you are also partly correct. You fully resisted the four points of fire damage. However, the other four points were electrical damage, which put you at risk of going wild.

There are traces of blood. Examination of the tree it dropped from and the tracks suggest that it knows a lot about moving stealthily in a jungle environment.

One other thing is apparent. The creature knew how to hit the ogres where it hurt. Almost all of its attacks hit vital organs, tendons, or nerves.

The ogres had few possessions other than their weapons and hide armor. Their belt pouches held a few platinum, probably an advance on their contract.

Jae-min argues for returning to the ship. Surely it isn't worth dying to find the druid and Yong-suk's remains. Haworth, who has regained consciousness, agrees with her. So does Morella.

Carmina agrees that finding the druid will be a particular challenge. If he decides to stay in bird form, he's nearly impossible to track without scrying magic. She thinks catching the blue demon or the beast that killed the human would be much more fun.

While the discussion is going on, those who need it (Theryndil and Irati) finish resting.

 

[perivas]

Amanu's posture and mannerisms assume a didactic air. "Extrapolating from the blue creature's few statements to imply his command over the spoken common language, I surmise that he means Yong-suk--a half-elf--to be his next target. It is apparent that he does not know of Yong-suk's demise, which will clearly play to our advantage as we venture forth to recover his body."

"As for those who wish to go back to their ship, while it is certainly our intent to deliver you safely to your vehicle, we will forego our present advantage of knowing the blue creature's next objective, if we escort you. Although I note that duplicity on its part is not beyond the realm of probability, its ready victory over our ogre allies suggest otherwise. I will defer to your own good judgment as to your next course of action." A small itch suddenly bothers Amanu, and he responds with an intense ritual of scratching, grooming and reflexive "ooohhh"ing and "aaahhh"ing.

 

[Keia]

"Amanu, the Bionoid probably meant Theryndil, the elf on our squad, and the only person here that seemed to damage him. That is probably why he is the next target."

"Leopard, can you pick up the trail so we can track the Bionoid? If not, then I think we should get these citizens back to the drop point. The Bionoid will probably come to us - though I'm not sure that we will fare any better against it."

 

[GruTheWanderer]

Andreo helpfully points out that Amanu's second pistol shot seemed to be effective as well.

Leopard spends some time examining the route taken by the fleeing creature, as well as the area surrounding the tree it dropped from. She says she can follow its trail, although it is attempting to hide its tracks (standard counter-measures taught to Elven Navy rangers as well). She only hopes the demon's endurance is less than its speed.

With that caveat, Leopard leads the group forward. Carmina offers to help Leopard scout. Irati, Andreo, and Morella stay close to Arramor.

The chase is long. For a while Leopard is unable to gain on the beast, then it pulls ahead for nearly an hour. Finally, after five hours of tracking Leopard signals that the target is very close.

 

[garyh]

Theryndil nocks an arrow, manifests invisibility, and awaits contact with the target.

 

[Keia]

Marcus will give the signal that we're close. He'll indicate to Arramor to protect those who traveled with us that were not part of the squad. He will then quietly unrap 'Cramp' and approach the area indicated by Leopard.

He will motion for Leopard to flank the position as he approaches.

 

[perivas]

Amanu mentally prepares himself for the confrontation. He calls forth the energies locked within his pearl of power to recover his spent shield spell.

 

[GruTheWanderer]

Marcus moves forward, with Leopard on the right flank and Erenal on the left. Theryndil and Amanu, protected by their spells, follow a short ways behind. Arramor and the dwarves surround the humans the and halfling.

One hundred yards from where Leopard stopped a small clearing is now visible. In the clearing a human male clad only in ragged pants sits with his back to a massive tree. His eyes are closed, and his hands are manacled to an iron-link chain stretched around the tree.

 

[Keia]

"What?!? He's the meat dangling from the rope?" Marcus whispers to the others. Marcus looks back to Arramor and the others to see if anyone recognizes the human.

If there is no response, Marcus will continue forward looking for a trap of some kind, either a pit or the bionois to come popping out of the trees somewhere.

 

[novyet]

"So this guy is just bait, you think? Ouch. I wonder if he lost a bet, or a fight with that bionoid?" Erenal will creep forward with marcus, also eyeing for a trap.