Planetouched Peril

[Jolmo]

*Kani stands still at Fianna's request, letting her administer his wound as she sees fit.*

 

[Rhia]

Azure, Radiance Genasi Bard 1

*A triumphant smile crosses Azure's lips as she sees the bandit she hit fall to the ground. Suddenly, she realizes what she's doing, and her smile drops.*

Am I mad? I just shot somebody down, and I'm smiling about it? She casts her eyes from side to side as the thoughts roil through her mind. Bandits! The pain was so great and they did that to me. To the others. No, not happy. Vengeful. But it's self-defense. And what of the runners... is it still self-defense? Azure lifts her crossbow taking aim even as she battles herself. They will kill again. Those who did this devastation deserve to die. Mercy. Show mercy! They did not show mercy.

*Before either side really won, Azure had repositioned Cherry Blossom while taking aim. A bolt looses towards her fleeing target. But whether it hits or no, there is no feeling of satisfaction this time. Only confusion over the rightness of her actions. Confused anguish shows upon her face as she lowers the weapon, numb to her surroundings.*

[ooc: ranged attack at a fleeing bandit, even if he's out of range. attack, if song is still in affect, +6 to attack, 1d6+2/19-20x2/80ft, if not +4 to attack, 1d6 damage. I think!]

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*Fianna goes to tend to the wounded Kani, her hands glowing with healing power as she uses the magic of the earth to help close Kani's wounds. In the clearing, the pilgrims are standing up slowly, the few wounded carefully tending themselves. Heliad can help them with his own skills or magic, and they're quite grateful for his help. Azure's bolt flies toward the last fleeing bandits, but zings harmelssly through the brush, not harming anything.*

*Zaphira runs after Ashlie, coming upon her after only a few minutes of riding. Ashlie cautious Zaphira to get off her horse, and the two women and Shilo continue to track the bandits. After nearly fifteen mintues, Ashlie and Zaphira can hear panting and voices up ahead. Hiding themselves in the brush, they sneak up to the clearing ahead. Ashlie swigs her potion, the golden, sunlight-touched water soothing her from the inside out, leaving a feeling of intense warmth behind.*

*In the clearing the two bandits have thrown themselves down on the grass next to a small spring, and are drinking greedily of it. Their swords are at hand though, and they still look wary.*

*Back on the road, Father Parab stands up to look around at the carnage, a shocked expression on his bearded face. Some of the younger members are off in the bushes throwing up.*

"Are you all right?" he calls out to Azure and Jabin, and then begins to look around for the others. "Where are Ashlie and Zaphira? And what about Saku... Oh mercy of earth..." he says, as he gaze lands on the still-squealing Viper. Next to him lies the transfixed body of Saku, very clearly dead.

[OOC - Argh! Sorry, I'm such a punk for not updating for so long. Consider me flogged with a wet noodle. Anyway, Fianna's cure light wounds heals Kani of 8 hit points. Ashlie's potion cures her of 4 points of damage. Lady Shatterstone, could you list your spells on your character sheet please? IM if you have questions.]

 

[Rhia]

*The words of Father Parab bring Azure out of her numbed stance. She had seen the two women tumble through the brush after the remaining bandits. They were strong and no doubt could handle them without her help. Azure nods to the priest before sliding off her horse. Giving Cherry Blossom a few strokes on the nose, she tethers the horse to a wagon. She makes her way to Father Parab, answering his questions on the way.*

"I am fine. I believe Jabin is fine. Ashlie and Zaphira went after the two last fleeing bandits. Saku... "

*Her eyes follow the gaze of the priest to the lifeless Saku. With a heavy sigh, the woman makes her way to the fallen man. She kneels besides him and closes his eyes with her long fingers.*

"Rest well, Saku." The words soft in the air.

*Pushing herself up, Azure takes a look around. While she has neither healing skills nor magic herself, she does what she can to ease those about her. Softly singing a light melody, she helps guide people out from under wagons, checks on the woman heavy with child, helps clean up those who have been wretching, and strokes the flanks of horses.*

 

[Fangor the Fierce]

*Zaphira runs after Ashlie, coming upon her after only a few minutes of riding. Ashlie cautious Zaphira to get off her horse, and the two women and Shilo continue to track the bandits. After nearly fifteen mintues, Ashlie and Zaphira can hear panting and voices up ahead. Hiding themselves in the brush, they sneak up to the clearing ahead. Ashlie swigs her potion, the golden, sunlight-touched water soothing her from the inside out, leaving a feeling of intense warmth behind.*

*In the clearing the two bandits have thrown themselves down on the grass next to a small spring, and are drinking greedily of it. Their swords are at hand though, and they still look wary.*

Taking a nice spot to hide in, while still having her bow ready, Ashlie waits to see what the bandits do. She will listen, trying to hear anything that they might say. If they notice Zaphira, she will stay hidden, with bow ready. If they attack Zaphira, then she will let loose the arrow, at the first one to charge. If they do not notice them, she will stay hidden to see what their actions are. Tracing her wound, she thinks back to the ambush.

They have slain a fellow companion. His journey has ended in this life. As will theirs...

OOC - Ready action to shoot at any bandit charging Zaphira or Ashlie. She wants to see if they are stupid enough to talk, and get info from them. But she does have a little score to settle, and is intent on collecting...

 

[Lady Shatterstone]

*As the pain eases from Kani's face so to does the light pulsing from Fianna's hands. She helps Kani get to a comfortable position that he can rest in. "How do you feel now?" she asks gently.*

*While waiting for a sign that he is all right, she lets out a long high pitched whistle calling back Dorenna and her horse.*

[ooc: If Kani is indeed all right Fianna will have Dorenna stay with him if he still needs to rest while she goes to check on the other wounded and offer help if needed.]

 

[Verbatim]

*Jabin's eyes scan the carnage around him, and while he had heard stories of battles from his time at the guildhall, Jabin saw nothing in this battle that was wonderful or heroic.*

*As his eyes come to rest upon Saku's inert form, he watches as the Angel places her fingers over his eyes and begins to sing a song of mourning for all those around her to hear. Seeing her strength in this time of crisis, Jabin tries to follow her example by gathering the bodies of the slain bandits and placing them beside Saku.*

While they gave us no reason for their attack, we do not know what made them as they were. Perhaps the good Father will still read last rites over their bodies...

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*The pilgrims begin to help Jabin gather up the bodies of the slain, some of them still shaky and white-faced. Father Parab came over and began to examine some of their bodies, pushing up sleeves and checking shoulders. Looking up suddenly, he waves Jabin over. Branded into the man's arm, just below the elbow, was a symbol of billowing wind.*

"These men are branded by one of the fanatical cults of Akadi. I'm afraid our troubles have already begun," he murmurs. But to Jabin's eyes the brand tells him even more. The brand is relatively fresh, and you have heard that some magical symbols, like this, can be used to control peoples' actions.

~~~

*In the clearing, the two bandits have begun to talk to each other, their faces both astonished and frightened..*

"I can't believe we just did that! What in Beshaba's name happened to the plan? I thought Kedrin just wanted the goods, not to kill them!"

"I don't know, I just started shooting-"

"Those guards are going to be looking for us, or if they don't, they'll go to Lord Ulrich and get his guards out here, and then we'll be hung for certain!"

"Don't panic, we just have to get as far away from here as possible..."

 

[Jolmo]

"How do you feel now?"

Kani takes a moment to check himself over, so he can give a correct response. "Fine," he says at last, "not much trouble what remains."

With that he stands up and returns the blood from his spear to its source; wiping it on his shirt. He also checks whether the bandit is still alive. If he is, Kani looks to Fianna, tells her "he lives," and asks if they should just "leave him?", content to do just that.

Kani then goes to retrieve his stray spear, transferring his longer one to his left hand and keeping the thrown in his right, ready to be used again if needed. After taking it, he returns to Fianna and asks if they're "done here?", ready to head back into the forest. He also looks to Dorenna, who brought them here, to see if she seems to want anything else here.

[ooc - HP: 20/22]

 

[Ghostknight]

Heliad noman's Son, Priest of Pelor

*Looking around him, Heliad goes up to the adventurer's and Father Parab.

"I am Heliad, a priest of Pelor. I heard the commotion and came to see what the trouble was. Are there any others needing help?"

*He bows to the group of adventurers.

"Thanks you for helping these people. I was ministering to the people of the village and have long hoped someone would remove the scourge of the bandits from the road"

ooc: I am cringing in embarrasment- after the great thread denullment, I forgot to resubscribe to this.