Q'Barra: Into the Emerald Forest - Part II

[doghead]

he has no name, warforged warrior.

"... This tribe is here, now, in front of us. We must help them, there is no other choice."

"There is no must about it," the warforged rumbles. "There are other choices. You may not see that, but that does not make it not so.

"However, I agree that the best thing to do next is try and contact the Sky Touchers tribe. After you rest if you need it. We warforged will watch over you while you do so."

 

[SelcSilverhand]

"'He has no name' speaks wisely. The Sky Watchers tribe can give us insight into how the Three Feathers tribe will react to us, where we can find them, how we can approach them peacefully, and how their chief will treat their prisoners. From there we can seek out their tribe and perhaps come to an arrangement. If the lizardfolk are being driven from their land by the bugs from the ground, they may help us fight back against the swarm. Whatever we decide, we should rest first. It has been a stressful day for all of us."

Turning towards the lizardfolk, he continues. "You are welcome to share our fire for the night."

 

[Yeoman]

Matilda turns to the nameless warforged. "Of course there are other choices on what to do, but that doesn't mean that they are valid choices. But I suppose that doesn't mean much to a damn coat rack like you does it? Idiot." Matilda stalks off a short ways, and sets herself up a space to sleep. Matilda then leans back and covers her face with her hat, and tries to drift off to sleep.

 

[Urko]

Discussions and bedding down

Great character interactions! 75 XP bonus for Erin, Matilda, and Sanae; 50 XP bonus for Dargin and ‘He has no name.’

At Matilda’s mention of the Three Feathers, the lizardfolk squints his eyes and a slight orange tint appears on his throat. ”Hruhhh. I take it you have not seen the Three Feathers, then? They are poison dusk – much smaller than we of the Cold Sun tribes. It is said that that in the time before the hatching of our sires’ sires there was war between the Sky Touchers and the Three Feathers. They tried to claim all of Grandfather’s Spine as their own. Many fell on both sides before peace returned. Now we stay on the western side of the ridge and they stay on the eastern. It is possible that these great insects have destroyed them.”

The lizardfolk’s gaze flicks from person to person during the ensuing conversation, although it is clear that he understands nothing. At Dargin’s translated invitation to share the campfire, he triple nods once again. ”The Spirit Guide honors me. I have not yet earned a full name, but my shell name is Hlal, after the Fifth Celestial Guardian. My axe will serve you until I return to my elders.” He stands, grunting slightly and rubbing his ribs, and retrieves the aforementioned axe. He sits down next to the halfling, still a foot taller than the shaman, and looks at Dargin reverently.

In between their heated discussions, the party manages to set up a camp at the base of the ridge. Kolbek’s supplies provide a quick meal. The evening passes quietly, even comfortably – the cool air at the base of the ridge is a welcome relief from the suffocating oven of the jungle and the stinging, biting insects seem to be less prevalent here. Soon the humanoids and the reptile have departed on their strange nocturnal journey that their vigilant warforged guardians can never understand or accompany them on. Dawn comes all too soon for weary travelers faced with the question of what to do next.

Feel free to continue the conversation. Let me know what your course of action will be in the morning. It appears you have a number of options at this point, including:
* Go with Hlal to find his people
* Continue traveling east to look for the Three Feathers village
* Backtrack south to search for the Three Feathers raiding party

 

[Urko]

Interlude – Dargin dreams

Dargin first knows where he is by the smells. An autumn wind filtering through the kebo grass. The acrid smell of fastieths, drinking from a half-evaporated dank mudhole. Tribex flank, slow roasting in a smokehouse. All signify the endless plains of Talenta.

The sights are stranger. The moons hang low in the sky, like fruits ready to fall from a tree. They move about with languid irregularity, through a sky that pulses with a sickly lavender light. Dargin realizes that Grandfather may well be able to explain the bizarre things he sees. The shaman turns to ask his guardian spirit a question.

And looks across a wasteland covered with the skeletons of countless millions of crows. All moving, shuffling about with tired indifference, irritably bickering with one another in sharp squawks over tiny unidentifiable crawling things. Dargin knows, with the certainty that only comes in dreams, that one of these is Grandfather, who will gladly answer his questions. But if he asks any of the other identical birds, the entire flock will fall upon him and tear him to pieces. Dargin contemplates his dilemma as a million bird skulls turn to stare at him with sightless, empty sockets.

 

[Urko]

Interlude - Erin and Sanae dream

Erin and Sanae find themselves in a disembodied state, floating just above their own sleeping bodies. Dargin is nearby, stirring fitfully against Malk. Hlal's open eyes stare at nothing and his tongue hangs limply from his mouth, its occasional flick the only sign that the lizardfolk is still alive. Eff Flat fiddles quietly with his dagger flutes, piecing together endless combinations of melody. 'He has no name' stands a short distance off, a spear in his hand and a mangy hound pressed desperately against his feet. Matilda sleeps in angry solitude under a tree a little ways beyond.

And there is something else. A huge, terrible shape melts from the dark line of trees, taking form as it draws closer. A random assortment of eyes in a misshapen head; a long, coiling body; two enormous cruel claws. The creature moves silently past Matilda and 'He has no name,' who does not appear to even notice it. The end of its tail swipes across Eff Flat's face, but the copper-skinned bard pays it no heed. With a triumphant growl, it's lobster-like claws open above the helpless paladin and artificer. Ern and Sanae have no voice to shout out a warning, or even to scream in terror. The pinchers close...

And strike a green barrier that suddenly materializes between the monster and its would-be victims. The thing hisses in fury and tries again and is again denied its prey. The green glow grows in size, pushing the creature back, back, beyond any of the sleepers. With a howl of frustration, the creature disperses into the darkness.

 

[Yeoman]

Upon waking Matilda moves a little bit away from the main group to begin her morning exercises, first centering herself the moving into weapon and mobility exercises. After her quick morning regimen she waits until the others are awake then addressed them. "Alright, we should get moving. Hlal's people can't wait forever you know. Besides if we drive the insects from the ridge then nothing should stop the three feathers from returning and ending the raids. So unless there are any more objections Matilda throws a sidelong glance at the nameless warforged, let's finish our preparations and get going."

Matilda turns to Hlal, "Are you doing better today Hlal? Dargin said that was a pretty serious wound you received. Will you be well enough to help free your people this day?"


[sblock]
Name: Matilda d'Orien
Class: Rogue 2 / Psychic Warrior 1 / Fighter 1
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Patron Deity: Dol Dorn
Experience: 7825 / 10000

Str 15 –- (6 pts)
Dex 14 –- (6 pts)
Con 14 -- (6 pts)
Int 12 -- (4 pts)
Wis 14 -- (6 pts)
Cha 08 -- (0 pts)

Hit Points 34
Action Points 7
Armor Class: 19 (+5 Chain Shirt, +2 Heavy Shield, +2 Dexterity)
Touch: 12 (+2 Dexterity)
Flat Footed: 17 (+5 Chain Shirt, +2 Heavy Shield)
Init +2
BAB +2, Grap +4
Speed 30' (base 30', load 45.7/58, Light Armor)
Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +2

+6 Melee, +1 Long Sword, 1d8+3, 19-20/x2, Slashing
+4 Melee or Ranged, Silver Dagger, 1d4+1, 19-20/x2, 10', Piercing or Slashing
+4 Melee or Ranged, Cold Iron Dagger, 1d4+2, 19-20/x2, 10', Piercing or Slashing

Medium, 5'8" tall, 139 Lbs, 28 yrs old
Red hair, Green eyes, Fair skin

Speaks Common, Draconic

Balance: +8 (6 Ranks, +2 Dexterity)
Bluff: +4 (5 Ranks, -1 Charisma)
Climb: +9 (7 Ranks, +2 Strength)
Concentration: +6 (4 Ranks, +2 Constitution)
Diplomacy: +8 (5 Ranks, -1 Charisma, +4 Synergy - Bluff, Sense Motive)
Hide: +7 (5 Ranks, +2 Dexterity)
Jump: +11 (7 Ranks, +2 Strength, +2 Tumble)
Move Silently: +7 (5 Ranks, +2 Dexterity)
Sense Motive: +7 (5 Ranks, +2 Wisdom)
Survival: +4 (0 Ranks, +2 Wisdom, +2 Least Dragonmark)
Tumble: +11 (7 Ranks, +2 Dexterity, +2 Jump)

Feats
Dodge: +1 Dodge bonus to AC vs. 1 opponent.
Least Dragonmark: Dimension Leap 1/day, 40' in distance.
Mobility: +4 Dodge bonus to AC vs. Attacks of Opportunity provoked by movement.
Psionic Dodge: +1 Dodge bonus to AC, when psionically focused.
Weapon Focus (Long Sword): +1 to hit when using a Long Sword.

Human Traits
Humanoid (Human)
+1 Skill Point per level
Bonus Feat at 1st Level
Favored Class (Any)

Special Abilities
-Sneak Attack, +1d6 damage whenever Matilda flanks an enemy or whenever her opponent is denied their Dexterity bonus to AC.
-Trapfinding, Matilda can find traps with a Search DC higher than 20.
-Evasion, If Matilda makes a successful Reflex save for half damage, she instead takes no damage.

Psionics
Power Points: 1
Powers Known: Defensive Precognition

Background
Matilda was the youngest child, in fact she was rather unexpected. Her older brother Samuel was born 3 years before her, and her older sister Carla was born 2 years before her. Things were quite normal in her early childhood, her family was situated in Passage and had a comfortable living as members of House Orien.

When Matilda hit puberty, her perfect little world changed, practically over night. She developed her dragonmark in her 11th year, much to the dismay of her siblings and the wonderment of her parents. For her part, Matilda was indifferent to the mark at first. As time went on, her siblings began to mock and torment her, and she became the obvious favorite of her parents, which only served to deepen the resentment her siblings felt towards her. She had always been a strong-willed child, but she cracked a bit under the pressure. She rebelled against the Mark, choosing to ignore its existence. When that didn't work she took up fighting and made a nuisance of herself.

Throughout her teenage years Matilda threw herself in to her training. She couldn't escape her Mark, so she decided to embrace it and make herself worthy of it. If her siblings were going to taunt her about having a high opinion of herself, she was going to show them she was worth it. If her parents were going to praise her every move, she'd give them something to praise about. And if people were going to expect a lot from her, she was going to give them what they expected and more. However the harder Matilda worked to prove herself worthy of the mark, the more and more her siblings became jealous of their younger sister.

For all her training she did not became a mild-mannered servant of the Mark. Far from it, she was wild, head-strong, abrasive and arrogant. She had quite the chip on her shoulder and raged against the world. For all her skills and talent, she was far from a model student.

Her family got used to her rebellion, and things went relatively smoothly until her siblings decided to leave the house and enlisted in the Aundairan military. Torn between loyalty to her family, and loyalty to the house, Matilda was unable to choose sides, unable to stop them, and ultimately unable to save them.

With the death of her siblings and the multitude of changes that took place in the House after the war ended, Matilda's rebellious streak was no longer an acceptable quirk. Her unwillingness to bow to the House was the basis for her forced transfer from the enclave in Passage. She was sent to the much smaller and less public enclave in Newthrone.

Away from the watchful eyes of the heads of the House, Matilda quickly left the House Enclave and decided to pursue her own goals. What her goals are is unknown, even to her. She only knows that she must find some truth, some path to follow. And it certainly isn't to be found in the House.

Personality
Matilda is considered abrasive by many people. She speaks her mind in a very blunt way, she sugar-coats nothing. She only has respent for those who she considers her equals in physical skill. She does not respect mages or clerics, or those who she considers weak. She has a great deal of respect for other fighters of skill. She has a quick temper and she holds grudges.

Appearance
Fair skinned with deep green eyes, and shoulder length hair a crimson shade of red. Matilda appears very similar to her mother, and in fact many people compare her to her mother (Janice d'Orien, age 56). On the bicep of her left arm is her dragonmark, she makes no attempt to hide it, and usually wears a sleeveless shirt to show off her mark. Normally she dresses in a rather plain type of field wear, accentuated by her wide brimmed hat.


+1 Long Sword, (Right Hip, 4 Lbs) 2,315gp
+1 Mithral Shirt (worn, 12.5 Lbs) 2,100gp
Darkwood Shield (Left Shoulder, 5 Lbs), 257gp
Silver Dagger (small of back, 1 Lb) 22gp
Cold Iron Dagger (small of back, 1 Lb) 4gp
Bedroll (upper back, 5 Lbs) 5sp
Backpack (center back, 2 Lbs) 2gp
House Orien Identification Brooch 75gp
Waterskin - Water (backpack, 4 Lbs) 1gp
Everbright Lantern (backpack, 1 Lb) 212gp
1 week of Trail Rations (backpack, 7 Lbs) 3.5gp
Flint & Steel (backpack) 1gp
6 Potions of Cure Light Wounds (backpack, .6 Lbs) 300gp
Potion of Protection from Evil (backpack, .1 Lb) 50gp
Flask of Alchemist's Fire (backpack, 1 Lb) 20gp
Flask of Holy Water (backpack, 1 Lb) 25gp

Belt Pouch (waist, .5 Lbs) 1gp
Coins: 5gp, 8sp (belt pouch)
Traveling Papers (pouch) 2sp
Identification Papers with Portrait (pouch) 5gp
[/sblock]

 

[Dayspire]

Erin

Erin rises slowly, and sits in her bedroll for some time eating a cold breakfast of dried fruit. Her hair is in disarray, and there are deep shadows beneath her eyes. When she finishes her meal, she polices her area with her usual effeciency. She is obviously deep in thought. Her eyes occasionally wander over to her pack, and the mystery she has held since the beginning of this odd mission.

ooc: As stated, Erin will go with the group decision. She will not waver in her dedication to her missing friends, however - if anyone asks her opinion. Good roleplaying, everyone! I certainly know that Xavier and Borden are gone, but Erin - not so much.

 

[Urko]

Clarification

In your deliberations about what to do next, you may wish to check out the map again. Your current position is close to the southwest corner of the ridge icon.

I also want to remind you of a few facts:
* Kolbek told you, and Hlal can confirm, that the Sky Touchers live north and west of K'Lethka ridge, nearly opposite the direction you have been traveling.
* Gurven speculated that Three Feathers raiders might be camped out nearer to Steadfast Reach, possibly in the darker area to the east of the plantation.
* Further discussion with Hlal makes it clear that his tribe is in no immediate danger from the insects, although they are blocking access to a holy site.

I mention these items not to push you one way or another, but to make sure everyone is clear on what is going on and how things are laid out.

 

[SelcSilverhand]

Dargin first knows where he is by the smells. An autumn wind filtering through the kebo grass. The acrid smell of fastieths, drinking from a half-evaporated dank mudhole. Tribex flank, slow roasting in a smokehouse. All signify the endless plains of Talenta.

The sights are stranger. The moons hang low in the sky, like fruits ready to fall from a tree. They move about with languid irregularity, through a sky that pulses with a sickly lavender light. Dargin realizes that Grandfather may well be able to explain the bizarre things he sees. The shaman turns to ask his guardian spirit a question.

And looks across a wasteland covered with the skeletons of countless millions of crows. All moving, shuffling about with tired indifference, irritably bickering with one another in sharp squawks over tiny unidentifiable crawling things. Dargin knows, with the certainty that only comes in dreams, that one of these is Grandfather, who will gladly answer his questions. But if he asks any of the other identical birds, the entire flock will fall upon him and tear him to pieces. Dargin contemplates his dilemma as a million bird skulls turn to stare at him with sightless, empty sockets.

So many... Dargin whispers softly in his dream. He stands perfectly still, paralyzed with fear as the countless eye sockets of the hungry birds turn to regard him. Grandfather. He can guide me safely in this place. Somewhere among these.. things, but they all look the same! I can sense their hunger, their craving for something from me.

Taking a deep breath, he fights back against rising panic. I cannot trust my sight to choose, nor my ears to hear his voice among the crowd. Their touch is cold, the wind I feel on my face stings with a sandy grit, and it carries with it the smell of the long dead unearthed. Only the soft stirring of the spirit speaks the truth, and only by following it shall my path be made clear. With shaking hands he unwraps his silken belt and places the wide band across his eyes, wraps it thrice, and ties it tight. His legs feel like wood as he forces himself onward towards the waiting crows. He does his best to ignore their angry squawks and the sound of bone rubbing on bone as they scratch at the ground. Focusing inward he seeks the faint tug on his innermost self that will lead him.