S1: The Strange Case of Aif Jenkins' Farm (E13 judge) - Concluded

[SlagMortar]

"Damn!" Beamer swears as he see Toler escaping, and let's loose a desparation crossbow shot. He steps down from Banion's back, thanking his friend. He thinks aloud, "Maybe he'll die of fright if he sees Rafferty again." He dismisses the disguise spell and the adrenaline quickly fades leaving him sagging with his numerous bite wounds. He gingerly gets down from the platform and plods back to he center of the compound, dejected.

OOC:
crossbow at 2 range increment (1d20+5=14, 1d6=2)
Manz, thanks for all the rules work on Beamer's last action. For some reason I thought the link with a familiar let the caster locate it, but I guess that's not exactly right. Lot's of high rolls in that bunch. Oh well, I have the feeling we'll get another chance at them.
Spells remaining:
0th: 5, 1st: 3, 2nd: 2
Spells in effect: Mage armor (4 hours), AC 19, Bless (16 rounds), Disguise Self (10 minutes)
HP: 6/17

 

[El Jefe]

OoC: Just wanted to say I'll have sporadic internet access between now and 1/2/07. If I can log on, I will, but otherwise NPC Boog as seems reasonable.

And Happy Holidays to one and all!

 

[Patlin]

Once Beamer is off his back, Banion will try to tag the fleeing opponent with a thrown mindblade.

ooc: By recharging his mindblade, I meant that Banion will usethis ability:

Psychic Strike (Su)
As a move action, a soulknife of 3rd level or higher can imbue his mind blade with destructive psychic energy. This effect deals an extra 1d8 points of damage to the next living, nonmindless target he successfully hits with a melee attack (or ranged attack, if he is using the throw mind blade ability). Creatures immune to mind-affecting effects are immune to psychic strike damage. (Unlike the rogue’s sneak attack, the psychic strike is not precision damage and can affect creatures otherwise immune to extra damage from critical hits or more than 30 feet away, provided they are living, nonmindless creatures not immune to mind-affecting effects.)

A mind blade deals this extra damage only once when this ability is called upon, but a soulknife can imbue his mind blade with psychic energy again by taking another move action.

Once a soulknife has prepared his blade for a psychic strike, it holds the extra energy until it is used. Even if the soulknife drops the mind blade (or it otherwise dissipates, such as when it is thrown and misses), it is still imbued with psychic energy when the soulknife next materializes it.

 

[Manzanita]

Beamer and Banion attempt last ditch efforts to bring down the fleeing assassin. But shooting is made extra-difficult by the forest which he has now entered. He is soon gone.

Regrouping, the team takes stock. Bill's brother, Tom, his mother Mary and his sister emerge and begin to grieve. They soon retreat to their quarters. Reinert is found to have passed out in a hammock, and appears to have simply slept through the entire wolf encounter.

The group returns to the stable where they find their enemy's mounts. There are two light warhorses, with saddle, bit & bridle, saddlebags, and miscelaneous equipment. Nothing of particular value. Only one thing unusual is unearthed. Pinned to the inside of one of the saddlebags is an iron symbol, about as big as the palm of a man's hand. It depicts a curved blade grasped in the talons of a bird. The bird seems wounded.

Knowledge(geography) DC 12 [sblock] The equipment seems to have been made in Monemvassia.[/sblock]

Wolf howls are heard occationally over the next few hours, but fade away soon enough. The group sets watches, but no other threats emerge.

As Boog lies in his hammock reflecting upon the events of the day, he dwells on his brief intrusion into Tole's mind. Reading the mind is not like reading a book. Although words often appear, there are also images, emotions, and urges. Focusing on the images that he saw, he realizes with a start that the face Toler had in his mind when thinking of Torvin Akenthrasher was the face of the knight who was leading the military convey Toler was in heading for Braeholl that Boog saw in Rivensblight.

That night Boog's dreams are disturbing. He dreams he is locked in deadly combat with a legion of dark humanoid figures. Though he accounts well for himself, he has soon exaughsted his psionic energy. He finds himself fighting only with his staff and dagger. He is knocked to the ground, and is helpless to avoid a great blade thrust towards his chest....

He awakes. It is morning. Mary is too upset to make breakfast. The group has to satisfy itself on cold biscuits and apples. There's milk, too, if anyone is inclined to take it from the cow.

 

[Patlin]

"Trouble seems to have found us all, though its still unclear to me from what source this new threat stems. What do you say, shall we join together to face this challenge?"

 

[Boddynock]

Eusebius calls on the grace of the Shining One to bring healing to both Beamer and himself.

[sblock=OOC]Casts CLW & 2 CMW (as needed) on Beamer & 2 CMW on himself.[/sblock]
After sitting up late with the grieving family, Eusebius is up again at sunrise. Going outside, he strips to the waist and moves with increasing speed through a series of martial forms. Bathed in the light of the rising sun, the sweat glistening on his still-wounded torso, he finishes a climactic sweep of blocks and strikes with a triumphant, rising flurry of blows which snap the air. He then bows low to the sun's orb and goes inside again, slipping his shirt over his head.

Once inside, he seeks out Beamer and prays for any further healing the brave halfling might require. After healing his own wounds, he goes to the kitchen, picks up a pair of pails, and heads outside once more. Half an hour later he returns, carrying pails brimming with milk from the cow, which he has also fed and watered.

[sblock=OOC]Eusebius has a total of 3 CLW and 4 CMW which he can use. He's loath to use the wand of healing unless absolutely necessary.

As for the cow - he grew up on a farm.[/sblock]

 

[SlagMortar]

Beamer graciously accepts the healing. "Thank you, Father. You fought valiantly. I'm sorry we couldn't save Bill." Beamer waves him off after the initial spell saying, "Your god has taken care of the worst of it. Save the rest for yourself." He praises the others courage and ability and apologizes for allowing Toler to escape. "Banion, once again you have saved my life. Thank you, friend."

He awakens late (unless someone wakes him), worn out from the previous night's events. I need to learn some more defensive spells. This stabbing and biting is pretty annoying.

OOC:
cure light wounds (1d8+2=7)
Beamer refuses the cure minor wounds.
HP: 13/17

 

[Boddynock]

[sblock=OOC]Is anyone else wounded? If not, Eusebius will bring himself back up to strength.

Since Beamer refused the CMW's, Eusebius is now at 14/30 hp after the Cures. Another 4 hp regained from a night's sleep - that OK, Manz? - brings him to 18/30.

Once I hear from the rest of you - too lazy to go back over the thread and work out who's hurt and who's not! - I'll write up the other Cures for E.[/sblock]

 

[Manzanita]

feel free to roll your own healing rolls.

Reinert wakes up & doesnt' believe the wolf attack until he sees the dead bodies. He is reluctant to speak about it much after that. He packs up and indicates he'll be heading into The Silverwood with his wagon before lunch.

 

[El Jefe]

"What do you say, shall we join together to face this challenge?"

Upon waking and ensuring his mind was as focused and deadly as any weapon, Boog's attention was drawn to the one halfling. "You are good at finding trouble", he grinned with satisfaction. "I'm with Eusebius and Julianna", he stated with a jerk of his head in their direction. "You can come if they'll have you."

"Hey, pay attention, I've news", he announced to the entire group. "You seek Torvin Akenthrasher", he called to Eusebius. "Well, I've met him. I met these two", indicating Beamer and Banion, "when they were trying to tag along with a troop of soldiers marching from Rivenblight to Braeholl. Toler was in that troop. Torvin was leading it."