Wrenn will bend the light around him, making himself blend into his surroundings, in turn, making him harder to see and to hit. He will also crouch lower, to make himself a smaller target. He will target the first of the four whom have targeted him. He will also Toxify that archer as well.
Camouflage = 99 (+84) = 183!! EDIT: Wait, I saw that Camouflage is a static number. I guess he will attempt to Toxify one of the archers.
Projectile = 88
NOTE: Wrenn does not bend light. He chemically alters the physiology of his skin to camouflage. Also he cannot bend waylines for two things at the same time. As he has already camouflaged himself, I will go with toxicity.
Due to their considerably debilitated condition, it takes over 9 seconds for Oorvid and Askari to siphon life from the two incapacitated enemies lying on the ground with them. In that time, Astrid generates 3 electric shocks, Volki poisons a mind 3 times, Wrenn fires two arrows, and the Amiradthae fire 3 arrows, each.
As the incapacitated foes cannot much resist the loss, Askari feel such a surge of life enter him, that he sudden realizes he will be able to stand to his feet, albeit still injured. Oorvid can stand but barely so.
Before one of the archers can release his first arrow, he is severely shocked with mystical electricity. So much so, that his body convulses and he turns to see if he can determine the cause. He cannot and he suffers two more minor shocks before he is incapacitated.
A second of the archers stumbles in his step and sways like he is drunk. He is not, but he might as well have been, as Volki has altered his brain chemistry. He face-plants into the dirt, unconscious.
Unfortunately for Wrenn, this still leaves 5 archers going head to head with him. The first arrow fired up into the tree is not even close. Wrenn's return fire, however, is spot on. The arrow bores into the chest of the first archer to fire, knocking him backward to the ground. He will no longer be moving. Wrenn is able to release one more arrow, taking out another enemy, as the remainder of the first volley find him.
Wrenn suffers severe damage, he falls from the tree, which compounds the problem, but he is still conscious, though unmoving. The three remaining archers hold their second shot, not thinking that they have a target. They look about them at the decimation about the scene, seeing Askari roll from his back to his feet, standing at ready with sword and shield in hand.
Thinking him to be the only target, they draw their bows.
Feeling a bit irritated by the lack of desired effectiveness of her mystical assaults, Astrid will burst from cover and charge to engage the nearest archer, hoping to at least give Askari a better chance of survival. She will attempt to tackle the archer and flash blind him.
When Askari stands to his feet, Astrid bursts from cover. Since she is uninjured, she is the faster. She manages to tackle one of the three remaining archers, foiling his shot, but the fall does no harm. The mystical flash, however, muddles his mind a bit.
Askari, despite his injuries, reaches another of the remaining archers. They are no match for such physical confrontation. Askari first attacks the archer's bow hand, then his body.
At that time, Volki further confuses the mind of the third functional archer, causing him to turn and run in fear, headlong into the forest.
Not particularly wanting to kill her foe, when the last standing Amiradtha runs, Astrid lets hers up and gestures for him to run, which he does.
Once Wrenn comes to his senses and realizes that not only is he not dead but he is still conscious, there is nothing further for him to do. He lays his head back on the ground with a groan. Oorvid stands, though a bit shakily.
Eight Amiradthae litter the field of battle, four of each gender. One is dead. Three are wounded enough that they would not likely recover before some carnivorous animal were to find them and tear into their incapacitated bodies, though they were still alive. Of the four who will likely recover, one barely shows physical injury and is only unconscious because Volki caused him to be so.
Wrenn will use his leach ability at a distance, on one of the fallen foes who is unconscious, but NOT at death's door. He doesn't want his opponent to die. He just wants to borrow a little health.
Askari will finish the enemies that need it, then help anyone downed in the party. That accomplished, he will tie up any down enemies that are still alive until the group can decide how to proceed.
Astrid pointlessly brushes the new debris, acquired from her tackle, from her clothing. She surveys the battlefield to see how everyone fared. She will lend assistance where needed. "Where is Wrenn? I do not see him."
Oorvid rises to his feet. Not seeing Wrenn in his arboreal perch, he begins to walk that direction. Finding Wrenn lying on the ground, but seeing that he is alive, he turns and walks over to a fallen archer who is not conscious but also not dead. He drags the body over to where Wrenn is laying, drops it, then moves Wrenn's hand over to touch the body. "I know we are of a like mind on this, but he chose to make himself our enemy and he is dying anyway. What you can take will be easier on him than if some animal comes upon him before he is fully gone."
Wrenn for his part finds that he can barely move and cannot speak above a whisper, his skin and clothing no longer camouflaged. With his hand on the body he can sense the ebbing life, though he could sense nothing at a distance.
Askari wonders what Oorvid is doing dragging off one of the fallen, until he realizes where he is going with it. Holding some of his rope, he has yet to tie anyone when Oorvid returns to help check all the bodies and help end those who are not likely to recover in any reasonable time. The only one who appears to be little injured is a female. The two men, easily lift her and bind her to a column of the pergola.
No one being comfortable with using a necromantic talent, very little life was siphoned in order to aid in recovering the injured; as such, Askari, Oorvid, and Wrenn are all still injured, though able to function, and will need down time and food. The almost instantaneous restoration of life when siphoned from another leaves the recovered very hungry.
GM:
Six bodies lie in battlefield array and one enemy is secured in her binding. Players need to decide what is to be done with the fallen, the field, the prisoner, and the need for rest and food.
Astrid searches the grounds for retrievable arrows, hoping Wrenn will lend a hand, since he is the one who needs them. Afterward, she will search the fallen for anything of interest, attempting to analyze any notable trinkets. She will also assist the wounded.
"We really could use the rest and I do not see any real reason to relocate for it. Even if any retaliation is going to come, I think it will take them longer to organize than it does for our injured to recover. I may not be as strong as you two, Askari and Oorvid, but I am almost half again taller than these Amiradthae, and I will help drag those corpses further away before they start to stink and attract unwanted guests."
As soon as Wrenn is able, he will help Astrid gather arrows, as well as helping her gather trinkets which might hold proclivities; he will ignore his extreme hunger for the time being, because he also intends to help carry off the dead. Then, and only then, will he consider stopping for food.
Looking toward the prisoner, he hesitates for a moment.
Wrenn says, "We should see if she can be reasoned with. If she will agree to flee this area, never to return, then we could let her go. Otherwise, we should make her death quick and painless."
Wrenn looks at the prisoner, and repeats his words in her native tongue. He then watches for her reaction.
We all need to rest. Seems like we should have 6-7 hours at least before the ones that ran get back to the main group, and make it back here. I don’t know if they will respond, but it probably wouldn’t be prudent to stay here too long.
If we do release the prisoner, I say we send her down the tunnels. They way we can be sure she won’t be able to know our position or direction.
Forgetting momentarily that the enemy is a newly discovered tribe of Faethrin, the words in Shimadow are almost at a loss, except that she is able to speak a little. She responds, "Me go, yes," and nods her head vigorously.
Askari opens the trapdoor and using mostly gesture he indicates that one free, she is to enter there. She, of course, agrees. Oorvid frees her, though he is ready with his axe should she prove untrustworthy. She shakes her body to get the blood flowing, then goes straight to the opening and climbs down the ladder.
In the normal manner of rendering physical aid, each person is able to help press wounds closed and accelerate the natural healing process. This makes each man even more hungry. Though their bodies are recuperating, a steady throb sets in on each man's head, which all three categorically ignore, because there are tasks to be done.
Astrid and Wrenn find a total of 16 usable arrows, all with Ularin heads. Wren thanks Astrid and uses them to replenish his dwindling supply.
During the process of moving the bodies, the pain in each man's head becomes more than a distraction. The bodies they are moving are dropped, unceremoniously, and vision begins to blur. At almost the same instant, all three men fall to the ground, unconscious. No amount of effort by the two ladies has any effect. They are left with no recourse but to guard them, hoping no enemy returns so soon.
Afternoon wears into night. The men have not moved from where they had fallen, except for what Astrid and Volki could do to make them lay more comfortably. Fortunately, the sounds of the forest indicate that all has returned to normal.
The women get little sleep that night, but morning finds the men whole and waking. The hunger has gone from a dire need to an unavoidable necessity, and all three ravenously devour all available dried rations, both those of the party and those recovered from the enemy. More food will be needed; but for now, at least the head pain is gone and thoughts of other things can be attended.
Apparently the enemy is not to be so rash as to rush back upon an enemy that has proven to be formidable, for no sign of any other people has yet been detected. The items that looked to be of interest have been collected.
GM:
A decision should now be considered as to relocating the party or the bodies, but relocating both is a bit moot, under the suspicion of a time constraint. The items can be analyzed later.
Wrenn says, "Leave them; when their friends return, they can do with the bodies as they please, according to their practices and traditions. We have everything of value. We have our health. We should move on, and do a little hunting. Then we can explore some of the other tunnels, or even seek the others out, if we've a mind to. What say all of you?"
Astrid agrees with the unfortunate decision and speaks to the group. "I know these pergolas are square, but I have noticed that they all seem to be situated with regard to geometric direction. We know East and West from the movement of the Daylight (sun). The tunnels underneath are straight. My point is that if we walk this way, which is due North, we should reach the collapsed keep in about 3 hours. I think we will find better trapping their, because of the artificial water source by each keep."
Askari nods Staying here does us no good, and that place seems as good as any. I won’t be much help at hunting game, but I can definitely help Wren process any kills
While the party travels, each member decides upon an item to fondle while walking. This process does not detract from traveling unless discovery is reached, at which point, the person simply stops walking. Realizing the stop, movement is continued within a few seconds.
The Amiradthae are more prone to carry items of bone than other things, animal parts being readily available in a forest. Each person is able to recognize that several items harbor a proclivity for waylines, but only Astrid and Volki have the willpower necessary to identify that proclivity.
GM:
To save space items were added to the party collections
Astrid was correct in her memory. This particular keep is almost completely collapsed and 2 trees had fallen into the artificial pond, which now has vegetation growing in it, though the water still proves to be drinkable, especially since Volki or Wrenn can readily purify small quantities.
Snares are placed along game trails leading to the water source; and since everyone can bend waylines at a distance, party members separate themselves during the night for a greater potential of collecting larger game.
No one manages to collect anything very large, but quite a number of rodents are acquired. During the planned Tenday of recovery, the fourth day brings something unexpected, other people. They come from the East, not the direction of the known enemy.
Sensing the potential of danger, as the party members move themselves into the semblance of a combat formation, there is a distinct tattoo of metallic items being tapped together. It is Volki who remembers this sound. It is a signal of peaceable approach from another clan of Shimadow. She uses her two knives to answer back.
A group of 8 young Shimadow reveal themselves and cautiously approach. The fact that they are 8 instead of 10 suggests some experience in travel. One young man speaks. "We are of the Red Squirrel clan. We see that you have fist claim to this site. We wish to refill our water and we will move on."
Though it seems underwhelming, Shimadow clans name themselves for various rodents of the forest and will adorn themselves with collections of those animals. It is related to their belief system. Wrenn is the one who realizes the response. Thinking quickly, he announces that the party is of the groundhog clan with a recruited Ansylin. He gestures to allow water.
GM:
As everyone except Askari is pale skinned and Volki and Wrenn are Shimadow, the group is deferring to the party as if they are a clan of better status. This affords opportunity not only for developmental points but also for information. A group will to communicate is not predisposed to combat.
Askari: full wellness
Shirt: 33 - 3 = 30 - 3 = 27 Astrid: full wellness
Mantle: 24
Stones: 20 Oorvid: full wellness
Tunic: 61 - 6 = 55 Volki: full wellness
Tunic: 45 Wrenn: full wellness
Tunic: 57
Ularin Arrows: 22
As the common language of the party has become that of the Shimadow, Astrid has no difficulty addressing the other group. "You came from farther East. You are not employed by the gray color Faethrins? This is good. We have been assaulted by two other clans and were forced to end several of their members. Why would a Shimadow work for another tribe, like disposable soldiers?"
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EDIT: Wait, I saw that Camouflage is a static number. I guess he will attempt to Toxify one of the archers.
