The Closed Eye, part II (DM: covaithe, Judge: garyh)

[Atriden]

As the pair surveys the area, Hacker picks up a stout stick, walks up to Atreus, and smacks him on the back of the head.

In an instance, before the blow even hits Atreus, he spins 180 degrees and separates the twig with a quick blow from his shiny black dagger.
" Hacker! "
Atreus takes a step back stating that he is not interested in a violent conflict and listens to what he has to say before responding.
" I have no desire to fight you. I have more important issues to attend to which undermines any needs you might have. Nor will I apologise for my choice of words" he says coldly
The rogue slides his dagger into place " My request was that you would listen which you clearly chose to ignore. Luckily no danger has presented its self but you risked getting us all exposed due to a mere formality. I suggest that it would not be wise to do so again “

"I can see you two got in a lot of trouble over here," she says, examining the greenery nearby. "Hey, look!" She skips off to a patch of forest and points at a narrow trail. "Looks like something has been moving this way - maybe some kind of a beastie! I like beasties!" She smiles broadly.

"And, um, maybe this is where your enemies ran off to?" she adds sheepishly.

" Hmm, they couldn't have gotten far " he inspects the greenery Kathalia pointed out while turning to the subject still at hand "This is important Hacker and Kathalia, the things me and Woe want to accomplish" and he turns to scout towards the direction Kathalia pointed out " So I have a business proposition. What ever findings we might encounter we shall share equally except for our friend’s property. I am sure that there will be plenty to go about since the ones we fight are well funded. I will explain later, if you are interested” he turns to face Hacker “ If you want my respect, you must earn it since it is not given freely. I shall on the other hand lighten my tone and attempt to communicate better to avoid any further misunderstandings in the future“ and Atreus awaits Hackers response.

 

[nerdytenor]

I have a business proposition. What ever findings we might encounter we shall share equally except for our friend’s property. I am sure that there will be plenty to go about since the ones we fight are well funded.

"Oooh! Oooh! Nasty beasties AND sparklies?!?!?!? What are we waiting for?!?!?!? Oh, I'm getting so excited I..." Kathalia's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets in excitement. She jumps up and down once, twice...

GAZUMPF!

On the third jump, the elf known as Kathalia disappears, and in its place stands a wolf. Kathalia's backpack tumbles to the ground a second later. The wolf is brown and black primarily, but it is dotted with grey and sickly pink-white patches. It has a thin, mean, feral quality about it and it is very, very ugly.

The only hints that this creature is Kathalia in another form are its smell (unchanged), its eyes (also unchanged, and very unnerving set as they are in a wolf's head), and a small wooden collar, which appears to be her totem colied in a circle.

The wolf immediately starts down the trail, sniffing and turning about as it goes (OOC Nature check 13 (doh - nat 1))

 

[KenHood]

" I have no desire to fight you. I have more important issues to attend to which undermines any needs you might have. Nor will I apologise for my choice of words" he says coldly.

Hacker takes a drag on his cigarette, then holds the smoldering stick before his eyes, studying the embers. Finally, he looks at Atreus, "Well, then I reckon you can go ***** yourself."

The gnome turns to Woe. "Woe, it's a pleasure to meet a kindred spirit. Were it not for your unfortunate choice of a companion, I think we could have made one hell of a team."

"Kathalia... always a pleasure. Expect me when you see me."

Hacker turns and walks off.

 

[nerdytenor]

"Kathalia... always a pleasure. Expect me when you see me."

Kathalia howls mournfully at Hacker's words, clearly able to understand despite her wolf form. As Hacker turns to leave, she leaps forward at the gnome, pulling on his ankles and trying to turn him back around.

 

[KenHood]

Hacker cringes as Kathalia tugs at him. "Aw...dammit...Don't do that sad dog thing with me. You KNOW how I feel about dogs, with their waggin' tails and floppy ears and doggone doggy eyes and..."

Hacker's bottom lip trembles and tears shrink-wrap his eyes.

"I once had me an old yeller dog, and I loved that sonnavubitch, and he up and went got the rabies, and I had to take my bow and--"

Hacker stifles his emotions, gnome-fully standing straight.

"All right, gawd-*****, but just for you and Woe and my old yeller dog."

With that he follows Kathalia into the woods, stopping to turn back to Atreus. "And as for you, pig-*****, until I get my apology or you fight me like a gnome, don't expect ***** from me. I swear, if you catch on fire, I'll drink a gallon of lantern oil, just so I can piss on your body and fuel the flames."

Hacker vanishes into the brush. Stealth Check (1d20+8=24)

[Cast Ghost Sound.]

A voice behind Atreus says, "Who's the sneaky one, now, you dumb-**** son of a *****?"

 

[Dunamin]

On the third jump, the elf known as Kathalia disappears, and in its place stands a wolf. Kathalia's backpack tumbles to the ground a second later. The wolf is brown and black primarily, but it is dotted with grey and sickly pink-white patches. It has a thin, mean, feral quality about it and it is very, very ugly.

Woe's jaw drops open in horror and he looks down at his groin with a shrinking sensation. From down below, Woezilla looks back in shock, shakes its head, and mumbles:

“Aww, hell no!”

Woezilla rolls a hide check (including -4 penalty for Large size): 9

Atreus and Hacker hate each other

Keeping ready to intercept any brawling, Woe pats both of them on the back.

“Now, now, fellas, this is all needlessly dramatic, but I’m glad to see you both decide to play nice… Or at least, refrain from any funny business that will prompt me to dole out headaches worse than the hangovers you get from drinking ogres under the table - I would know. Which is a far better way to get any bad blood out of the way, I might add.”

“So now that we're all one hip, happy, and friggin' harmonious family, let's get on with the birthday party.”

Woe keeps up as they proceed down the trail, following Kathalia’s lead.

“Our late chums were done in by insubstantial spirits, and we should consider the possibility that they’ve risen as their undead spawn. I wouldn’t put money on that being the case, though - as Kath here implies their corpses were probably just dragged away by our sleazy foes, since these signs mark the passing of solid creatures.”

Stealth 12, Perception 10

 

[Atriden]

Ignoring Hackers insulting words, he silently follows the others into the woods.

Stealth:17 and Perception: 20

 

[KenHood]

A Tarantino-esque flashback...

“Or at least, refrain from any funny business that will prompt me to dole out headaches worse than the hangovers you get from drinking ogres under the table - I would know."

"Aw, now don't you start with the threats and bossin' about, too. I challenged ****-puller to a righteous duel or gentleman's apology. It ain't my fault he's too much of a ***** sissy *****-grabber to fight me like gnome, nor that he's too much of a weasel-faced ***** ***** ***** to apologize."

 

[covaithe]

Kathalia leads the way into the woods, sniffing about, but constantly distracted by the all-too-audible bickering from those behind her. If not for Atriden pointing out a cracked twig, it's possible that she may have lost the trail entirely. But with that aid, she presses on.

[sblock=Skill challenge! Where did the bodies go?] 8 successes before 4 failures.

Primary skills: Nature, Perception. These count as successes or failures in the challenge.

Secondary skills: Use your judgement. I'll use these checks either to provide bonuses -- or penalties -- to subsequent primary checks, or possibly to affect things that don't directly impact the skill challenge. If you try to do something too implausible or irrelevant, I'll adjust the DC to suit.

Also, each round, you all need to make a stealth checks as well as whatever you're doing with respect to the challenge.

Status: 2 success, 2 failure. Hacker still needs to go this round, and I need a stealth check from Kathalia.

[/sblock]

 

[nerdytenor]

Kathalia appears to be making no attempt to be discreet, barking and baying as the others bicker, her mottled fur providing a marked contrast to the trees nearby (OOC: Stealth 5. Critical fail!)