Hairy Minotaur
Explorer
Yay! I called it. 
Something tells me Grisham might like Feln a lot now.
Something tells me Grisham might like Feln a lot now.
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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
The Realms of Enlightenment: The Grey Companions
- Thread starter Jon Potter
- Start date
Jon Potter
First Post
Hairy Minotaur said:Yay! I called it.
Yep. It was a very 'Vade' thing to do.
In a party of Lawfuls, his player (when deciding to do this) said, "What is wrong with a little chaos here and there?"
Something tells me Grisham might like Feln a lot now.
How so? There's no way that you could have guessed what Feln returned as; it's not even on the Reincarnation chart. Actually, I fudged the rules a little here since I rolled "DM's Choice". So what if he's technically got the Giant type and Giant's aren't on the chart; it's DM's Choice, dammit! That means something in my game!
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
Besides I could let you have ALL the size Large fun, HM.
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Jon Potter
First Post
A bit of a change
I edited the last post to add a bit of contexual framing.
I just added a bit at the beginning and a bit at the end to better tie Vade's solo events together with the rest of the group's. Nothing really changes, but it'll make what happens next flow a little better.
Please forgive my retro-fitting.
I edited the last post to add a bit of contexual framing.
I just added a bit at the beginning and a bit at the end to better tie Vade's solo events together with the rest of the group's. Nothing really changes, but it'll make what happens next flow a little better.
Please forgive my retro-fitting.
Jon Potter
First Post
Funeris said:Forgiven
Sorry, Funeris. It'll be a few days at the very least.
But stay tuned; I do update regularly.
Jon Potter
First Post
[Realms #305] Reward & Recrimination
"Briarhopper!" Karak bellowed, flecks of spittle lodging in his beard. "Where is that blasted hobbit!? When I get my hands on him I am going to snap his neck like a rabbit!"
"The reincarnation of your friend was not the boon you sought," the Great Oak sighed. The tone of the tree's comments made it unclear whether it was asking or telling them.
"Our halfling made his decision without our consent, but we will stand behind him," Ledare answered.
"Do nae speak for me, lassy!" Karak fumed through fiercely gritted teeth. "How dare Vade just decide to bring back Feln from the underworld. Why that is where every warrior aspires to be, and I know Feln at least was a warrior when he left this plane."
"I do not approve of Vade acting without us. That is not how a team functions," Ixin added. "Morier has reminded us many times of the dangers of striking out on our own without the group." The Eldritch Warrior just nodded sagely and Ixin went on. "That being said, Vade was right in my opinion. I for one welcome back our friend Feln and hope he can understand our intentions were positive in waiting."
"Bah!" Karak spat. "Hobbits have nae business messing with the dead. Why they have but half a business messing with the living. He stole the chance for us to obtain items of power to defeat chaos. Has he nae noticed we seem to be behind the dark powers at every step. Plonius is taken, killed, and most likely possessed and we can nae stop it. Feln dies along with half our number being swallowed by the beast o' chaos and we are barely able to stop it. If'n it were nae for the electric power of the albino we be all gristle by now. We need information and weapons if we are to stand against this dark tide."
"Returning your friend and ally in the fight against evil and Chaos was not aid enough?" the tree asked and there seemed to be the faintest hint of annoyance in its tone.
Karak harrumphed. "I miss Feln too, but we must worry as to the living too!" he grumbled. Ledare was quick to spot the souring mood of the conversation and did her utmost to turn it around.
"You are an old and wise soul. You know both our hearts and our purpose. You can strengthen our small stance against the powers of darkness," she said to the tree in her most diplomatic tone. "You have given Feln a priceless gift, to be sure. However, we must beg for further assistance. We ask for guidance and that you favor us with the tools to speed our travels. Will you help us in our fight against Aphyx?"
There was a pause during which the only sound was the pleasant rustling of the Great Oak's vibrant green leaves. Then it spoke. "My reward to you was to be two companions returned from Purgatorium," it said. "Only Feln of the Gelgian Brotherhood has been so returned. My debt to you remains unfulfilled."
"Oh, aye?" Karak asked, his eyes glinting with the prospect of further reward. He held up his waraxe and grinned, "Then I ask that ye bless my axe to be a better weapon against Chaos."
None of the others said anything to stop Karak. Perhaps it was because they saw the earnestness in the dwarf's request. Perhaps it was because they could sense that Karak had been rehearsing this speech in his head. But either way, they let him continue uninterrupted.
"As you may know a dwarf an' his blade be closer than chalak to chalak," he told Great Oak, holding the axe up in both hands "I have been with my axe since its birth in the master forges of my clan. I have cared for it, protected if from the weather and elements, and cleansed it when it has cut Chaos. But, it be unable to hurt the creatures of true Chaos or those that are magical. This be a fine blade but it not magical. I wish it to be magical so I can continue to bring the fight to Chaos. So I nae need to choose another weapon simply to fight the foe. I ask you humbly, to bless my axe in your spirit so it may fight true as any dwarven blade." Karak lowered himself awkwardly to his knees and raised his head to look up at the massive green canopy of leaves overhead.
If any of them saw the irony in asking a tree for help in making a better axe, they did not voice it.
"Any enchantment I could place upon your weapon would be but temporary in nature, Karak, son of Kignar," the tree told him. "My power does not extend to things that deal death... even death to followers of the Rot Queen." Karak seemed deflated, and he looked sorrowfully at his axe, his shoulders slumping beneath his heavy armor. "For that you will need to seek the help of a mage or a priest of the warrior gods," Great Root went on. "I am sorry. But all I can offer you is enough coin to pay for such an enchantment."
Karak nodded and got to his feet once more. He turned to look at Ixin, Ledare and Morier. "As I stand on this hollowed ground, even a dwarf can appreciate its holiness in the wood. As you know, me chalak was a cleric of Shaharizod," the dwarf said gravely. Taking a deep breath, he went on. "I do know and say openly now that I am able to commune with my goddess directly. But no cleric be I. I am a warrior for Shaharizod, yes. But I do not aspire to wear the robes of the priest or the scale mail of the Battleguard. I aspire to wear the armour and the axe in Shaharizod's name as her warrior."
"I be but a simple fighter blessed with some of Shaharizod's skills. These skills I will use to aid in our fight against Chaos," he continued. "I can sense that some balance has been returned to the world with a goblin tribe turning to good and the followers of Flor being brought here. But there be more to do and I say we continue this fight!" He raised his axe overhead in a rallying salute and growled, "With the blessings of Shaharizod I'll carry it into the depths of Chaos itself to restore the balance to our realm!"
"I will have some coins brought from the temple treasury," Great Oak said. "And then my debt to you will be fulfilled." Karak nodded, but Morier got a concerned look on his face.
"Can lend us guidance as to where our efforts might best be concentrated to help stop the evil?" he asked quickly and the tree rustled its leaves in reply.
"Alas, my power is re-awakening but slowly, Morier Tulien," the Great Oak admitted. "However, I can tell you that there is a sense of unease growing within The Green beyond the mountains to the south," the tree added.
"In Pellham," Ledare observed.
"Yes, that is the name men have given the land there," Great Oak confirmed. "I cannot yet divine the exact nature of the troubles in that distant place, but as the Aronerai School begins to attract more Florians and druids to the Termlane forest, my powers too shall grow. Then I will pinpoint the Taint that festers in Oerune's breast and together we will cut it away."
The Great Oak had further agreed to beseech the Beastlord, Hirrumm, to aid them in their travels southward. Then he told them where it was that Vade and Feln had gotten to: an area of sacred standing stones once used for religious rites and meditation. One of the goblins lead them down a cobbled path that was nearly invisible beneath its growth of moss and grasses. It was the same path by which they'd first entered the ruins of the school and they recognized the wide plaza of standing stones from their previous trek through the area. It occupied a flat area between the hill on which most of the school was built and a bluff that dropped off into the level of the forest proper. Vade was clearly visible sitting on one of the rock benches that occupied the center of the hemisphere of standing stones.
Sight of the halfling instantly fanned the embers of Karak's anger and he bustled down the path at a trot, bellowing at Vade as he came.
"What made you believe you could sneak off and make that decision by yourself, hobbit! Who annointed you godling to make the decision of life and death for another?" he roared. "What if you've condemned Feln to living. What if Feln nae like the form he be in! Did you every think of that? What if he nae be himself did you think about those consequences?"
Vade looked at the dwarf and rolled his eyes before activating his Ring of Invisibility and disappearing from sight. Karak spat and shook with anger.
"You'll nae escape me tha' easy, hobbit!" he bellowed loudly enough that a flock of birds was startled from a nearby tree. "If you be human I'd understand you do nae know the consequences of short thought out actions, but you be halfling and live longer. You should know better, Vade!"
"I will remember that when you die, Karak. A team does not leave someone behind when they can save them," Vade's disembodied voice answered from somewhere nearer the standing stones. "I chose to save Feln. He is my friend!"
"An' what is that supposed to mean?" Karak growled. "I miss the orcblood, same as you. But-"
"You wanted to take gold instead of getting him back!" Vade cried. "You're not his friend! You have no right to say you miss him! No right!"
"Vade, I do not believe Karak was right to joke about choosing treasure over Feln, but I do believe he was joking nevertheless," Ixin said, stepping up to stand beside Karak. "What is important now is that our team is whole and that is how we fight best."
"I just wanted Feln back," Vade's voice came again from a spot near the stones guarding the edge of the clearing.
"I know, Vade," Ledare added as she joined the dwarf and the drakeling. "Your heart was in the right place. But we are together in this fight against evil, and you are to remember that even when personal desires stand in the way. We act together for the greater good or not at all."
"Show yerself, hobbit!" Karak grumbled as he stomped forward toward the spot that he thought Vade must be. "Hiding'll nae save ye from answerin' for what ye've done!" The dwarf rounded the nearest column of stone and slammed face-first into the hairy belly of an ogreling who was skulking behind the stone. He looked up, irritated and bellowed "Outta my way, oaf! You are blocking out my sun!"
The half-ogre shook his huge head and smirked at the dwarf - an expression made somewhat disturbing by the tusk-like fangs protruding from the corners of his mouth. "I see my death has done nothing to change you for the better, Karak," Feln said.
"Briarhopper!" Karak bellowed, flecks of spittle lodging in his beard. "Where is that blasted hobbit!? When I get my hands on him I am going to snap his neck like a rabbit!"
"The reincarnation of your friend was not the boon you sought," the Great Oak sighed. The tone of the tree's comments made it unclear whether it was asking or telling them.
"Our halfling made his decision without our consent, but we will stand behind him," Ledare answered.
"Do nae speak for me, lassy!" Karak fumed through fiercely gritted teeth. "How dare Vade just decide to bring back Feln from the underworld. Why that is where every warrior aspires to be, and I know Feln at least was a warrior when he left this plane."
"I do not approve of Vade acting without us. That is not how a team functions," Ixin added. "Morier has reminded us many times of the dangers of striking out on our own without the group." The Eldritch Warrior just nodded sagely and Ixin went on. "That being said, Vade was right in my opinion. I for one welcome back our friend Feln and hope he can understand our intentions were positive in waiting."
"Bah!" Karak spat. "Hobbits have nae business messing with the dead. Why they have but half a business messing with the living. He stole the chance for us to obtain items of power to defeat chaos. Has he nae noticed we seem to be behind the dark powers at every step. Plonius is taken, killed, and most likely possessed and we can nae stop it. Feln dies along with half our number being swallowed by the beast o' chaos and we are barely able to stop it. If'n it were nae for the electric power of the albino we be all gristle by now. We need information and weapons if we are to stand against this dark tide."
"Returning your friend and ally in the fight against evil and Chaos was not aid enough?" the tree asked and there seemed to be the faintest hint of annoyance in its tone.
Karak harrumphed. "I miss Feln too, but we must worry as to the living too!" he grumbled. Ledare was quick to spot the souring mood of the conversation and did her utmost to turn it around.
"You are an old and wise soul. You know both our hearts and our purpose. You can strengthen our small stance against the powers of darkness," she said to the tree in her most diplomatic tone. "You have given Feln a priceless gift, to be sure. However, we must beg for further assistance. We ask for guidance and that you favor us with the tools to speed our travels. Will you help us in our fight against Aphyx?"
There was a pause during which the only sound was the pleasant rustling of the Great Oak's vibrant green leaves. Then it spoke. "My reward to you was to be two companions returned from Purgatorium," it said. "Only Feln of the Gelgian Brotherhood has been so returned. My debt to you remains unfulfilled."
"Oh, aye?" Karak asked, his eyes glinting with the prospect of further reward. He held up his waraxe and grinned, "Then I ask that ye bless my axe to be a better weapon against Chaos."
None of the others said anything to stop Karak. Perhaps it was because they saw the earnestness in the dwarf's request. Perhaps it was because they could sense that Karak had been rehearsing this speech in his head. But either way, they let him continue uninterrupted.
"As you may know a dwarf an' his blade be closer than chalak to chalak," he told Great Oak, holding the axe up in both hands "I have been with my axe since its birth in the master forges of my clan. I have cared for it, protected if from the weather and elements, and cleansed it when it has cut Chaos. But, it be unable to hurt the creatures of true Chaos or those that are magical. This be a fine blade but it not magical. I wish it to be magical so I can continue to bring the fight to Chaos. So I nae need to choose another weapon simply to fight the foe. I ask you humbly, to bless my axe in your spirit so it may fight true as any dwarven blade." Karak lowered himself awkwardly to his knees and raised his head to look up at the massive green canopy of leaves overhead.
If any of them saw the irony in asking a tree for help in making a better axe, they did not voice it.
"Any enchantment I could place upon your weapon would be but temporary in nature, Karak, son of Kignar," the tree told him. "My power does not extend to things that deal death... even death to followers of the Rot Queen." Karak seemed deflated, and he looked sorrowfully at his axe, his shoulders slumping beneath his heavy armor. "For that you will need to seek the help of a mage or a priest of the warrior gods," Great Root went on. "I am sorry. But all I can offer you is enough coin to pay for such an enchantment."
Karak nodded and got to his feet once more. He turned to look at Ixin, Ledare and Morier. "As I stand on this hollowed ground, even a dwarf can appreciate its holiness in the wood. As you know, me chalak was a cleric of Shaharizod," the dwarf said gravely. Taking a deep breath, he went on. "I do know and say openly now that I am able to commune with my goddess directly. But no cleric be I. I am a warrior for Shaharizod, yes. But I do not aspire to wear the robes of the priest or the scale mail of the Battleguard. I aspire to wear the armour and the axe in Shaharizod's name as her warrior."
"I be but a simple fighter blessed with some of Shaharizod's skills. These skills I will use to aid in our fight against Chaos," he continued. "I can sense that some balance has been returned to the world with a goblin tribe turning to good and the followers of Flor being brought here. But there be more to do and I say we continue this fight!" He raised his axe overhead in a rallying salute and growled, "With the blessings of Shaharizod I'll carry it into the depths of Chaos itself to restore the balance to our realm!"
"I will have some coins brought from the temple treasury," Great Oak said. "And then my debt to you will be fulfilled." Karak nodded, but Morier got a concerned look on his face.
"Can lend us guidance as to where our efforts might best be concentrated to help stop the evil?" he asked quickly and the tree rustled its leaves in reply.
"Alas, my power is re-awakening but slowly, Morier Tulien," the Great Oak admitted. "However, I can tell you that there is a sense of unease growing within The Green beyond the mountains to the south," the tree added.
"In Pellham," Ledare observed.
"Yes, that is the name men have given the land there," Great Oak confirmed. "I cannot yet divine the exact nature of the troubles in that distant place, but as the Aronerai School begins to attract more Florians and druids to the Termlane forest, my powers too shall grow. Then I will pinpoint the Taint that festers in Oerune's breast and together we will cut it away."
The Great Oak had further agreed to beseech the Beastlord, Hirrumm, to aid them in their travels southward. Then he told them where it was that Vade and Feln had gotten to: an area of sacred standing stones once used for religious rites and meditation. One of the goblins lead them down a cobbled path that was nearly invisible beneath its growth of moss and grasses. It was the same path by which they'd first entered the ruins of the school and they recognized the wide plaza of standing stones from their previous trek through the area. It occupied a flat area between the hill on which most of the school was built and a bluff that dropped off into the level of the forest proper. Vade was clearly visible sitting on one of the rock benches that occupied the center of the hemisphere of standing stones.
Sight of the halfling instantly fanned the embers of Karak's anger and he bustled down the path at a trot, bellowing at Vade as he came.
"What made you believe you could sneak off and make that decision by yourself, hobbit! Who annointed you godling to make the decision of life and death for another?" he roared. "What if you've condemned Feln to living. What if Feln nae like the form he be in! Did you every think of that? What if he nae be himself did you think about those consequences?"
Vade looked at the dwarf and rolled his eyes before activating his Ring of Invisibility and disappearing from sight. Karak spat and shook with anger.
"You'll nae escape me tha' easy, hobbit!" he bellowed loudly enough that a flock of birds was startled from a nearby tree. "If you be human I'd understand you do nae know the consequences of short thought out actions, but you be halfling and live longer. You should know better, Vade!"
"I will remember that when you die, Karak. A team does not leave someone behind when they can save them," Vade's disembodied voice answered from somewhere nearer the standing stones. "I chose to save Feln. He is my friend!"
"An' what is that supposed to mean?" Karak growled. "I miss the orcblood, same as you. But-"
"You wanted to take gold instead of getting him back!" Vade cried. "You're not his friend! You have no right to say you miss him! No right!"
"Vade, I do not believe Karak was right to joke about choosing treasure over Feln, but I do believe he was joking nevertheless," Ixin said, stepping up to stand beside Karak. "What is important now is that our team is whole and that is how we fight best."
"I just wanted Feln back," Vade's voice came again from a spot near the stones guarding the edge of the clearing.
"I know, Vade," Ledare added as she joined the dwarf and the drakeling. "Your heart was in the right place. But we are together in this fight against evil, and you are to remember that even when personal desires stand in the way. We act together for the greater good or not at all."
"Show yerself, hobbit!" Karak grumbled as he stomped forward toward the spot that he thought Vade must be. "Hiding'll nae save ye from answerin' for what ye've done!" The dwarf rounded the nearest column of stone and slammed face-first into the hairy belly of an ogreling who was skulking behind the stone. He looked up, irritated and bellowed "Outta my way, oaf! You are blocking out my sun!"
The half-ogre shook his huge head and smirked at the dwarf - an expression made somewhat disturbing by the tusk-like fangs protruding from the corners of his mouth. "I see my death has done nothing to change you for the better, Karak," Feln said.
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Hairy Minotaur
Explorer
Which version of Half-Ogre did you use? As far as source or LA adjustment.
Jon Potter
First Post
The "official" version
We're using the updated 3.5 half-ogre from Races of Destiny.
Although now that I think about it, I could have used the way cool half-ogre from Bastards & Bloodlines. I've sort of forgotten about that book in the last 6 months or so. Too bad. I missed an opportunity there, for sure. I'll have to break it out and take another look - there're bound to be some choice feats in there.
Hairy Minotaur said:
We're using the updated 3.5 half-ogre from Races of Destiny.
Although now that I think about it, I could have used the way cool half-ogre from Bastards & Bloodlines. I've sort of forgotten about that book in the last 6 months or so. Too bad. I missed an opportunity there, for sure. I'll have to break it out and take another look - there're bound to be some choice feats in there.
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Jon Potter
First Post
[Realms #306] Chaos Strikes Back!
"What!?" Karak grumbled, craning his neck to peer up at the ogreling's disturbingly savage face. "What manner of beast is this?"
"Beast?" the half-ogre grimaced, his sharp fangs protruding disquietingly. His head drooped and his eyes turned away; he looked embarrassed by his appearance. "I am not an animal, dwarf."
"Feln? Is that you?" the dwarf exclaimed as he took a startled step backward. "Why, by the gods' beards, you are even uglier than before!"
"You should talk!" Vade's voice taunted from somewhere nearby.
"Karak! What he looks like isn't important!" Ixin admonished as she stepped up beside him. She looked up at the ogreling and smiled warmly. "What is important now is that our team is whole and that is how we fight best!"
"But, jus' look at 'im!" Karak went on, waving his waraxe at Feln. "Orcblood, what have you gotten youself into now? Why, now you be a little giant! First you test my patience with orcish racial tension, now you go to the other side of the ale house and become a giant?"
"Karak!" Ixin said again. "Didn't Bisayo say that there was no way to predict what form he would return in? Feln had no choice in that. Although my understanding is that you did have a choice about whether or not to come back at all. Is that right?"
"Yes," Feln muttered. "At least, I think so. I don't quite remember what happened after... being swallowed." A slight shiver seemed to pass through the half-ogre's overly muscled body at the memory.
"I am glad to see you and I thank you for your sacrifice," Ixin told him and Ledare stepped up beside her and offered her hand to Feln.
"Yes, Feln. Welcome back to the land of the living," the Janissary said. "I am sorry for your experience in the belly of that beast." The ogreling regarded her and the tremor that moved through her face when she mentioned the Chaos Elemental seemed to reassure him somehow. He took her hand, swallowing it and a third of her forearm in his huge fist.
"I thank you for bringing me back," he growled in a sullen voice. "I know it was a difficult decision. Even in this new body I am unsure if it was the right thing to do."
"It was!" Vade's disembodied voice said. He was somewhere above them, now.
"I hope the pain of your former life is far behind you now," Ledare said gently.
Karak poked him in the belly with his waraxe. "Are you really you?" he asked as if he were convinced that this was all some sort of halfling trick. "Can you do combat moves behind that big belly of yours?" Feln shied away from the prodding weapon.
"I have practiced some of my Sevom and I feel like a new born babe just learning how to walk," he admitted. He moved his arms awkwardly through some of the familiar martial forms that they had all seen Feln practice every morning."It is very disconcerting."
"Clearly your new form will take getting used to," Ixin said and spread her leathery wings to convey her understanding.
"Oi! We are a walking animal spectacle," Karak sighed with a shake of his head. He turned and stalked off to sit on one of the stone benches. "How I ever got mixed up with this lot, I will nae never know. Oi, Malak where are ye now, I wonder, to see this? Remember the times we walked the frozen peaks and encountered the spirits of the monastery? Now those were times! We be frozen to the core, and you barely able to cast a spell, me just learning the way of the axe. Oi, those were the times, I tell you!"*
They turned away from Karak and focused there attention back on Feln. The half-ogre reached down with one of his oversized arms and grabbed a large piece of deadwood. It was half-again as long as Ledare was tall and nearly as big around as Vade. Feln snapped it like kindling. "There are of course some advantages to this body," he grinned. "I am willing to travel anywhere to kill off this Chaos scum. They have bested me once, but rest assured, I will stick tight with the group now and I will not leave you in battle again!"
"See, Karak!" Vade taunted as he deactivated the Ring of Invisibility and appeared perched on the sloping expanse of Feln's shoulder. He was held easily in place by the Slippers of Spider Climbing. It looks to me like we have just got the best weapon of all!" Karak harrumphed and clanked down off the bench. He walked back to join them.
"Lest you wonder where I stand on the issue, I'll say again: You should have nae gone after this on your own," the dwarf told him, scowling up at the halfling overhead. "But it be the way of haflings to meddle where they should nae be meddlin'."
"You know, Karak, your immediate plea for the blessing of your axe is exactly the kind of rash act for which you are criticizing Vade," Ledare interjected. "No wonder we get no group consensus on our decisions. There's barely time to react before someone in this party stands up and speaks for himself!" Karak harrumphed again.
"I spoke o' my axe last night, lassie, while we was debatin' between reincarnation and help from Great Oak," he grumbled. "No one else had anythin' specific to ask for so I figgered it be time to speak up for myself."
"Uh... While we're on the subject: I am desperate for some gear," Feln said, indicating the rough loincloth he wore - which looked like several goblin blankets strung on a length of stout rope. "Do we have any of that platinum left? I hate to be a further burden, but I require weapons of some kind."
"Don't worry, old buddy. I will find you some stuff," Vade comforted, patting Feln's sloping forehead with a tiny hand. The half-ogre smiled and gently lifted Vade off his shoulder and put him on the ground at his feet. The halfling barely came up to his knee.
"Thank you again, Vade," he said, adding, "I will understand if it could not be recovered, but were you able to grab my dagger - the crested one. It is my only link to the group of men responsible for the death of my brethren."
"Feln, everything you had was chewed, swallowed, and digested," the halfling apologized.
"What about that Hat of Disguise?" the half-ogre persisted, a look of depression settling uncomfortably on his face. "Did anyone recover any of my gear? I had some nice things."
"There was nothing left," Vade explained. "Except your foot."
Feln looked down at the unfamiliar feet he now wore and his expression of sadness deepened.
"I do have your comb!" Vade said brightly, hoping to cheer Feln up. "There was some of your hair on it. It's what the Great Oak used to bring you back!"
Feln just sighed, but Ledare bent down and whispered to Vade, "I sure do hope you've got a little something of mine in your numerous pockets, just in case."
Vade grinned and hugged her tightly. "I do now," he said with a wink.
It was as they were heading back up the slope from the sacred stones that they heard the rumbling crash of falling rock and the terrified screams of dying goblins. Their goblin guide squealed in alarm and started running up the path toward the sound with the VQS not far behind, wondering what was going on. They didn't have to wonder for long.
The cobbled path leveled out at the top of the top of the bluff and meandered in a gentle arc to the right where it skirted the monolithic black wall on the left. It was at this point that a secondary path led off toward a barely-glimpsed building that stood mostly-cloaked in vegetation. One wall of the building had exploded outward, and blocks of cut stone were strewn along the path. The crumpled and bloodied body of a goblin lay on the path as well, steam rising from it mysteriously.
But there was no time to ponder the implications of the goblin's corpse, for an instant later, an abomination lurched out of the underbrush surrounding the damaged building. It was quite unlike anything any of them had seen before. The horrid creature was vaguely toadlike, with a broad mouth and bulbous eyes. Unlike a toad, however, it had only two muscular legs which supported it from beneath, and its feet ended in claws like a bird's. From its back sprouted two writhing tentacles that ended in mouths - looking like nothing so much as eyeless snakes. It was as large as a warhorse, and the stench of acid and burnt flesh hung around it like a cloud.
As the VQS watched in horror, it stalked forward, scooped the dead goblin up with its tentacles and stuffed the limp body into its tooth-filled maw. It's throat worked and the body disappeared down its gullet even as it turned o face the party. Its tentacles snapped at the air threateningly and it took two ponderous steps toward them before one of the toothsome limbs whipped in their direction and belched forth a stream of acid that splattered across Feln's broad torso.
The half-ogre screamed as the acid seared away his flesh in a huge bloody swathe from hip to shoulder. The cry was answered by an unholy barking sound as a second of the creatures crashed out of the underbrush a few lengths behind the first.
"Yonk aapsûr gîlizub!" it croaked in a language that seemed to claw painfully at the ears. Only Ixin could understand them, thanks to the Persistent Tongues power of Arivexoth. And understanding that it said, "More meat for my dinner," was in no way an improvement when it was clear that you were said meat.
-------------------------------------------
*Karak's and Malak's earliest recorded adventures were chronicled in a story hour on the old boards. I'm not sure if it still exists or not.
"What!?" Karak grumbled, craning his neck to peer up at the ogreling's disturbingly savage face. "What manner of beast is this?"
"Beast?" the half-ogre grimaced, his sharp fangs protruding disquietingly. His head drooped and his eyes turned away; he looked embarrassed by his appearance. "I am not an animal, dwarf."
"Feln? Is that you?" the dwarf exclaimed as he took a startled step backward. "Why, by the gods' beards, you are even uglier than before!"
"You should talk!" Vade's voice taunted from somewhere nearby.
"Karak! What he looks like isn't important!" Ixin admonished as she stepped up beside him. She looked up at the ogreling and smiled warmly. "What is important now is that our team is whole and that is how we fight best!"
"But, jus' look at 'im!" Karak went on, waving his waraxe at Feln. "Orcblood, what have you gotten youself into now? Why, now you be a little giant! First you test my patience with orcish racial tension, now you go to the other side of the ale house and become a giant?"
"Karak!" Ixin said again. "Didn't Bisayo say that there was no way to predict what form he would return in? Feln had no choice in that. Although my understanding is that you did have a choice about whether or not to come back at all. Is that right?"
"Yes," Feln muttered. "At least, I think so. I don't quite remember what happened after... being swallowed." A slight shiver seemed to pass through the half-ogre's overly muscled body at the memory.
"I am glad to see you and I thank you for your sacrifice," Ixin told him and Ledare stepped up beside her and offered her hand to Feln.
"Yes, Feln. Welcome back to the land of the living," the Janissary said. "I am sorry for your experience in the belly of that beast." The ogreling regarded her and the tremor that moved through her face when she mentioned the Chaos Elemental seemed to reassure him somehow. He took her hand, swallowing it and a third of her forearm in his huge fist.
"I thank you for bringing me back," he growled in a sullen voice. "I know it was a difficult decision. Even in this new body I am unsure if it was the right thing to do."
"It was!" Vade's disembodied voice said. He was somewhere above them, now.
"I hope the pain of your former life is far behind you now," Ledare said gently.
Karak poked him in the belly with his waraxe. "Are you really you?" he asked as if he were convinced that this was all some sort of halfling trick. "Can you do combat moves behind that big belly of yours?" Feln shied away from the prodding weapon.
"I have practiced some of my Sevom and I feel like a new born babe just learning how to walk," he admitted. He moved his arms awkwardly through some of the familiar martial forms that they had all seen Feln practice every morning."It is very disconcerting."
"Clearly your new form will take getting used to," Ixin said and spread her leathery wings to convey her understanding.
"Oi! We are a walking animal spectacle," Karak sighed with a shake of his head. He turned and stalked off to sit on one of the stone benches. "How I ever got mixed up with this lot, I will nae never know. Oi, Malak where are ye now, I wonder, to see this? Remember the times we walked the frozen peaks and encountered the spirits of the monastery? Now those were times! We be frozen to the core, and you barely able to cast a spell, me just learning the way of the axe. Oi, those were the times, I tell you!"*
They turned away from Karak and focused there attention back on Feln. The half-ogre reached down with one of his oversized arms and grabbed a large piece of deadwood. It was half-again as long as Ledare was tall and nearly as big around as Vade. Feln snapped it like kindling. "There are of course some advantages to this body," he grinned. "I am willing to travel anywhere to kill off this Chaos scum. They have bested me once, but rest assured, I will stick tight with the group now and I will not leave you in battle again!"
"See, Karak!" Vade taunted as he deactivated the Ring of Invisibility and appeared perched on the sloping expanse of Feln's shoulder. He was held easily in place by the Slippers of Spider Climbing. It looks to me like we have just got the best weapon of all!" Karak harrumphed and clanked down off the bench. He walked back to join them.
"Lest you wonder where I stand on the issue, I'll say again: You should have nae gone after this on your own," the dwarf told him, scowling up at the halfling overhead. "But it be the way of haflings to meddle where they should nae be meddlin'."
"You know, Karak, your immediate plea for the blessing of your axe is exactly the kind of rash act for which you are criticizing Vade," Ledare interjected. "No wonder we get no group consensus on our decisions. There's barely time to react before someone in this party stands up and speaks for himself!" Karak harrumphed again.
"I spoke o' my axe last night, lassie, while we was debatin' between reincarnation and help from Great Oak," he grumbled. "No one else had anythin' specific to ask for so I figgered it be time to speak up for myself."
"Uh... While we're on the subject: I am desperate for some gear," Feln said, indicating the rough loincloth he wore - which looked like several goblin blankets strung on a length of stout rope. "Do we have any of that platinum left? I hate to be a further burden, but I require weapons of some kind."
"Don't worry, old buddy. I will find you some stuff," Vade comforted, patting Feln's sloping forehead with a tiny hand. The half-ogre smiled and gently lifted Vade off his shoulder and put him on the ground at his feet. The halfling barely came up to his knee.
"Thank you again, Vade," he said, adding, "I will understand if it could not be recovered, but were you able to grab my dagger - the crested one. It is my only link to the group of men responsible for the death of my brethren."
"Feln, everything you had was chewed, swallowed, and digested," the halfling apologized.
"What about that Hat of Disguise?" the half-ogre persisted, a look of depression settling uncomfortably on his face. "Did anyone recover any of my gear? I had some nice things."
"There was nothing left," Vade explained. "Except your foot."
Feln looked down at the unfamiliar feet he now wore and his expression of sadness deepened.
"I do have your comb!" Vade said brightly, hoping to cheer Feln up. "There was some of your hair on it. It's what the Great Oak used to bring you back!"
Feln just sighed, but Ledare bent down and whispered to Vade, "I sure do hope you've got a little something of mine in your numerous pockets, just in case."
Vade grinned and hugged her tightly. "I do now," he said with a wink.
It was as they were heading back up the slope from the sacred stones that they heard the rumbling crash of falling rock and the terrified screams of dying goblins. Their goblin guide squealed in alarm and started running up the path toward the sound with the VQS not far behind, wondering what was going on. They didn't have to wonder for long.
The cobbled path leveled out at the top of the top of the bluff and meandered in a gentle arc to the right where it skirted the monolithic black wall on the left. It was at this point that a secondary path led off toward a barely-glimpsed building that stood mostly-cloaked in vegetation. One wall of the building had exploded outward, and blocks of cut stone were strewn along the path. The crumpled and bloodied body of a goblin lay on the path as well, steam rising from it mysteriously.
But there was no time to ponder the implications of the goblin's corpse, for an instant later, an abomination lurched out of the underbrush surrounding the damaged building. It was quite unlike anything any of them had seen before. The horrid creature was vaguely toadlike, with a broad mouth and bulbous eyes. Unlike a toad, however, it had only two muscular legs which supported it from beneath, and its feet ended in claws like a bird's. From its back sprouted two writhing tentacles that ended in mouths - looking like nothing so much as eyeless snakes. It was as large as a warhorse, and the stench of acid and burnt flesh hung around it like a cloud.
As the VQS watched in horror, it stalked forward, scooped the dead goblin up with its tentacles and stuffed the limp body into its tooth-filled maw. It's throat worked and the body disappeared down its gullet even as it turned o face the party. Its tentacles snapped at the air threateningly and it took two ponderous steps toward them before one of the toothsome limbs whipped in their direction and belched forth a stream of acid that splattered across Feln's broad torso.
The half-ogre screamed as the acid seared away his flesh in a huge bloody swathe from hip to shoulder. The cry was answered by an unholy barking sound as a second of the creatures crashed out of the underbrush a few lengths behind the first.
"Yonk aapsûr gîlizub!" it croaked in a language that seemed to claw painfully at the ears. Only Ixin could understand them, thanks to the Persistent Tongues power of Arivexoth. And understanding that it said, "More meat for my dinner," was in no way an improvement when it was clear that you were said meat.
-------------------------------------------
*Karak's and Malak's earliest recorded adventures were chronicled in a story hour on the old boards. I'm not sure if it still exists or not.
Last edited:
Jon Potter
First Post
[Realms #307] Return of the VQS
Vade gulped loudly enough to be heard over Feln's roar of pain, activated the Ring of Invisibility and disappeared.
Feln clutched as his dissolving flesh with one hand and bellowed in pain and frustration. He took a single step forward before he felt Ixin tugging at his arm.
"Drink this!" she urged, handing him a vial that she had purchased from Morier's adopted father back in Hillville Junction. He took the tiny flask and poured the contents down his throat before continuing to advance on the toad-like monsters. A luminous sheen seemed to spread across his body for a moment before it sank invisibly into his skin, cloaking the half-ogre in Mage Armor.
Ledare thought of her goddess, and let Flor's pure goodness fill her with clarity. Then she drew Ravager from the sheathe across her back and started forward as well. "Divide the two creatures between the spell casters. Ixin, stick with me," she commanded. "Concentrate on dispatching the creature I'm fighting. Morier, you're on the other one."
"Right!" Ixin said. As soon as Feln had taken the potion, she had pulled a scroll from her Cloak of Many Pockets. She unfurled it then and read its spell trigger aloud, "Contego!" As the scroll disappeared n a small pyrotechnic display, the Weave hardened in front of Ixin creating an invisible plane of force to shield her from attack.
"Well now!" Karak growled. "It seems the beasts o' chaos can penetrate this sanctuary. It be time for dwarven steel!" He hefted his waraxe and spat on the blade before rushing grimly forward in a clatter of polished steel plate.
Ledare advanced to a position near, but not directly beside Feln. She hoped that she and the half-ogre would attract attention from two different opponents. As Feln assumed a combat stance, Ledare raised her shield and brought Ravager into position, ready to strike if she were engaged.
A moment later she got her chance as the first monster slurped down the last of the broken goblin and came at her in a rush. She brought the bastard sword to bare as the creature descended on her, and its saw-toothed edge ripped across the thing's snout an instant before it's jaws clamped down on Ledare's shield. The Janissary wrestled it free of the beast's maw and readied herself for another attack.
The second monster lurched out onto the path and plodded gracelessly toward Feln. Despite Feln's best attempts to prevent it from doing so, it bit down on the half-ogre and only Ixin's Mage Armor spell protected him from suffering a nasty injury. The toad-like creature bellowed in frustration for an instant before Karak rushed through the space between Feln and Ledare and slammed into it from the side. His axe blade opened a wound just above its leg that ought to have been considerably more severe than it appeared to be.
Morier watched the initial rush of the battle and wove his fingers through the final somatic components of a spell. "Fidus attingo!" he intoned and felt the familiar rush of a True Strike fill his swordarm with insight. He drew his greatsword and trotted forward to take his place in the battle.
Feln took a tactical step to readjust himself relative to Karak and willed his body to tap into its inner reserves. He felt a surge of adrenaline course through his body and went to work on the thing. Under the best of circumstances, being pummeled by a half-ogre is not a position one wants to find oneself. This half-ogre, however, had trained in the Shadow Warrior style under the Gelgian Masters; he knew how to hit quickly and where to hit to cause the most damage. He sent a flurry of blows into the creature's flank, driving his fists twice into sensitive nerve clusters. The blows were the sort that would have crippled a normal opponent - Feln knew that instinctively - but this unnatural creature seemed only slightly wounded by the assault.
It was enough to cause the thing to turn and devote more attention to the half-ogre, and Karak aimed to make it regret that decision. Where Feln had drawn on his training and discipline to to push himself into a state of enhanced combat effectiveness, Karak simply released the primal warrior lurking within himself, grabbed his waraxe in both hands and sent himself into a whirling frenzy. He slashed at the beast's side and felt his axe cut a notch in its ribs as the blade carved into its flesh. It howled in pain and spun back around and wavered between its two opponents.
Ixin moved forward to within 30 feet of the melee and drew upon the Weave. "Magicus telum!" she chanted and pointed at the creature locked in a death struggle with Ledare. Two bolts of pure force leapt from her outstretched fingers, altered course to avoid the Janissary and slammed into the toad-thing's chest. Both missiles dissipated harmlessly upon impact.
"Spell resistance!" she cursed.
Ledare saw the Magic Missiles strike without effect, but paid them no mind; she wouldn't have known what it meant even if she'd been devoting her full attention to it. As it was, she was concentrating on striking at the madly waving tentacles that seemed to be everywhere in the air around her. She slashed out twice with Ravager, but, while both attacks were close, neither managed to connect with the flailing limbs.
Her opponent retaliated by clamping its mouth down onto her left leg. She felt its teeth find an opening above her greave and the painful burning told her that its saliva was just as caustic as the vitriol it had spit earlier at Feln. An instant later, one of the toothsome tentacles darted in below her swordarm and delivered a similar - though much less severe - bite to her side. Ledare knew she couldn't take too much more punishment like that.
The creature facing off against Karak and Feln split its attacks between the two, favoring Karak with its main bite attack and a nip from one of its tentacles. Only the latter struck home, savaging the dwarf's left thigh and simultaneously burning him with its acidic spittle. Karak was not impressed. Thanks to Feln's hyper-attuned reflexes, he was able to avoid the attack sent his way entirely.
As soon as the half-ogre had dodged out of the way, Morier stepped in and brought his electrified greatsword down in a massive overhead chop to the thing's head. It was the sort of blow that should have split the head in twain and then fried the remnants with lighting. But again the punishment the creature was receiving seemed out of proportion to the amount that was being dealt it. It seemed not to feel the electricity at all.
Vade appeared briefly as he stabbed his glowing dagger at the creature fighting Ledare, but his blade was turned aside by the creature's impressive natural armor. Frustrated, the halfling activated the Ring again and disappeared.
Again, Ixin attempted a Magic Missile spell, and again the monster's Spell Resistance overcame her magic.... leaving Ledare essentially fighting on her own.
She was doing well, however. Twice Ravager slashed out at her foe and twice it tasted flesh. Her first blow, in fact, severed the snout off one of the snapping tentacles, sending a fountain of oily, black blood spraying into the sky. It struck at her anyway, but missed poorly, unable to bypass her combat expertise.
Feln had similar luck attacking his enemy, and only one of Karak's axe blows got through. It caused pain enough to elicit a cry from the beast as well as attract all of its attacks. Its many snapping jaws couldn't penetrate Karak's thick dwarven plate, however.
Morier stepped back a pace and began casting True Strike again.
Feln, simply continued his assault on the thing's flank. He had complained about his new body feeling clumsy and awkward, but anyone watching his display of martial prowess would have argued the contrary. He delivered a pair of thunderous punches to the creature that made it stagger momentarily, its eyes unfocused and ichor dripping from its lips. Then it fell onto its side. Dead.
Karak wasted no time lamenting the loss of his opponent. He turned and charged across the ten feet separating him from the the creature fighting Ledare. His axe sank deeply into its exposed belly, drawing forth a shriek of pain as it turned on this new foe.
Ledare seized the distraction, altered her stance and slashed out again. This time Ravager sliced into the thing's tentacle nearer the base and chewed through the limb as if it were made of smoke. The limb dropped to the ground and writhed about in the grass while a geyser of blood spurted from the ruptured stump. The thing twitched and staggered as pain lanced through its body, then it fell to the ground spasming in shock. Ledare altered her grip and stabbed the bastard sword point first into the thing's chest and Morier stepped forward, burying three feet of his greatsword in its belly for good measure.
"What in the Nine Hells are these things?" Feln asked as he felt the surge of adrenalin leave him.
"Some sort o' chaos acid frog, I'm guessin'" Karak suggested as he too felt the weakness that always followed in the wake of his frenzy.
"It's speech - when it first appeared - I could understand it," Ixin said as she walked up to the battle. "It wanted to eat us." Ledare snorted derisively and yanked her bastard sword free of the carcass.
"I've been dinner for one beast in this lifetime, and that's one too many," she said with a grimace.
Vade gulped loudly enough to be heard over Feln's roar of pain, activated the Ring of Invisibility and disappeared.
Feln clutched as his dissolving flesh with one hand and bellowed in pain and frustration. He took a single step forward before he felt Ixin tugging at his arm.
"Drink this!" she urged, handing him a vial that she had purchased from Morier's adopted father back in Hillville Junction. He took the tiny flask and poured the contents down his throat before continuing to advance on the toad-like monsters. A luminous sheen seemed to spread across his body for a moment before it sank invisibly into his skin, cloaking the half-ogre in Mage Armor.
Ledare thought of her goddess, and let Flor's pure goodness fill her with clarity. Then she drew Ravager from the sheathe across her back and started forward as well. "Divide the two creatures between the spell casters. Ixin, stick with me," she commanded. "Concentrate on dispatching the creature I'm fighting. Morier, you're on the other one."
"Right!" Ixin said. As soon as Feln had taken the potion, she had pulled a scroll from her Cloak of Many Pockets. She unfurled it then and read its spell trigger aloud, "Contego!" As the scroll disappeared n a small pyrotechnic display, the Weave hardened in front of Ixin creating an invisible plane of force to shield her from attack.
"Well now!" Karak growled. "It seems the beasts o' chaos can penetrate this sanctuary. It be time for dwarven steel!" He hefted his waraxe and spat on the blade before rushing grimly forward in a clatter of polished steel plate.
Ledare advanced to a position near, but not directly beside Feln. She hoped that she and the half-ogre would attract attention from two different opponents. As Feln assumed a combat stance, Ledare raised her shield and brought Ravager into position, ready to strike if she were engaged.
A moment later she got her chance as the first monster slurped down the last of the broken goblin and came at her in a rush. She brought the bastard sword to bare as the creature descended on her, and its saw-toothed edge ripped across the thing's snout an instant before it's jaws clamped down on Ledare's shield. The Janissary wrestled it free of the beast's maw and readied herself for another attack.
The second monster lurched out onto the path and plodded gracelessly toward Feln. Despite Feln's best attempts to prevent it from doing so, it bit down on the half-ogre and only Ixin's Mage Armor spell protected him from suffering a nasty injury. The toad-like creature bellowed in frustration for an instant before Karak rushed through the space between Feln and Ledare and slammed into it from the side. His axe blade opened a wound just above its leg that ought to have been considerably more severe than it appeared to be.
Morier watched the initial rush of the battle and wove his fingers through the final somatic components of a spell. "Fidus attingo!" he intoned and felt the familiar rush of a True Strike fill his swordarm with insight. He drew his greatsword and trotted forward to take his place in the battle.
Feln took a tactical step to readjust himself relative to Karak and willed his body to tap into its inner reserves. He felt a surge of adrenaline course through his body and went to work on the thing. Under the best of circumstances, being pummeled by a half-ogre is not a position one wants to find oneself. This half-ogre, however, had trained in the Shadow Warrior style under the Gelgian Masters; he knew how to hit quickly and where to hit to cause the most damage. He sent a flurry of blows into the creature's flank, driving his fists twice into sensitive nerve clusters. The blows were the sort that would have crippled a normal opponent - Feln knew that instinctively - but this unnatural creature seemed only slightly wounded by the assault.
It was enough to cause the thing to turn and devote more attention to the half-ogre, and Karak aimed to make it regret that decision. Where Feln had drawn on his training and discipline to to push himself into a state of enhanced combat effectiveness, Karak simply released the primal warrior lurking within himself, grabbed his waraxe in both hands and sent himself into a whirling frenzy. He slashed at the beast's side and felt his axe cut a notch in its ribs as the blade carved into its flesh. It howled in pain and spun back around and wavered between its two opponents.
Ixin moved forward to within 30 feet of the melee and drew upon the Weave. "Magicus telum!" she chanted and pointed at the creature locked in a death struggle with Ledare. Two bolts of pure force leapt from her outstretched fingers, altered course to avoid the Janissary and slammed into the toad-thing's chest. Both missiles dissipated harmlessly upon impact.
"Spell resistance!" she cursed.
Ledare saw the Magic Missiles strike without effect, but paid them no mind; she wouldn't have known what it meant even if she'd been devoting her full attention to it. As it was, she was concentrating on striking at the madly waving tentacles that seemed to be everywhere in the air around her. She slashed out twice with Ravager, but, while both attacks were close, neither managed to connect with the flailing limbs.
Her opponent retaliated by clamping its mouth down onto her left leg. She felt its teeth find an opening above her greave and the painful burning told her that its saliva was just as caustic as the vitriol it had spit earlier at Feln. An instant later, one of the toothsome tentacles darted in below her swordarm and delivered a similar - though much less severe - bite to her side. Ledare knew she couldn't take too much more punishment like that.
The creature facing off against Karak and Feln split its attacks between the two, favoring Karak with its main bite attack and a nip from one of its tentacles. Only the latter struck home, savaging the dwarf's left thigh and simultaneously burning him with its acidic spittle. Karak was not impressed. Thanks to Feln's hyper-attuned reflexes, he was able to avoid the attack sent his way entirely.
As soon as the half-ogre had dodged out of the way, Morier stepped in and brought his electrified greatsword down in a massive overhead chop to the thing's head. It was the sort of blow that should have split the head in twain and then fried the remnants with lighting. But again the punishment the creature was receiving seemed out of proportion to the amount that was being dealt it. It seemed not to feel the electricity at all.
Vade appeared briefly as he stabbed his glowing dagger at the creature fighting Ledare, but his blade was turned aside by the creature's impressive natural armor. Frustrated, the halfling activated the Ring again and disappeared.
Again, Ixin attempted a Magic Missile spell, and again the monster's Spell Resistance overcame her magic.... leaving Ledare essentially fighting on her own.
She was doing well, however. Twice Ravager slashed out at her foe and twice it tasted flesh. Her first blow, in fact, severed the snout off one of the snapping tentacles, sending a fountain of oily, black blood spraying into the sky. It struck at her anyway, but missed poorly, unable to bypass her combat expertise.
Feln had similar luck attacking his enemy, and only one of Karak's axe blows got through. It caused pain enough to elicit a cry from the beast as well as attract all of its attacks. Its many snapping jaws couldn't penetrate Karak's thick dwarven plate, however.
Morier stepped back a pace and began casting True Strike again.
Feln, simply continued his assault on the thing's flank. He had complained about his new body feeling clumsy and awkward, but anyone watching his display of martial prowess would have argued the contrary. He delivered a pair of thunderous punches to the creature that made it stagger momentarily, its eyes unfocused and ichor dripping from its lips. Then it fell onto its side. Dead.
Karak wasted no time lamenting the loss of his opponent. He turned and charged across the ten feet separating him from the the creature fighting Ledare. His axe sank deeply into its exposed belly, drawing forth a shriek of pain as it turned on this new foe.
Ledare seized the distraction, altered her stance and slashed out again. This time Ravager sliced into the thing's tentacle nearer the base and chewed through the limb as if it were made of smoke. The limb dropped to the ground and writhed about in the grass while a geyser of blood spurted from the ruptured stump. The thing twitched and staggered as pain lanced through its body, then it fell to the ground spasming in shock. Ledare altered her grip and stabbed the bastard sword point first into the thing's chest and Morier stepped forward, burying three feet of his greatsword in its belly for good measure.
"What in the Nine Hells are these things?" Feln asked as he felt the surge of adrenalin leave him.
"Some sort o' chaos acid frog, I'm guessin'" Karak suggested as he too felt the weakness that always followed in the wake of his frenzy.
"It's speech - when it first appeared - I could understand it," Ixin said as she walked up to the battle. "It wanted to eat us." Ledare snorted derisively and yanked her bastard sword free of the carcass.
"I've been dinner for one beast in this lifetime, and that's one too many," she said with a grimace.
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