The Second Draconic War - III

[Sallera]

"Coin, hm? A curious find. If these vials are magical, they would make sense as some sort of payment from our mysterious worg-recruiter, but what use would they have for gold? Do they trade with the outside world?" Kern fixes an arcane gaze on the vials as Luis hands them over, shaking his head with a sigh. "At least we would seem to have proof enough that they were bought. I only hope the Patriarch's last words were but spite and not prophecy, and that the Matriarch will honour our arrangement. Do any of our escort yet breathe? We would be better received, I think, if we do not return alone."

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HP: (1d4+2)[3]

Casting Detect Magic to examine the vials. Spellcraft checks, if needed:
(1d20+12)[17]
(1d20+12)[21]
(1d20+12)[26]
(1d20+12)[32]
(1d20+12)[18]
(1d20+12)[32]

[Strangie]

Luis sort of freezes for a moment, raising an eyebrow and glancing toward the pile of assorted worg bodies on the battlefield. Hmm... you know, I didn't bother to check, unfortunately. We can look to be sure, but I wouldn't bank on there being any survivors.

[Scorer]

@Kern

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You now know that those 20 vials are potions of different sorts.

(From now on, you will be able to identify potions up to level 5 automatically, so remember me if I forget )

10 of them are CURE LIGHT WOUNDS
1 INVISIBILITY
4 BULL's STRENGTH
2 CURE MODERATE WOUNDS
1 REMOVE CURSE
1 REMOVE DISEASE
1 FLY


Also, remember to choose Action Points mode for Kern.

@Milo

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Yes, Animal HP is also rolled, so you got nice HP

@Luis

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After looking a while, you notice that one of the worg escorts is still breathing, but unconciouss

[Strangie]

Luis, after poking around the bodies a bit, finds one of the escorts. ... ah ha! Here! This one yet breathes. So they all aren't going to take a dirt nap after all...

[hustlertwo]

Beast survived all on its own, must be pretty hardy. Or is the foolish one that dashed its head against a rock during the fight? Perhaps it merely knocked itself out. In any case...

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If it is the next day, Drace uses a Lay on Hands point on the beast. If not, he'll roll a Heal check.

[Scorer]

Not yet next day...

[hustlertwo]

(1d20+6)[13] Heal check.

[Sallera]

"Well, it would seem we have several stored healing spells here, although most are weak. Bring it over here once you've tended it, and if it does not wake on its own, we can do something about it on the morrow." Kern divides the vials, sorting them into bundles and passing them around. "These are all healing, these will increase your strength; this will break a curse, and this heal sickness. If we can recover on our own, then I suppose we should save these for when the need arises, but if we are in a hurry, we might be better off using a few to speed our recovery."

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Two Cure Light Wounds for each of us, including the King. Two Bull's Strength and one Cure Moderate Wounds for Drace, the same for Milo. Remove Curse and Remove Disease for Luis.

Oh, and shielding for Kern's AP.

[Scorer]

DM Scorer

The King rejects your offer gently. He avises to keep the potions for others' use. And so, the night passes without problem. When you wake up the remaining ally worg is still knocked out. Resting grants everyone the usual 1 HP per level, etc etc.

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Also, I've updated the image links I had from my other web hosting, so now I have my avatar back and the map is also back. My signature was updated also

Soon I will fix another TOP page group image including Milo.

[Scorer]

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Bumy bumpy

[hustlertwo]

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I don't know where to go from here. Rest for another day or two, maybe? At this point a slight breeze could knock out the party.

[Scorer]

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Everyone else agrees to rest another day? If so, don't forget to use your healings for today.

[hustlertwo]

Drace distributes one Lay on Hands point to the worg, and the other four among his party members and Legs. He then gives himself (1d8+2)[7] from CLW.

[Sallera]

"<I don't like this place. Too many black ones, can't smell the living from the dead.>"

Kern glances up from his spellbook at Bor as the rat makes its way back from its watch, although the familiar's speech is unintelligible to anyone else. "Oh? Finally figured out how to articulate, did ye?"

"<Or you just figured out how to listen.>"

"Hm, an interesting point. We might be well advised to move a little away from this particular area, if we do not return today. Any remaining worgs of this clan that return from their patrols would likely assemble here, which would be rather counter-productive to our rest. We needn't move too far, just out of the way. How are our rations holding up, Drace?"

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One more Cure Light potion each for Luis and Kern, then, if the King doesn't want any.

[Scorer]

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This has to be my favorite part of the game, talking familiars

[hustlertwo]

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Um, I haven't done anything with the rations for...ever. Just kinda slipped my mind. I have 4 packs listed in my inventory. So I guess we can go with that.

And I'm certainly having a lot of fun with my 'talking' skeletal companion in A:VB.

Not too well, I fear. We'll either need to hunt, or keep moving.

[Sallera]

"Well, one's like to be about as hazardous as the other, but we can't move far until this one wakes. We could carry it a short distance to shelter and seek food for the day. Or we could feed this one a potion and move further, but it may be eager to return rather than wait if we do."

"<Or eager to eat you.>"

[Strangie]

Well... if things get really bad and we are getting desperate... does anybody know how worg meat tastes? He gives a small chuckle, shaking his head. But I digress. I agree with Kern, we should stay out of this area. If you want some help moving our still-breathing escort, I can give you a hand.

[hustlertwo]

I have no doubt that together we can tote the beast, although our progress will be somewhat slowed. The question is, should we be concerned that the Matriarch will turn on us, as the Patriarch warned? If so, with our injuries, we haven't a prayer.

[Scorer]

DM Scorer

While you discuss the issue, the matriarchal worg wakes......

"So we won I see... It is time to execute Matriarch's second command."

He approaches you and...

"I must take you to matriarch now."

[Strangie]

Oh, the worg is awake. I guess you could call that a win. Second command? What exactly would that be?

[Sallera]

Kern nods amiably to the worg, although Bor twitches and retreats into the gnome's pack. "Ah, good morning to ye. Is there a particular reason for your haste? I'm sure the Matriarch would be happy to have us out of her mountains, but we are all somewhat wounded, yourself included, and we would be more likely to reach the Matriarch intact if we rest a day."

[Scorer]

DM Scorer

"Yes, more reason to get fast. Let's go, now."

[hustlertwo]

Drace shrugs. What do you think, King Zenal? Having seen the retinue this Matriarch commands, I don't see a point in waiting another day. If she meant us ill, we would not survive either way.

[Sallera]

Kern replaces his book in its wrappings, tucking it carefully into his pack as he stands. "I've got something that'll help us out if we need to retreat from any enemies along the way. If it's not enough, use the stone for everyone and I'll deal with the rest."

"Alright then, let's go pay our respects. If the opportunity presents itself along the way, however, we ought to collect some food."

[hustlertwo]

Drace looks to Luis. If we want wild game, I imagine you're the one who'll have the best chance. I can use one of our commandeered bows, but I'm a bit of a leadfooted fellow. Couldn't sneak up on a dead deer, much less a live one.

[Strangie]

Hah, well... I can give it a shot. We need to actually find something, though. Let us move, then, in any case...

Onward?

[hustlertwo]

Yes indeedy do.

[Scorer]

DM Scorer

You follow your escort along the path you already know, back to Matriarch's encampment. Along the way you find a tree with some small orange color fruits with short hairy skin. You've never seen something like this before, however they smell quite good, and there's plenty of them for everyone's meal for today.

After a while you reach the matriarch...

"So, what happened?"

[hustlertwo]

We're still here. The Patriarch isn't.