The Center Cannot Hold [Group B]

[SoD]

''Nyr doch, gilgunn!'' Dvalr shouts, the blood begining to pound in his head, ''This is for Lenneth!''

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morningstar attack - (1d20+11)[31]
morningstar damage - (1d8+8)[10]
handaxe attack - (1d20+11)[16]
handaxe damage - (1d6+6)[9]
morningstar attack - (1d10+6)[11]
morningstar damage - (1d8+8)[13]
handaxe attack - (1d20+6)[15]
handaxe damage - (1d6+6)[11]

Once again, if I need to move to reach the bugger:
morningstar attack - (1d20+13)[25]
morningstar damage - (1d8+8)[13]


First morningstar attack from the full attack, if a 13 hits, I do 26 damage instead of 10. Confirmation found here, in the OOC thread.
Battle stats: Dvalr, AC 16, HP 45 (uninjured)

[Nephili]

Ashley curses quietly as her first shot goes wide, dropping back down into a crouch, hoping she didn't catch the remaining beast's attention. Gritting her teeth, she lets loose another arrow, doing her best to make this shot count a bit more then the last one.

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(1d20+16)[36] Hide
(1d20+16)[36] Move Silently
(1d20+3)[8] To hit (assuming I'm still firing into melee)
(1d6+1)[4] Damage
(3d6)[11] Sneak attack damage (if applicable)

[Skjaldbakka]

Once again, Adrian and Dvalr prove to be more than a match for a single lion, quickly crushing it. As you begin preperation to burn the body of Lenneth (as is customary for those who don't want the Empire to defile the body of a friend), Gathon returns from scouting out the land ahead of you. It looks like you will reach the mine in a few hours. Do you want to press on, and reach the site as night falls, or find a place to rest, and approach with morning's light?

[Halna LeGavilk]

Gathon stares at the group. He speaks for a moment, in a gritty, generally unpleasent voice. ""Well, I could go on for a few more hours, and darkness would bring us more cover, but, we should probably burn Lenneth. If anyone wants to immediately go after that, I'm ready."

[J-H]

Adrian
Adrian rolls his head and stretches his shoulders back and forth, loosening his tense muscles.
"Right. Lots of ground to cover."

[SoD]

Dvalr, begining to calm down, shares his thought from earlier, speaking sadly, but still holding his weapons: ''One moment of inatention c'n be dangerous. This was a harsh lesson for us, an', although we must mourn 'im, it must be a lesson learnt.'' Silently, Dvalr places his weapons back in their appropriate buckles.

Dvalr looks at Lenneths torn body. ''...ye were a brave warrior, an' steadfast in yer beleifs. Ye'll be surely missed by us, an' I hope ye know that we slayed the beasts that finally struck ye down. Maktub.''

And finally, to the world in general, and to nobody in paticular he speaks a third time. ''I've lost friends an' family before, but experience doesn' soften the blow. I say we press on as soon as we safely can. I'd rather not sleep jus' after a friend was killed. We mus' press onwards.''

[Miraqariftsky]

"Methinks we should press on and make camp at the mine's entrance... who knows how many more leonine beasts...or worse... here lurk in the wilderness awaiting to ambush unwary travellers" Yann chips in, her delicate hands gripping her staff tightly, her emerald eyes looking at the lengthening shadows with more than a hint of worry.

"Aye... but first, we must tend to our hurts... " says the golden haired elf as she plucks a rune-graved wand made from a length of holly. "Dvalr, Adrian and any else who might be injured, please step this way... And then indeed shall we commit Lenneth's body to the flames that the vile necromongrels of the Empire shall not desecrate the bones of a hero"

With that, she gently lays her hands upon their flesh and passes the wand over their wounds, chanting softly.

"Blood and bone,
Skin and sinew
Hale once more, I make you
Pay me with but a thankful groan"

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For whoeverelse
(2d8+2)[5] CMW wand

For whoever took MORE damage
(2d8+2)[10] CMW wand
(1d8+2)[6] CLW bard spell

"Come, comrades..." she says, then bends down into the dirt to the selfsame task. "Let us gather the wood for the pyre and whe all be ready, I shall bless the body that his soul may speed on to a world of light, beyond the reach of the Emperor's darkness..."

[Miraqariftsky]

((More healing for Adrian, as requested by J-H in OOC thread:
(2d8+2)[6] CMW wand
(2d8+2)[14] CMW wand))

[Nephili]

Ashley nods in agreement with her comrads, returning her bow to her back and moving closer to the rest of the group. She takes a deep breath, still shaking a little from the sudden loss, her eyes avoiding the corpse "That makes sense... I'd really rather not stay out here, there could be more of those things around. The mine might have some cover, at least..." She shudders a little as she steps over to one of the dead lions, looking it over catiously.

[SoD]

Dvalr

''I'll search ahead, for a worthy final resting place for him. Away from the dead beasts.'' And with a whistle, a tawny owl flies from the nearby trees to land on Dvalrs outstretched arm. Dvalr winces slightly as the claws poke him through his clothing, and starts walking away from the dead beasts.

[Skjaldbakka]

Finding a suiting place, you set a pyre for the recently departed Lenneth, and then find a place to rest for the night between here and the mining camp. It will be only a short hours march to get there in the morning.

[J-H]

Adrian
"I'll take first watch." Adrian finds a good observation point and settles in to survey their surroundings as the rest of the group goes to sleep.

[Skjaldbakka]

The night passes uneventfully. The events of the previous day weigh heavily on your minds, and you awaken in the morning intent on not making the same mistakes again.

750 XP gained (each).

More later tonight.

Narrator:
You approach the mining camp, which lies in ruins. The smell of death lies heavy in the air, and you can see the bodies of the miners in the ruins of the camp. Standing over one of the bodies is a man in black robes. He is stooped over the body, and appears to be examining it.

[J-H]

Adrian
Adrian slows and studies the man.

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knowledge, arcana - (1d20+3)[19]
knowledge, dungeoneering - (1d20+2)[14]
If a bunch of hostiles show up, I'm casting Entangle on them so that the ones farther away will take a few rounds to reach us.

[SoD]

Dvalr

Dvalr also stops, and, distrusting of unfamliar mages at the best of times, reaches for his morningstar and handaxe, resting his hands on them, the touch comforting to him. At the movement, his owl flies off to a nearby tree.

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[Halna LeGavilk]

Gathon silently stalks over to a shaded area, and attempts to hide. He draws and nocks his bow.

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(1d20+13)[29] Move Silently
(1d20+12)[18] Hide

[Skjaldbakka]

"How can I help you gentleman?" the man says without standing or turning to face you. "If you are here for some reason other than dealing with the heretic, I would recommend leaving this area, as you will not be sufficiently prepared to handle the dangers in this area." With that, he stands, and turns. He is of a fair complexion, with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, slightly pointed ears, and eyes the color of amber. He hold a pad of paper and a pen in one hand.

[Miraqariftsky]

A bloodsman, a fellow elf or issue thereof? A fellow scholar, mayhap? Could he be some mage with those robes esoteric? How strange that he speaks witha voice so akin to mine! Yan's mind spins with conjectures and inferences as she takes in the stranger's appearance.

"Well met, traveler." she greets him as she comes forward, keeping her hands open and displaying no ill-will. "What heretic is this that you speak of, praytell? I am a scholar and keeper of lore, these fine fellows are my comrades and bodyguards... mayhap we can aid each other in an exchange of information? We... know of at least some of the dangers--- our sources gave us some data esoterica... but prithee, what other dangers do you speak of?"

[Skjaldbakka]

"A follower of the old gods. This individual seems to have the trappings of a priest of Obad-Hai. Whether or not he is invested with the power of his faith remains to be seen. It will have no bearing on his future, but I am quite interested to see if the old gods are once again meddling in the affairs of this world." The man says, secreting away his notebook and pen in the folds of his robes.

[J-H]

Adrian
Adrian watches silently.

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Can someone do a Knowledge, History or Local check to make sure this isn't the Emperor? Also interested in finding out more about composition of army, and what race the Emp. is.

[SoD]

Dvalr

''And can we assume ye're here to deal with the heretic? says Dvalr staring at the robed man. ''You'll forgive me for not trustin' you with our reasonin' for being here. We have no proof that ye're not the heretic ye speak of. What is yer name, stranger?'' he says, making no effort to hide his distrust.

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As requested:

Knowlege (history): (1d20+4)[9]

Edit: Damn! I know nothing!

[Miraqariftsky]

((Bardic Lore check (1d20+12)[21], as suggested.))

[Skjaldbakka]

Details on the Emperor will be posted in the OOC thread, because it is common knowledge for both groups.

The stranger raises an eyebrow at Dvalr's comments. "Are you sure you are qualified to hunt a heretic? These are not the trappings of a priest of the old gods. Oh well, feel free to assume what you wish. If things go badly, I'll just have to deal with him myself, although I'd be perfectly happy to let you do my job for me."

[SoD]

Dvalr

''Not all heretics are immediatly obvious to th' eye. There are those who wear disguises, or hide their true nature beneath a web of lies an' half truths, concealin' their identities. Speakin' o' which, ye still haven' said yer name.'' Semi-convinced that the stranger isn't going to attack, Dvalr gives a quick whistle, and Tawny flies from the nearby tree to land on his shoulder. ''An' I can assure ye that we're more than quilified to hunt down a heretic if we need to.''

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Yes. I named my owl. And it's a barn owl.

[Skjaldbakka]

"My name? Of what use would my name be to you?If I were to say that my name was Jeremiah, would that mean anything? If I were a heretic in disguise, would I give my name, or would I give a false one? Or would I even care to give you a name at all?"

[J-H]

Adrian
Adrian studies the man, attempting to determine if he has travelled on foot or magically to get here. "Do you work for the Empire, or against it?"

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Survival - (1d20+8)[28] check to watch for appearance of travelling (dust, wear, etc)
Knowledge, Nature - (1d20+2)[15] check to watch for appearance of travelling (dust, wear, etc)
Sense Motive - (1d20+6)[21]
knowledge, religion - (1d20+3)[17]

[Halna LeGavilk]

Gathon studies the man, looking closely for any strange marks or strange flaws in his clothes or skin. He

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(1d20+6)[20] Looking for strange marks on clothes or skin.
(1d20+6)[12] Looking for strange flaws, things that don't seem natural, on the man's skin or clothes.

[Skjaldbakka]

"Why do you continue to ask questions to which you cannot trust the answer? If I work for the empire, I would say I work for the empire. If I work against the empire, I would still say I work for the empire, to avoid implicating myself as a traitor. Unless of course I believe you to be working against the empire, in which case I would claim to be against the empire, whether I was or not."

Adrian:

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There is no evidence that this man has been on the road for any length of time. His clothes are clean, unusually so. Based on your knowledge of the arcane, you speculate that this could mean he uses prestidigitation to keep himself clean, or that he teleported here.

Gathon:

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You notice an image of a bird in a ring on his left hand. Also, judging from the mix of human and elven features, you fairly certain he is a half-elf.

[Halna LeGavilk]

Gathon calls out to the man. "Jeremiah, if you worked for the Empire, and believed we did not, you would not play cat and mouse games. You would simply attack, as is the way of the Empire."
"Instead, you chose to sit here and play games with us. If you are the heretic, you would attack us on the spot, if you are as powerful as the rumors state. So, I think you are neither heretic nor Imperial, but something inbetween."

[Skjaldbakka]

The man chuckles. "Perhaps, but what if I view you as a mouse to the empire's cat? Or perhaps I am the heretic, and am engaging you in conversation to delay you until my allies arrive. Or perhaps I have already told you why I am here, and am talking you around in circles until I discover your reason to travel here."