Raggo's roars die of and he looks at the xvart silently before heaving his sword up and over his head for one last swing before it darts away.
cutie and I can follow the trail, come light.
With the Xvart that did so much damage to her clothes down Terra looks at her companions, "Come over here if you're hurt, I'll heal us up some before anything else attacks us." She grabs up the creature's blade, sits straddling his chest, and holds the knife to his throat. Once her comrades have reached her she channels energy in two pulses, to heal them. The firs pulse heals only here friends, leaving the xvart under her unaffected. The second pulse heals them and the xvart.
With everyone healed enough for now, Terra holds the knife very close to her captive. "So, you thought it wise to attack a priestess of the Savored Sting did you? You thought destroying her clithes would accomplish something?" She edges the knife close enough tidings it's skin, "Why shouldn't I just torture you to death right now?"
Gregary, who had been fighting the same xvart, looms over him while Terra tries to get answers out of it. He nods appreciatively at her while she heals him, and all of his wounds close up.
When she begins to speak, he kneels down, his falcata at the ready. "If you know what's good for you, you'll tell this woman who sent you. You don't want to see what she's capable of if provoked." He draws a line across his throat suggestively. "I've seen her do...terrible things."
Raggo snorts as he walks around the other xvarts lopping there heads off to make sure they're dead. He mutters something to himself in dwarves as he goes.
He then crosses over to where the xvart is being interrogated and drops a bundle of his comrades heads. "She really can be... Brutal."
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Aerodus frowns before stepping forward and dropping the Xvart he had tied up, on the ground. "I am all for questioning these beasts but not for torture. It will be a quick death for these little wretches or nothing."
Aerodus walked over to Valour and began to saddle the horse, before launching himself up in to the saddle. "That being said, I am going for a ride. I will be back." He whistled, before clicking his heels in to the Warhorses Flank. As he rode by, he grabbed his lance from where it stuck in the ground and trotted out in to the darkness.
Wulfrun circles back and joins Aerodus.
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Aerodus smiled at the young Cavalier, nodding his head politely. "How do you feel about following the trail just a little, while it is still fresh?" Aerodus began to cast around himself for the Xvart tracks, his eyes just as sharp at night as they are in the day.
He pointed over towards the trail and trotted forward, making sure to keep Valour from tramping through the marks. "Here we are. It goes that way!" He pointed back the way the Xvart had come, before tightening his grin on the reins.
Wulfrun stays close behind Aerodus, her eyes relying heavily on the faint light of her magical stone, and preoccupied deep in thought looking off into the foreign blackness of the night, "Aye, if it pleases you." Wulfrun answered Aerodus. "Anything as long as it aids in clearing the weariness of the venom clouding my head. Paralyzed, blinded, and poisoned in two days and no closer to my aims."
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Aerodus stopped, turning Valour to put him before her in the path. "Aye, you have had rough time of it I will grant you that. But you are holding up well. You are on your feet, weapon in hand and in the thick of it, when danger requires. And here you are sitting strong in the saddle. Your brother and your god would be proud, of that I am sure!" He smiled encouragingly at the younger Knight.
She smiled, "Tis true, the journey is often more defining than the ends, or at least that's something her always said. I can almost hear his words now. Although, I have yet to hear the divine actually speak to me." Wulfrun manages a laugh, "I suppose when I do start hearing divine voices I'll know then, it could always be worse."
"Thank you, I know I should be happy that no one with us was killed or worse. Its sometimes difficult to maintain focus while not losing sight of what's important."
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Aerodus inclined his head and smiled, before turning Valour with ease and beginning to walk the horse forward again. "When you find yourself questioning the path you have taken and the goals you have set yourself, just remember that at the end of the day, everything happens for a reason." He paused, frowning softly.
"My own father passed away almost 30 years ago at this point, taken too early by half, but even that happened for a reason. It changed me and made me who I am today. Just believe in yourself and you will do fine. The gods guide our weapons, even if they do not speak to us!"
"You are right about keeping faith in one's self, Areodus. Don't forget one's friends as well." Wulfrun nods as her eyes look back out over the terrain. "Although it is the code that truly never waivers or faulters as it guides me. I'll leave the gods and their wills to others."
Aliesah brings cutie to one of the xvarts. [spoiler=sylvan]
Cayosin looks at Terra with an uneasy smile, "Terra, you have anything to fix broken staffs that will not hit blue devils?
Cayosin looks at Aerodus, "I am willing to follow in order to repair my staff and be rid of their curse. Besides, it may lead us to more of what we seek?"
Searching the Xvarts, Aerodus notices they carry small but nice weapons (Each Xvart has a Small MWK Longsword & Small MWK hand crossbows, plus Small MWK studded leather armor, the studs appearing to be bits of raw, semi-precious mineral, though none of which could be cut or polished to make jade or emerald or onyx.) They also each have another dose of poison. Apparently, the Xvarts relied on their ambush tactics, small size & speed, and their skill at flanking and precise attacks -- not exceptionally magical arms.
Wulfrun, as she searches just outside the perimeter of your camp, finds nothing of interest. Except a trail Aerodus points out.
Noticed by Aerodus & Wulfrun, the trail left by the Xvart caster is very easy to follow. Moreover, it meets with the much more subtle trail made by Raggo's fleeing Xvart only 200 yards out of camp. Looking there, it is pretty clear that several Xvarts use a common game trail and the path must lead somewhere....
Terra and Gregary, as threatening as two minor Taldoran nobles can be, intimidate their Xvart sufficiently that he talks freely even without having to be tortured -- much to Aerodus's relief who can now avoid walking away and pretending, futilely, that torture is not being inflicted by his allies.
The Xvart, Copplebamterin The Great -- Taker of Dragons' Feet -- speaks in broken Taldane but is fluent in Abyssal. As he answers your questions, he looks nervously at Terra Minora, twitching ever so often, likely in fear.
We just moved into some old caves about a full-moon ago; it was easy to eliminate the weak kobold scum already there. We even kept four as slaves.
But beware, there's hundreds of us -- and even a Master Slavetaker, Chosen of Raxivort. You should flee now.
If you let me live I promise I will not tell about you and will never do anything bad ever again.
Oh, we're just here getting new slaves -- you know, it makes life easier when your slaves do all the slavework.
But we never took human slaves from the human clans south of here, honest. And we let that Luc boy leave, too -- he's not an annoying little brat that doesn't know what's good for him either.
If you let me live I'll be a great slave -- and I'm good at getting other slaves, too. I could be your head slave if you want.
Terra allows the creature to ramble on as it spills the information rapidly. She almost revels in the things fear at what she will do to it, particularly when the slaver begs to be allowed to live, even if it is as her chief slave. She considers giving in and killing it, or enslaving, what horrifies her is that she's not sure which she wants. Terra looks at her compatriots for any further questions.
Terra takes the dagger and uses it to remove the Xvarts clothes by slicing them off. She then uses it to lightly trace the symbol of Calistria on it's forehead, not breaking the skin but leaving just a little mark, "You will go back to your masters and tell them that they are known to us now. They will leave the area and leave quickly as the military will be coming to clear out the caverns of you filth. You have also been marked by a daughter of Callistria and you will tell them that the Savored Sting is watching and doesn't take well to those who restrict the freedom of others, particularly slavery." She gets up off of the creature and glares at him, "Run little rat! Run and don't come back!" She cracks her whip at it to speed it's flight and turns to the others, "Well, with any luck that will take care of that."
Terra then moves off to one side and takes out her holy symbol. Kneeling on the ground she begins to pray over it.
While she doesn't seem to be sobbing, likely from holding it in, there are tears coming down Terra's cheeks as she prays.
we could follow him? Should be an esy track
"Hah, that's right, you'd better run! Bring the fear back to your masters!" shouts Gregary, waving his falcata around intimidatingly while the final xvart flees.
Then, he heads over towards Terra when she goes to play. "Were you serious when you mentioned getting the military involved in this? Or were we gonna... Oh, Terra." he places a hand on her shoulder, kneeling beside her. "Are you alright?"
@Terra Minora
The Xvart seems to be suspicious of Terra Minora's threat of an impending army but wisely does not challenge the cleric.
Looking up at Gregary the tears become even more obvious. It takes her a moment before she replies, "I-i-i...I nearly murdered that creature when it was helpless. Even worse I was sorely tempted to take it''s freedom and make it my slave, to treat it as poorly as it has it's own slaves. The concept of slavery is anathema to my religion and to me. I..." She stands and lays her head against Gregary's chest as she begins to sob.
Gregary holds Terra gingerly at first, but then he gives her a real hug. "Killing that creature would have been a mercy for its wretched existence, not worthy of the word "murder", nor of your tears." he murmurs into her ears.
He holds her while her cries, and strokes her hair, and whispers "shhh" until Aerodus and Wulfrun get back.
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Aerodus leans on the pommel of his saddle, staring down at Gregary and Terra with a sad smile. He shakes his head before dismounting with ease, making sure to make as much noise as he can, to break the moment, without making it appear he had seen. When either looked up, they would find Aerodus unsaddling the horse, his broad back to them. When he was sure he had given the moment its time, he turned, smiling jovially at them, before stepping in, placing an arm around both of their shoulders.
"You know, for a group that only met a little while ago, we do work well don't we? We are facing some strange odds here but we are doing out best!" He gave them both a quick one armed hug, before moving over to Valour again, collecting all of his gear and moving it close to the fire.
"We best get some sleep. We need to relax before tomorrow. I will watch first."
Raggo saunters over to the fire and plops down next to Aerodus.
"If you don't mind i'll take first watch. I need some time with my thoughts before I can rest."
Once she calms some, Terra replies to Gregary as she wipes her eyes, "It's not so much wanting to kill him that hurts, it's that I almost took his freedom and made him my slave, that's what I can't stand." Having calmed herself, with Gregary's help, Terra goes about her business for a time, cleaning her equipment, though she doesn't lay out her bedding yet. She sits and stares at the fire for a short while during the first watch before changing into her night clothes and heading towards one of the tents.
Aliesah recovers what every of her arrows she can. She is quiet after the battle, some what disturbed by how she enjoyed it. As she watches the fleeing Xvart she feels the desire to shot it as it flees. But she just watches, cutie by her side.
He goes to check out the sound he'd heard.
She moves into the tent on hands and knees like a predatory cat until she reaches Gregary. Reaching him she slowly trails her hands up to his shoulders and raises herself up to lean in and nuzzle his neck. Then she whispers into his ear saying, "Since I owe you thanks, I believe pleasure is in order." Her hands trail along his back as she awaits his answer.
He beckons her towards his bedroll, grinning.
It's quite a difficult night to sleep for everybody, and whomever is on first watch is quite uncomfortable as intimate noises emanate from Gregary's tent, beginning about ninety minutes after bedtime.
It continues for about an hour before finally subsiding. Anyone who thinks there might have been peace, however, discovers something different during the second watch, when the sounds begin again.
The third leg of the night goes without incident, though. Gregary and Terra sleep in late the next morning.
Raggo sits with his back to a smoldering fire and quietly smiles to himself.
"Well at least someone had a good day."
He spends the remainder of his watch sharpening his blade and whispering prayers over it hoping that Gorum will see fit to grant him better fortune in his next battle.
Late the next morning you all awake, pretend to enjoy hardtack and cheese, and prepare for your journey following the trail left by fleeing Xvarts.
After only forty minutes of slowly moving the southern outskirts of the Verduran you all see what must be The Abraxas Egg, a massive boulder of some whitish-gray mineral, quite unlike the surrounding geological features. Other than its prodigious size and odd make-up, the Abraxas Egg seems to have no interesting features: It is not magical or man-made. It has no curious surface features other than a few haphazard lines of graffiti left by the most recent of travelers, and it conceals no hidden alcoves or caves. It's just a big hunk of rock, overgrown with the vines and shrubs native to the area.
The Xvart tracks continue onward another forty feet or so before entering a small cave in another tangled rock-face.
Terra rises and slips out of Gregary's tent wearing the same garment she had on when she entered it the night before. Moving to one side she begins her prayers for the morning. Some of the gasps and moans involved imply there are more than just words involved but when she finishes the aasimar begins to change, unabashed about anyone seeing her as she does, and dons her armor and gear for the day, prepared to set out with the rest ofter their meager breakfast.
When they reach the cavern, Terra looks at the place and says, "Well, it looks like we're here. Should we go in or wait to see what happens?"
The adventurers all can clearly see and hear Raggo's morning ritual, it lacks the subtlety of Terra's preparations. The mighty Dwarf stands atop the highest point he can find and shouts to the sky, banging his sword against his armored chest in between words.
Raggo stops shouting for a second to let out a resounding roar before continuing. He then begins listing names, presumably people he has defeated.
Gregary quietly studies his spellbook inside his tent when he gets up, although he's slightly displeased that Terra slipped out so quickly.
What else should be have expected from a Calistrian, though?
...
When they arrive at the cave at the end of a decent day's journey, he strokes his chin, hand on his falcata's hilt. "I see three options before us - scout for information, charge in, and lure the enemies out to us. In terms of safety, setting up a defensible position first and then luring the enemies out into our fortifications. Does anybody have a reach weapon? Or a shovel? An easy way to dig a trench or build a magical wall?"
Wulfrun sits a top her steed, hidden behind her armored visor, lance held high bearing her standard silent in the steady wind.
Aliesah does her morning prayers, then has breakfast and feeds cuties (who loves hardtack BTW). She raises and eyebrow at Raggo's loud display.
Can you yell louder? I don't this the entire forest heard you the first time.
With a smooth movement she stands, finishing her tea (yup, she makes a cup if she can).
Later, near the Abraxas rock she checks the ground to see how much movement has happened, her bow in her hand.
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Aerodus had managed to squeeze in his morning ritual at dawn, as he had stood guard over the sleeping group. He watched the others prepare for the day now, turning his back when Terra changed, of course, and grinning as Raggo bellowed his litany to the sky. He had seen these preparations before, they were as much a part of each of these people as his was a part of him. He admired everyones dedication and observation of their own personal faith, it was uplifting.
"May the Dawns light protect you all!" he whispered, as his last Prayer, before bowing his head and smiling.
He sprung in to motion then, packing up his camp and beginning to bard and saddle Valour. When the horse was taken care of he grabbed his gear and launched himself in to the saddle with ease, flexing his wings for stability.
"If we draw them out, Wulfrun and myself could act as the first wave, charging in with our lances and hitting those who appear to be the most dangerous, before they have a chance to reach the rest of you." He glanced over at the younger Knight and smiled. She would be as excited about the possibility of a charge as he, he expected.
Near the Abraxas Egg Aliesah notices several Xvart tracks both coming and going, some older, some fresher. At first glance, none appear to be near the big rock.
Terra makes sure to remain as unobtrusive and quiet as she can now that they are near the cave where the xvart tracks led.
Raggo stands 40 ft. from the entrance to the cave. Close enough that he can charge in if needed but far enough away that he won't make to much noise. He quietly mutters himself in a mix of skald and dwarven and makes a circle with his hands. A thin layer of liquid metal slowly grows across his skin, giving it a metallic sheen.
Gregary will stick back with the others as well, waiting for any answers to his questions. "Apparently not, I should assume?"
Aliesah quietly says to cutie
Aliesah and Terra both stealth around the area but neither focus on the Xvart tracks with their Survival skills to glean more information.
Aerodus, Gregary, Raggo and Cayosin all stand well back with Cutie, ready to charge into battle if need be, and not moving lest they be heard inside the cave by Xvarts.
Aerodus had also looked closely at the tracks and notices that it doesn't look like "hundreds and hundreds" of Xvarts made these tracks -- perhaps there is another entrance or perhaps he's not interpreting what he sees completely -- or perhaps their prisoner lied about the strength of the Xvart force.
No attempt has yet been made to draw out any Xvarts, and neither Aliesah nor Terra have really taken a wise look at the tracks.
The wind stills somewhat in the late morning air and crickets cease their chirping. Early birds have long eaten their fill of worms and raccoons and owls have gone to sleep. All is peaceful of the edge of the Verduran this day....