Quick turnOchita, FelerisOchita sneaks up behind the man holding the Elf hostage-a shady hooded man, naturally-and moves to knock him out with the butt of his rapier...but as he is about to attack, he feels a sudden sluggishness...his blow connects weakly, only causing the man to spin around in alarm...
Ochita Reflex 2+1+1-1 vs Watchman 4
Watchman dodges surprise attack!
>Watchman targets Feleris
>Both sides seeking to disable, knock out when DF depleted. No HP damage
Round 1
-Mobility-
Feleris 6+1
Ochita 1+1-1
Watchman 4
Feleris Engages Watchman! 1+2 VS 6...Watchman dodges
Ochita Engages Watchman! 3+1-1 VS 3...tie, roll off (increase power by 1)
Ochita Engages Watchman! 3+1-1 VS 5...Watchman dodges
Watchman retaliates! 3 VS 4+1...Feleris dodges
Round 2
-Mobility-
Feleris 6+1
Ochita 1+1-1
Watchman 1
Feleris Engages Watchman! 1+4 VS 1...Watchman struck! Damage 5+3=8 (enemy takes 80% DF damage)
Ochita Engages Watchman! 5+1-1 VS 2...Watchman struck! Damage 6+0=6 (enemy takes 20% DF damage)
Watchman knocked out!
Feleris doesn't waste time taking advantage of the situation, lashing out with a quick jab toward the mans throat. The hooded man raises his left hand to block, at he same time angling a backhand toward Ochita who is sent sprawling, clutching his crippled arm in agony. He brings his right knee up to strike Feleris in the groin (low blow!), but the Sylvan Elf showcases his peoples agility-leaping upwards in a blur.
As the man looks up with one leery eye, he senses Ochita behind him...Feleris and Ochita strike him as one-The Elf using both his fasts to hammer him on the top of his head, and Ochita sweeping his feet with the end of his staff, and striking him once more on the ground to be sure.
The hooded man mumbles a bit and falls unconscious. When unhooded, he seems to be a fairly unremarkable Human male-sandy blonde hair, pale blue eyes and a long white scar trailing across his forehead.
Both of them glance around...
Luck Roll 3 VS Detection roll 5+2, DETECTED!
Modifier: +2 to detection for 2 combat turns
They feel as if an unseen eye marked them.
Ochita speaks quickly.
"Ah, elf. Sorry for the captor, but I think its best if we leave now, and see if we cannot make our way with another group. Also, tell me that you can remove this curse brought on by this... Blackguard witch. Before it kills me....""Then leave we shall, my friend," he looked his ally once over and spotted what he meant by 'curse'.
The spell Ravena cast has caused Ochitas skin to turn the shade of a bitter frostbite-it's already run the length of his arm.
He then shoved his right hand over to the amulet the hung by his belt.
"May the Goddess watch over us all."Spent: 20%
PietyFeleris sniffs. He smells wildflowers. His goddess's voice lilts musically within him.
"...Life is precious..."Ochita could swear later that he felt the soft hand of an Eleven Maiden brush his cheek, with a sigh. Almost instantly, the coldness begins to recede-in a few moments, the curse is undone. He wiggles his fingers experimentally.
Healed Affliction: Ravena's Creeping Frost
Before anything else can be said or done, Stromgand steps out of the tent. His eyes go wide. Behind him in the tent can be seen Vusted looking unhappy, and Ravena-who looks at Ochita hungrily...then a small frown touches her delicate lips, as she realizes her curse was broken.
Stromgand smiles. Then he begins shouting.
"ASSASSINS!"The call seems to resonate throughout the camp-Assassins! Assassins! Feleris and Ochita run toward the edge of camp...
Luck 4 VS Fate 3
They make it out before anyone can stop them-and in truth, most of them don't know what's going on, or if they do, don't believe Stromgands calls. Or don't care.
The pair runs North, across the low grassy plains, lit only by moonlight...Feleris is surprised Ochita can keep up, but he does, quite easily. Ochita is not tower bound academic, after all! Feleris tells Ochita about Halbarads camp site-the current path they are on should intercept Halabarad as he comes down the mountain. At least that was the plan.
Encounter: 3
Feleris/Ochita Detection 2+2 vs Monster Hide 10
Feleris spots a large, lumpy boulder. He gives it no second thought, leaping up and ascending to the top easily to get a better look around.
He is surprised when he feels boulder start to shuffle under him...and the 'boulder' starts to talk, in a low rumbly voice-like someone trying to gargle pebbles.
"Oy! Elf! Wot are yew doin' on me back? Raggansh trying to sleep!"Feleris jumps off, to avoid the swipe of a heavy...paw? Ochita backs away worriedly.
The 'boulder' stands up, revealing itself to be a young rock troll. It's pretty big-each of it's fists are the size of a Human head, and it would stand almost 10 feet tall, if it wasn't hunched over and leaning on it's knuckles.
It doesn't make any hostile moves...yet. It actually just seems annoyed.
"Why make Raggansh angry, Elf? Want pounding?"
Trolls
"The creature had favored me with a stupid look. Trolls! And he had to gall to warn ME of his people? I am Lord Wintur! I fear nothing!
Of all the things to bar our way. I swept him aside with the flat of my blade and moved onward...my Quest will not be stopped by such foolish creatures! I will gain the Source!"
-From the Journal of Lord Wintur, on the 2nd expedition to the source. Found half digested in a Trolls belly
Found during the 3rd Expedition to the Source (circe 79 years ago)
>Trolls are large, carnivorous and bulky Humanoids with tough skin and soft minds. A young one is about ten feet tall and 500 pounds, and an adult can be twice that-but they usually move hunched over like certain ape species.
They are common enough sight in most biomes-they are extremely hardy and adaptable, being able to survive and in most cases actually change their body structure to better suit the region they reside in. This odd ability leads to speculation that Trolls are the product of arcane sources, that they were made as living weapons.
If that is so, they probably failed. Trolls are not exactly stupid-they can show vicious cunning at times-but they lack the mental reach to grasp advanced concepts, and are easily fooled. Well, most of the time. They make difficult allies in battle, either turning on their own troops when one of them makes a bad joke (Trolls have very sensitive feelings) or just wandering off the battlefield randomly when they get bored.
Trolls are not actually an overly violent species-they prefer to intimidate rather than fight most of time, wishing solitude above all things.
-Variants-
Rock: A Rock troll lives in mountains and hills-it's skin takes on the granite texture, providing it considerable resistance against physical attacks, and often leads to it being mistaken for a boulder by Foolish Elves.
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Goseki Sakane/Lawastooshort"Dawn of the Ninja, eh? Tell me, what do they tell you of those times, your elders?"
Pose the above question to the Jiang ninja.
You begin walking together. The young Ninja seems to relax-she can't keep up the air of superiority for long.
She shrugs.
"The Elders told me in the golden age of Jiang and Sakane, Ninja served no masters but themselves-we slayed whom we wished, not at the sole behest of lords unless we wished to do so.
We punished the guilty who believed they were beyond justice, from the shadows, and during the day the people were safe. Cruel Lords feared our blades, and tempered their rule with mercy because they knew we were watching them, all the time.
Was this so, Old Mother?"
You can see a spark of actual curiosity in her eyes, but it is guarded.
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Rykmar/IronyowlHe glanced at the object Lust was dangling.
Lust purrs. Rykmar has no choice but to turn to her. The effect is dizzifying...quite simply, she is your desire incarnate. Whatever you want...Whoever you want, Lust is that person-ready to fufill your every desire.
Eternal Pleasure and unending pain...joyous oblivion. Just nod...do what she says...and everything will be fine.
She motions for Rykmar to approach.
"I own you Rykmar...come into my parlor, why don't you? This is just between you...and me."She smiles. Rykmar barely resists the urge to run toward Lust and grovel at her feet.
An invitation to Lusts personal court is usually one-way.
Will Rykmar...attend her? Or perhaps call on the other Princes for help?