This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As the wolf evade Ed's sweep, he realises that he might have miscalculated the danger of the situation. His radiance burns two of the wolves, before the pack set upon him. Able to defend the first attack with his shield he is too slow to avoid all the snapping jaws, taking bite after bite out of him. One catches the back of his ankle and he crumples to the floor. He hears the others rally and come to his aid, restoring some of the paladin's vigor and determination. He takes a swing at the wolf closest to Sezsu, trying to cut their numbers down to size.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Regmiir’s divinely inspired swing knocks the (red) wolf flying. It lands motionless on the ground nearby (red down).
Zied’s healing concoction strikes Ed, knitting closed some of his wounds. Zied’s sword flashes with green fire, but he swing is uncontrolled and the wolf twists away.
Alessa tugs the strings of fate attuned to the (orange) wolf, dooming it to an early demise. She follows with a minor fireball that flies over and beyond the wolf, dissipating in the chill air.
Ed hauls himself to his feet, taking a swing at the (orange) wolf. The blade removes its head cleanly and sends it rolling away (orange down).
Sezu points at the (green) wolf, filling the air with the sound of dolorous bells.
Green Wis DC 13: 11
The (green) wolf yelps in pain and recoils, fleeing the scene!
The remaining wolves harry their targets!
Red @ Ed: Attack: 23 Damage: 10 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
Blue @ Ed: Attack: 19 Damage: 9 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
The (blue) wolf turns growls at Alessa, then whines and veers its head away, instead snapping at Regmiir.
Blue @ Regmiir: Attack: 22 Damage: 7 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
Green @ Regmiir: Attack: 24 Damage: 13 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
The (yellow) wolf charges forward and snaps at Regmiir as well.
Yellow @ Regmiir: Attack: 22 Damage: 8 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
Orange @ Zied: Attack: 13 Damage: 5 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Regmiir falters slightly as he sees Ed fall in combat. The wolves come at him furiously, but the pain is dulled by his conviction. All his senses blend together and urging him onward to strike a new blow against the next canine.
Strength Saves: 182619
(If prone'd, I'll stand back up)
Action: Normal attack @Green Wolf in flank with Zied: Attack: 23 Damage: 8
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Zied groans as he hear Ed's plight again, sparing a glance before hearing a chomp. Reacting impulsively with a kick he pushes the hound away before its teeth find him. Once again cracking a vial and his pommel together. Launching a second healing vial at Ed, as he lashes out with his alchemist' fire dripping dagger. This time following up on Regmiir's situation and trying to fiend it off more.
11 To Hit. Green Wolf w/ flanking advantage. + 3bless. 7 P damage.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
She missed embarrassingly but Sezsu was there to help now, while the main body of the pack was attacking their left flang. While her luck was still with her (she was not attacked yet), Alessa tried to help Regmiir, sending Grano first for the risky but helping distraction. Little bird screeched at the wolf, pretending to attack it's eyes and flying up at the last moment.
Feeling the searing pain of Ed's blinding radiance, Sezsu keeps his distance and moves to flank the flanking flanker wolves, rushing around to the far side of the red one.
"If we survive this, we're going to have a talk about whatever that is, Ed!" he shouts as he draws his shortsword and stabs at the beast.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ed seems to hit the floor for a moment, seeming to fall to the savage bites of the two remaining wolves. A heartbeat or two pass, yet in those moments his injuries seem to fade, the bleeding stops, the bitemarks through his clothes can be seen to heal up and the flesh knits, puckers and smooths. Ed sits bolt upright and raises his sword to the sky and exclaims, "I shall seek thee!" He seems to regain his sense of the situation around him, the burning wave around him intensifies momentarily and he crouches into a battle stance, then unleashes a swipe at the weakest of the two wolves.
Attack: 3 + 24 Damage: 9 slashing +2 radiant BA - none Movement - none
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Strength Save: 22 - Will stand up if proned.
Regmiir pivots from the felled wolf as the remaining two surround him. He is relieved to see Ed back on his feet, though curious about the new aura radiating from him. Sezsu is right, he thought, best ask him about that later.
Feeling the nip from one of the wolves, he grabs the Warhammer beat its head and spins it around his backside, hoping to catch the one offguard despite exposing his flank.
Action: Reckless Attack @ Yellow Wolf Attack: 17 Damage: 10
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ed nods to Sezsu, after he cleaves through the wolf, "Survive first, talk later, good plan." He turns on his heel seeming Regmiir still engaged by two of the wolves then charges forward, his vigour seems to be fully renewed now, the war cry resounds again, "The Dawn!" He rushes past Alessa seemingly disregarding her entirely, his sword already swinging towards the wolf at Regmiir's back, the shimmering heat dropping after he takes his strike.
Attack: 3+6 Damage: 12 slashing +2 radiant damage @ Blue BA: Drop Celestial Revelation Movement: 25ft to yellow
Seeing Ed's single-minded furvor, Sezsu can't help but smile. This is why he likes traveling with this crew.
Looking around to reassess the situation, he heaves a sigh at the apparent turning of the tide of battle. The diminutive young man begins to slowly walk back toward the group, slapping the flat of his blade against his shield again. The sharp peel of the distance bell fills the air once more.
Action: Toll the dead - WIS save DC 14 or take 4 necrotic damage or 3 if it's already taken damage.
It was a huge relief to see some of the wolves running away and the two most stubborn near death. Just to be sure that "near" turns into "certain" Alessa did her best to add to the retaliation, repeating a seemingly successful tactic:
Regmiir's and Ed finish off the last two wolves. The children are frightened but unharmed.
An uneasy silence resumes among the woods, broken only by the distant caw of a raven.
The road continues on. (Five hours pass. Feel free to insert any RP here.)
Day 5 - 7:00 p.m. (sunset)
The Old Svalich Road meanders into a valley watched over by dark, brooding mountains to the north and south. The woods recede, revealing a sullen mountain burg surrounded by a wooden palisade. Thick fog presses up against this wall, as though looking for a way inside, hoping to catch the town aslumber.
The dirt road ends at a set of sturdy iron gates with a pair of shadowy figures standing behind them. Planted in the ground and flanking the road outside the gates are a half-dozen pikes with wolves’ heads impaled on them.
Zied figures he’d be breathing heavy if he still breathed anything more than habit. Looking at the littered corpses ofwolves and the children being fine. “We shouldn’t leave the supplies behind. Canines are not ideal meals. But I can skin them, and we can eat the flesh. Mayhap barter as well. Do we want to await here, or should we take a few and leave the rest to draw animals from us? Either way. Let me drain the blood before we leave. It won’t take long if one of you would take their heads off.” Zied remarks, but looking at the kids briefly.
“You two have a choice. Do you want to help me, or do you want to rest? I would advise you take the time you are with us as meaningful. You survived the hags for now, but you are without parents. You’ll have to learn to protect yourselves, and learn to survive. Would you like to learn?” Zied offers the children, remembering vaguely his own youth, memories fading from passage of time but the occasional feeling of love of learning was still there.
“I’ll teach you how to use a sling, how to skin, and how to cook while we’re together. But you must want it. I won’t waste time.”
(Sorry for multiple scenes in one post but I wanted to be sure I didn't forget any of it and I'm happy to take time playing out any or all of them!)
Sezsu gags at Zied's proposal of beheading and bleeding the wolves.
"I prefer to remain a civilized distance from my food source," he says as he sheaths his sword and falls to an exhausted seat on the hill. "Do what you must but please do it downhill and downwind from me."
Quietly, he can be heard muttering, "Blech...country folk..."
As they travel, Sezsu sidles up next to Edlanar.
"So yeah... That was... Quite a thing back there. With the wolves and the hags and the explosion... You know? So that's twice now I've seen you light up like a torch and I gotta say... It's a bit disconcerting. Is that something all of Lathander's devotees can do? It kinda hurt and I don't know how I feel about that."
Further into the trip Sezsu closes his eyes and shakes his head as if trying to clear his vision. He stops in his tracks as the group passes him by.
"Wait. Hang on. I just realized... That monster...bit Zied and me and you all just stood there! What in the Nine Hells were you all thinking?!? Some friends you are!"
He feels for any marks on his neck then puts a hand to his temple and winces. "I've had a splitting headache ever since. What the heck, guys?? If that's your idea of a practical joke, it's not a very good one..."
"You can not seriously plan to take kids with us! If you forgot, we are on a quest to confront the meanest creature of this realm. It is not a place for the kids." Alessa was staring at Zied in quite clear disbelieve. "The first thing we are visiting in the town is the church. There we shall talk to the priest about local customs concerning orphans and parents that kill their kids. Then we shall decide if we are to step in."Sure, they were in unusual circumstances, but there was some semblance of order in the surrounding madness, they could as well follow that semblance of rules.
"Do what you have to do with wolves, but I do not think kids should participate."Alessa did not insist on that part, though. She never had to hunt her food (or grow, or whatever people do to make it). But killed enough monsters and saw enough peasants to understand, the kids might be well accustomed to such things already. "If you give me a few minutes, I'll summon the servant to help you." It was probably a good idea anyway, so, if there was enough time she would do it. (Unseen Servant as ritual)
The servant could last only for an hour straight but could be re-summoned, so his help was offered to anyone needing it.
"Oh? You do not see Strahd as your dear friend anymore? This is progress!"There was no mocking in Alessa's tone. She hoped that eventually the charm will wear off but was beginning to lose that hope. "What about you, Zied?"With no heart-bitting, it was not clear what Strahd even wanted with Zied, to begin with, but he certainly charmed him as well. Comments about the groups attempts to prevent the bite and then get through to the bitten she left to herself.
The topic of conversation was so important, that Alessa even did not notice at first the decorations at the entrance to the town. "Do you think they will want more of those? Hope that pelts will at least make a good entry fee."
Regmiir hunkers down by Zied and begins helping in the process of beheading the wolves and draining the blood. He might be a bit offputting in his mannerisms, but he was right about wolves being edible. Not the greatest meal, but you can't be picky when trying to make ends meet in the wilderness.
He speaks up in defense of Zied as Alessa weighs her opinion about the children's participation, "M'lady, yer companion 'ere 'as a good point. If these young'uns 'ad managed to escape, they'd 'ave to rely on skills like these to survive. Best they learn now with a good teacher and never need it, than to find themselves stuck out 'ere without it, eh?" He carefully rips one of the heads off that Ed had nicked well enough earlier, giving off a sickening and sloppy ripping sound before he begins letting the blood out.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As Zied rolls up his sleeves, he glances at Seszu. “You move up wind and up hill then. Foods here not there.”
As Regmiir removes the heads. Zied lines them up while asking Grano to fly his rope up a tree. From there creating a simple pully system he ties several of the beasts legs up hanging down. Letting the blood drain. Removing his cooking tools Zied collects some of the blood into a cooking pot while he uses his tools to slice down the stomach through visceral fat. Removing the organs one creature at a time. He drops hearts and livers into the pot. Having Ragmiir dig a hole and dumping the rest of the organs into the hole.
From there, he slices under the skin along each leg, connecting the slices to the belly cut and peels away the skin of one wolf, leaving the remaining drained and dressed wolves intact. Slicing through the muscle groups Zied removes and places in his cloak the various muscle groups. Until only the rib cage is left. From there he cuts a line along the rib cage using his blade. Motioning to Ragmiir to chop hard and firmly along these spots in the rib cage to create a rack of ribs.
Once finished all that remains is the spine, which he deposits into the intestines burrow for wild creatures to feast and cycle of life to continue.
Survival and Cook Tools. Both w/ adv thanks to Ragmiir (and possibly children) 17 and 13
If the children are interested Zied will teach best he is able (Int check to teach: 21). He will take care in explaining the purpose of draining the blood, as well as discuss what organs functions in brief (Heart pumps blood-it is good minced, the liver filters blood-its healthy but should be soaked to remove impurities, do not eat the kidney nor intestines as they tend to gather deposits that are harder to clean. Always bury the intestines and never dismantle near your camp.). Zied will let each child-if they feel brave- to dismantle one limb, and he will have them pull the skin taut as he draws his blade between the skin and the intramuscular fat. Explaining the various uses for a pelt, as well as the need to scrape off the inner flesh in order to preserve the pelt for tanning.
-------------
On the topic of the bite, Zied glosses over it the most, when Alessa addresses him directly on the topic, Zied shrugs, “Not the first time I’ve been under a compulsion. Likely not the last. Strahd did not take advantage of it—They’ll pay for the blood tithe with their own blood if they try again. I bet his blood makes a fine reagent, obviously powerful. His blood and teeth will fuel my future if he barrs our escape from these lands. I have great need of powerful reagents.” Looking up at Alessa-arms dip in viscera and blood Zied’s eyes show little emotion as he discusses chopping up their host to be fuel.
---------------
“I do not plan to take the children MonsterHunting, no. However, we are responsible for them at the current period. Further, as you plaintively stated, they have no parents worth salt. They will need to know how to live from now on. In a country like this. Even if the town features a orphanage, that does not guarantee a life. Nor is there a guarantee that the orphanage will accept children. “ As he loads dressed wolves into the cart-making sure to take the heads as well-Wolf teeth may have a use as barter- He then uses his supplies (prestidigitation) to clean himself and all participants. “Regardless your level of common sense does not apply to this world. We have simple choice right now. We take responsibility for rescuing them until the end (town/orphanage/etc), or we don’t care for them at all. I’ll not waste time half-assing it. If I am responsible for these younglings. They will learn. They will grow. They will survive. Anything less is an insult to my abilities-and by proxy my teachers.”
===== Last note. While traveling Zied will use his various alchemical supplies to purify food and water the wolves we have gathered. Removing all worms, bacteria etc in the dressed wolves, meat supplies, and cooking pot of blood and organs.
“Yes. Given the…décor.. I imagine they have no fondness for wolves. Even if they deny entry we can at least camp along the wall and light.”
As Zied rolls up his sleeves, he glances at Seszu. “You move up wind and up hill then. Foods here not there.”
Sezsu rolls his eyes and flops back on the grass, seeing that the trees Zied will need are downhill anyway. He's clearly content to let the others quabble about the children's fate now that they're safe (for the moment).
"Oh? You do not see Strahd as your dear friend anymore? This is progress!"There was no mocking in Alessa's tone. She hoped that eventually the charm will wear off but was beginning to lose that hope. "What about you, Zied?"With no heart-bitting, it was not clear what Strahd even wanted with Zied, to begin with, but he certainly charmed him as well. Comments about the groups attempts to prevent the bite and then get through to the bitten she left to herself.
"'Dear friend'?! The guy sucked the blood right outta my neck! I'm gonna bludgeon his brains out! I hope he's truly undead so he'll get back up and I can keep bludgeoning away until I'm satisfied." He continues muttering to himself. "Drink my blood... Nobody gets to do that without my coherent consent... Still can't believe they just stood there and watched... Probably enjoyed it, the sick weirdos..."
As the wolf evade Ed's sweep, he realises that he might have miscalculated the danger of the situation. His radiance burns two of the wolves, before the pack set upon him. Able to defend the first attack with his shield he is too slow to avoid all the snapping jaws, taking bite after bite out of him. One catches the back of his ankle and he crumples to the floor. He hears the others rally and come to his aid, restoring some of the paladin's vigor and determination. He takes a swing at the wolf closest to Sezsu, trying to cut their numbers down to size.
Action: Attack: 13+2 Damage: 6 slashing + 2 radiant
Movement, 15ft to stand up.
Radiant Consumption: 2 damage to all creatures in 10ft of Ed
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
Regmiir’s divinely inspired swing knocks the (red) wolf flying. It lands motionless on the ground nearby (red down).
Zied’s healing concoction strikes Ed, knitting closed some of his wounds. Zied’s sword flashes with green fire, but he swing is uncontrolled and the wolf twists away.
Alessa tugs the strings of fate attuned to the (orange) wolf, dooming it to an early demise. She follows with a minor fireball that flies over and beyond the wolf, dissipating in the chill air.
Ed hauls himself to his feet, taking a swing at the (orange) wolf. The blade removes its head cleanly and sends it rolling away (orange down).
Sezu points at the (green) wolf, filling the air with the sound of dolorous bells.
Green Wis DC 13: 11
The (green) wolf yelps in pain and recoils, fleeing the scene!
The remaining wolves harry their targets!
Red @ Ed: Attack: 23 Damage: 10 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
Blue @ Ed: Attack: 19 Damage: 9 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
The (blue) wolf turns growls at Alessa, then whines and veers its head away, instead snapping at Regmiir.
Blue @ Regmiir: Attack: 22 Damage: 7 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
Green @ Regmiir: Attack: 24 Damage: 13 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
The (yellow) wolf charges forward and snaps at Regmiir as well.
Yellow @ Regmiir: Attack: 22 Damage: 8 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
Orange @ Zied: Attack: 13 Damage: 5 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
Initiative (bold may act): PCs, enemy
Ed falls down again, prone and unconscious.
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
Regmiir falters slightly as he sees Ed fall in combat. The wolves come at him furiously, but the pain is dulled by his conviction. All his senses blend together and urging him onward to strike a new blow against the next canine.
Strength Saves: 18 26 19
(If prone'd, I'll stand back up)
Action: Normal attack @Green Wolf in flank with Zied: Attack: 23 Damage: 8
If hit: Divine Fury for 7
Zied groans as he hear Ed's plight again, sparing a glance before hearing a chomp. Reacting impulsively with a kick he pushes the hound away before its teeth find him. Once again cracking a vial and his pommel together. Launching a second healing vial at Ed, as he lashes out with his alchemist' fire dripping dagger. This time following up on Regmiir's situation and trying to fiend it off more.
11 To Hit. Green Wolf w/ flanking advantage. + 3bless. 7 P damage.
+2 Fire Damage to Orange (Green flame blade)
Healing Word for Ed: 4
She missed embarrassingly but Sezsu was there to help now, while the main body of the pack was attacking their left flang. While her luck was still with her (she was not attacked yet), Alessa tried to help Regmiir, sending Grano first for the risky but helping distraction. Little bird screeched at the wolf, pretending to attack it's eyes and flying up at the last moment.
Grano help action.
BA moving Hex on the blue wolf attacking Regmiir (cursed ability Str)
Action: Fire Bolt Attack: 7 Damage: 5 + 3 necrotic damage
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Feeling the searing pain of Ed's blinding radiance, Sezsu keeps his distance and moves to flank the flanking flanker wolves, rushing around to the far side of the red one.
"If we survive this, we're going to have a talk about whatever that is, Ed!" he shouts as he draws his shortsword and stabs at the beast.
Action: [weapon]Shortsword[/weapon] - Attack: 17 Damage: 6
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Ed seems to hit the floor for a moment, seeming to fall to the savage bites of the two remaining wolves. A heartbeat or two pass, yet in those moments his injuries seem to fade, the bleeding stops, the bitemarks through his clothes can be seen to heal up and the flesh knits, puckers and smooths. Ed sits bolt upright and raises his sword to the sky and exclaims, "I shall seek thee!" He seems to regain his sense of the situation around him, the burning wave around him intensifies momentarily and he crouches into a battle stance, then unleashes a swipe at the weakest of the two wolves.
Attack: 3 + 24 Damage: 9 slashing +2 radiant
BA - none
Movement - none
2 radiant damage to all creatures in 10 ft.
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
Regmirr's hammer strikes down another (green) wolf!
Zied's blade pierces another (orange), which yelps in pain and surprise.
Alessa's and Grano's coordinate plan works, and her fire bolt strikes the (blue) wolf!
Sezsu buries his sword into the hilt of another, eliciting another yip.
Ed, inexplicably, returns to consciousness and, driven by purpose, easily fells the (blue) wolf.
Two of the wolves, badly injured, retreat for the cover of the trees (disengage). Two others, undeterred, surround Regmiir and snap with their teeth.
Blue @ Regmiir: Attack: 12 Damage: 8 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
Yellow @ Regmiir: Attack: 10 Damage: 9 - if hit, you must succeed on a DC 11 Str saving throw or be knocked prone
Initiative (bold may act): PCs, enemy
Strength Save: 22 - Will stand up if proned.
Regmiir pivots from the felled wolf as the remaining two surround him. He is relieved to see Ed back on his feet, though curious about the new aura radiating from him. Sezsu is right, he thought, best ask him about that later.
Feeling the nip from one of the wolves, he grabs the Warhammer beat its head and spins it around his backside, hoping to catch the one offguard despite exposing his flank.
Action: Reckless Attack @ Yellow Wolf Attack: 17 Damage: 10
If hit: Divine Fury for 3
Ed nods to Sezsu, after he cleaves through the wolf, "Survive first, talk later, good plan." He turns on his heel seeming Regmiir still engaged by two of the wolves then charges forward, his vigour seems to be fully renewed now, the war cry resounds again, "The Dawn!" He rushes past Alessa seemingly disregarding her entirely, his sword already swinging towards the wolf at Regmiir's back, the shimmering heat dropping after he takes his strike.
Attack: 3+6 Damage: 12 slashing +2 radiant damage @ Blue
BA: Drop Celestial Revelation
Movement: 25ft to yellow
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
Seeing Ed's single-minded furvor, Sezsu can't help but smile. This is why he likes traveling with this crew.
Looking around to reassess the situation, he heaves a sigh at the apparent turning of the tide of battle. The diminutive young man begins to slowly walk back toward the group, slapping the flat of his blade against his shield again. The sharp peel of the distance bell fills the air once more.
Action: Toll the dead - WIS save DC 14 or take 4 necrotic damage or 3 if it's already taken damage.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
It was a huge relief to see some of the wolves running away and the two most stubborn near death. Just to be sure that "near" turns into "certain" Alessa did her best to add to the retaliation, repeating a seemingly successful tactic:
Grano help action.
BA moving Hex on the yellow wolf (cursed ability Str)
Action: Fire Bolt Attack: 16 Damage: 9 + 6 necrotic damage
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Regmiir's and Ed finish off the last two wolves. The children are frightened but unharmed.
An uneasy silence resumes among the woods, broken only by the distant caw of a raven.
The road continues on. (Five hours pass. Feel free to insert any RP here.)
Day 5 - 7:00 p.m. (sunset)
The Old Svalich Road meanders into a valley watched over by dark, brooding mountains to the north and south. The woods recede, revealing a sullen mountain burg surrounded by a wooden palisade. Thick fog presses up against this wall, as though looking for a way inside, hoping to catch the town aslumber.
The dirt road ends at a set of sturdy iron gates with a pair of shadowy figures standing behind them. Planted in the ground and flanking the road outside the gates are a half-dozen pikes with wolves’ heads impaled on them.
Zied figures he’d be breathing heavy if he still breathed anything more than habit. Looking at the littered corpses ofwolves and the children being fine. “We shouldn’t leave the supplies behind. Canines are not ideal meals. But I can skin them, and we can eat the flesh. Mayhap barter as well. Do we want to await here, or should we take a few and leave the rest to draw animals from us? Either way. Let me drain the blood before we leave. It won’t take long if one of you would take their heads off.” Zied remarks, but looking at the kids briefly.
“You two have a choice. Do you want to help me, or do you want to rest? I would advise you take the time you are with us as meaningful. You survived the hags for now, but you are without parents. You’ll have to learn to protect yourselves, and learn to survive. Would you like to learn?” Zied offers the children, remembering vaguely his own youth, memories fading from passage of time but the occasional feeling of love of learning was still there.
“I’ll teach you how to use a sling, how to skin, and how to cook while we’re together. But you must want it. I won’t waste time.”
(Sorry for multiple scenes in one post but I wanted to be sure I didn't forget any of it and I'm happy to take time playing out any or all of them!)
Sezsu gags at Zied's proposal of beheading and bleeding the wolves.
"I prefer to remain a civilized distance from my food source," he says as he sheaths his sword and falls to an exhausted seat on the hill. "Do what you must but please do it downhill and downwind from me."
Quietly, he can be heard muttering, "Blech...country folk..."
As they travel, Sezsu sidles up next to Edlanar.
"So yeah... That was... Quite a thing back there. With the wolves and the hags and the explosion... You know? So that's twice now I've seen you light up like a torch and I gotta say... It's a bit disconcerting. Is that something all of Lathander's devotees can do? It kinda hurt and I don't know how I feel about that."
Further into the trip Sezsu closes his eyes and shakes his head as if trying to clear his vision. He stops in his tracks as the group passes him by.
"Wait. Hang on. I just realized... That monster...bit Zied and me and you all just stood there! What in the Nine Hells were you all thinking?!? Some friends you are!"
He feels for any marks on his neck then puts a hand to his temple and winces. "I've had a splitting headache ever since. What the heck, guys?? If that's your idea of a practical joke, it's not a very good one..."
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
"You can not seriously plan to take kids with us! If you forgot, we are on a quest to confront the meanest creature of this realm. It is not a place for the kids." Alessa was staring at Zied in quite clear disbelieve. "The first thing we are visiting in the town is the church. There we shall talk to the priest about local customs concerning orphans and parents that kill their kids. Then we shall decide if we are to step in." Sure, they were in unusual circumstances, but there was some semblance of order in the surrounding madness, they could as well follow that semblance of rules.
"Do what you have to do with wolves, but I do not think kids should participate." Alessa did not insist on that part, though. She never had to hunt her food (or grow, or whatever people do to make it). But killed enough monsters and saw enough peasants to understand, the kids might be well accustomed to such things already. "If you give me a few minutes, I'll summon the servant to help you." It was probably a good idea anyway, so, if there was enough time she would do it. (Unseen Servant as ritual)
The servant could last only for an hour straight but could be re-summoned, so his help was offered to anyone needing it.
"Oh? You do not see Strahd as your dear friend anymore? This is progress!" There was no mocking in Alessa's tone. She hoped that eventually the charm will wear off but was beginning to lose that hope. "What about you, Zied?" With no heart-bitting, it was not clear what Strahd even wanted with Zied, to begin with, but he certainly charmed him as well. Comments about the groups attempts to prevent the bite and then get through to the bitten she left to herself.
The topic of conversation was so important, that Alessa even did not notice at first the decorations at the entrance to the town. "Do you think they will want more of those? Hope that pelts will at least make a good entry fee."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Regmiir hunkers down by Zied and begins helping in the process of beheading the wolves and draining the blood. He might be a bit offputting in his mannerisms, but he was right about wolves being edible. Not the greatest meal, but you can't be picky when trying to make ends meet in the wilderness.
He speaks up in defense of Zied as Alessa weighs her opinion about the children's participation, "M'lady, yer companion 'ere 'as a good point. If these young'uns 'ad managed to escape, they'd 'ave to rely on skills like these to survive. Best they learn now with a good teacher and never need it, than to find themselves stuck out 'ere without it, eh?" He carefully rips one of the heads off that Ed had nicked well enough earlier, giving off a sickening and sloppy ripping sound before he begins letting the blood out.
As Zied rolls up his sleeves, he glances at Seszu. “You move up wind and up hill then. Foods here not there.”
As Regmiir removes the heads. Zied lines them up while asking Grano to fly his rope up a tree. From there creating a simple pully system he ties several of the beasts legs up hanging down. Letting the blood drain. Removing his cooking tools Zied collects some of the blood into a cooking pot while he uses his tools to slice down the stomach through visceral fat. Removing the organs one creature at a time. He drops hearts and livers into the pot. Having Ragmiir dig a hole and dumping the rest of the organs into the hole.
From there, he slices under the skin along each leg, connecting the slices to the belly cut and peels away the skin of one wolf, leaving the remaining drained and dressed wolves intact. Slicing through the muscle groups Zied removes and places in his cloak the various muscle groups. Until only the rib cage is left. From there he cuts a line along the rib cage using his blade. Motioning to Ragmiir to chop hard and firmly along these spots in the rib cage to create a rack of ribs.
Once finished all that remains is the spine, which he deposits into the intestines burrow for wild creatures to feast and cycle of life to continue.
Survival and Cook Tools. Both w/ adv thanks to Ragmiir (and possibly children) 17 and 13
If the children are interested Zied will teach best he is able (Int check to teach: 21). He will take care in explaining the purpose of draining the blood, as well as discuss what organs functions in brief (Heart pumps blood-it is good minced, the liver filters blood-its healthy but should be soaked to remove impurities, do not eat the kidney nor intestines as they tend to gather deposits that are harder to clean. Always bury the intestines and never dismantle near your camp.). Zied will let each child-if they feel brave- to dismantle one limb, and he will have them pull the skin taut as he draws his blade between the skin and the intramuscular fat. Explaining the various uses for a pelt, as well as the need to scrape off the inner flesh in order to preserve the pelt for tanning.
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On the topic of the bite, Zied glosses over it the most, when Alessa addresses him directly on the topic, Zied shrugs, “Not the first time I’ve been under a compulsion. Likely not the last. Strahd did not take advantage of it—They’ll pay for the blood tithe with their own blood if they try again. I bet his blood makes a fine reagent, obviously powerful. His blood and teeth will fuel my future if he barrs our escape from these lands. I have great need of powerful reagents.” Looking up at Alessa-arms dip in viscera and blood Zied’s eyes show little emotion as he discusses chopping up their host to be fuel.
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“I do not plan to take the children MonsterHunting, no. However, we are responsible for them at the current period. Further, as you plaintively stated, they have no parents worth salt. They will need to know how to live from now on. In a country like this. Even if the town features a orphanage, that does not guarantee a life. Nor is there a guarantee that the orphanage will accept children. “ As he loads dressed wolves into the cart-making sure to take the heads as well-Wolf teeth may have a use as barter- He then uses his supplies (prestidigitation) to clean himself and all participants. “Regardless your level of common sense does not apply to this world. We have simple choice right now. We take responsibility for rescuing them until the end (town/orphanage/etc), or we don’t care for them at all. I’ll not waste time half-assing it. If I am responsible for these younglings. They will learn. They will grow. They will survive. Anything less is an insult to my abilities-and by proxy my teachers.”
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Last note. While traveling Zied will use his various alchemical supplies to purify food and water the wolves we have gathered. Removing all worms, bacteria etc in the dressed wolves, meat supplies, and cooking pot of blood and organs.
“Yes. Given the…décor.. I imagine they have no fondness for wolves. Even if they deny entry we can at least camp along the wall and light.”
Sezsu rolls his eyes and flops back on the grass, seeing that the trees Zied will need are downhill anyway. He's clearly content to let the others quabble about the children's fate now that they're safe (for the moment).
"'Dear friend'?! The guy sucked the blood right outta my neck! I'm gonna bludgeon his brains out! I hope he's truly undead so he'll get back up and I can keep bludgeoning away until I'm satisfied." He continues muttering to himself. "Drink my blood... Nobody gets to do that without my coherent consent... Still can't believe they just stood there and watched... Probably enjoyed it, the sick weirdos..."
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age