Seeing the creature continue to stand despite the blows from the others, Thatch grimly draws another arrow from his quiver, fits it to his bow and fires it toward the specter's head.

Attack: 16 Damage: 9 plus 5 sneak attack damage.

Quote from EtyenAndiros >>

(I have no idea why my last two posts w/rolls are showing as potentially manipulated.  They haven't even been edited!  And when I first submitted, it showed an 8 for the Perception roll, so I'm going with that.)

... is apparently too distracted by the whole ongoing mess to recognize his dearest Famh, post-transformation.  He and Thatch stand side by side, bows drawn, looking quite majestic themselves, and Cainneach half turns his head toward his friend to reply, "The feck if I know what this portends, but I think Almeric's either going to save us or get himself killed.  And I hope that giant elk's on our side!"  He then yells loudly over the keening wail of the spectre, "Tana, close that door, and Salt, find Famh!"  Finally, Cainneach narrows his eyes and focuses intently on their adversary as she and Almeric do their halting dance.  A green haze fills his field of vision, but their grim foe is strikingly clear to the ranger.

Bonus Action - Hunter's Mark  (fixed upon the spectre, bonus 1d6 to hit w/weapon attacks, requires concentration)
Action - Ready Longbow - attack vs. spectre: 16, damage (piercing): 13 w/Hunter's Mark  (held until spectre either breaks past Almeric or attacks)

Salt - Perception 7  (sniffing around for Famh)

Quote from EtyenAndiros >>

Quote from EtyenAndiros >>

Cainneach is heartened by both the great successes of his companions and by Fergus' seeming return to his senses.  After it appeared his first arrow did some damage, he draws, nocks and looses another.  Immediately after, he calls Salt to heel, imploring the hound to stay out of this fight for now.  It seems unlikely his teeth would leave much of a mark on the stony spectre.

Longbow - Attack vs. Stony Spectre: 18, damage (piercing): 14 w/Hunter's Mark

Salt - Dodge

"Bonus Action" - After seeing his arrow strike true, Cainneach looks around with increasing concern for Famh!  ;-)

 'Bonus reaction' LOL: At some point in its maneuvering, the giant elk turns its head enough to see the growing anxiety on Cainneach's face.  The sight pierces through the battle fury their instinctive need to protect him has so far kept her in; and Famh slowly begins to realize that she seems to be a great deal higher above him than she ought to be ... 

And that the quickened breaths of love that sigh from the innermost depths of her bosom are a great deal larger than they used to be, and fill a much more massive chest ...

And that she is looking down at him not along her own nose, but that of a beast.  Not even a long graceful elegant muzzle like poor Salt was pointing at her as he crouched by Cainneach and whined softly in confusion, but a big fat ugly cow's blob that Cainneach ... that Cainneach was ... was jjjusst going to HAAAAAAAAA-AAA--AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTEE!!!!! *soobbbbbbb!!*

=========3<@@@<3=========

The elk's eye fills with a single vast tear, bravely held in check; but its mighty chest heaves with the effort as Famh desperately tries not to break down and cry.  A cloud of warm, sweetly fragrant droplets sighs out from the suddenly drooping velvet nose.  And as the breath of Famh's inner heart wafts towards him, so much closer to her soul than the scent of the elk's hame that was so strangely and abruptly wrapped around her, Salt's muzzle perks up a moment and then ...

===========================

Salt's Perception with Help: 12

(would you care to finish the descrption, EtyenAndros, or shall I?  Salt is your puppy after all, I just borrowed him a moment re-LOL...  And Cainneach did tell him to 'go find Famh' not too long ago ... ;)  I'd say he's pretty goo' boy right about now, no?

(Shaking my head ... smiling, but shaking my head.)

In the midst of the party's vicious assault on the alabaster serpent woman, two animals lock eyes.  One's simple mind is in a fog of fear and confusion, the other's advanced intelligence overcome by emotion.  Yet in that moment, through the chaos, a clarity descends upon them as the impressive power of primitive instinct coupled with centuries of olfactory evolution reveal to the young hound the true nature of the majestic, massive elk peering at him so earnestly.  "Pleading, longing, fear ... female ... familiar ... Famh?  That smells like Famh?!  Cainneach, it's Famh, it's Famh, she's inside that elk ... is that elk?  I found her, I found her, I found her, I found herrrrrrr!!!!"

Cainneach is right pleased with the prowess shown by he and his comrades in landing blow after blow on the wicked statue.  "Maybe Almeric is right, maybe we are quite good at this ... No, must stay focused, must vanquish the hag so I can find ..."  Cainneach's thoughts are cut off abruptly by an explosion of barking and jumping coming from the faithful canine at his side.  He turns to implore Salt to settle down, but finds that the hound has fixed his attention on the giant elk.  With Cainneach's bond with Salt being ever so strong, Cainneach knows that the dog is excited, happy, not scared at all by the elk.  Almost welcoming of the strange animal that seemingly materialized out of nowhere.  It's clear from the mythical beast's actions that it was on their side, but this was more than that.  It was as though Salt was trying to tell him that ... the elk was one of them?

Insight 12  (w/Help from Salt, does Cainneach figure out what the heck is going on?)

"No ... no, it couldn't possibly ..."  Cainneach knew little of the nature of Famh's magic, other than it came from the Aos Si, a notoriously fickle people.  Could they have granted her such power as to manifest unicorns and assume the form of a giant elk?  Or was this some cruel joke they'd played upon her?  A useful one, under the circumstances, but cruel nonetheless.  With his incredible perceptive ability, the forester catches a glimpse of what could only be a tear just as it slips from the jaw of the majestic beast and plummets toward the earth below.  Cainneach's gaze drifts up the glistening trail left upon the stately creature's face, tracing it to one beautiful eye, in which he sees ... Famh.  "There is no doubt, that is her ... what in the name of Morkaan has happened to you, mo ghràidh?"

Leaping back from the raging action, Tana shoots a wide-eye look at the chaos unfolding – gaze darting between the specter and the sudden elk. Steeling her resolve with a shake of her head, flames gather at the tips of her fingers before whirling toward the fiendish creature.

(To Hit: 10 | 8 fire dmg)

Thatch and Cainneachs arrow shafts bristle in the abominations chest, Tana throws flame towards it but the flickering shadows and darkness mean she hits only stone.

As Famh braces for the demon to try and push past it instead lashes out again at Almeric apparently offended by something about his person.

Attack: 26 Damage: 15 Slashing + 2 Poison.

Attack: 21 Damage: 5 Slashing + 2 Poison.

( Ori, Cainneach, Famh, Tana, Fergus and Almeric are up)

Ori continues to try and slam down his club on the snake demon. Just now realizing that there is an Elk attacking the creature as well, where did that come from? At least its attacking it and not one of us. Might as well take care of it once we are done with the snakes. 

Attack: 9 Damage: 7 bludgeoning plus 4 piercing damage 

Almeric is prepared for the Demon's first slash and parries it effortlessly, striking in a single smooth reposte action. The demon's second attack knocks the wind out of Almeric's lungs though, with fresh blood running down his flank, reducing the impact of his initial hit.  "In the Name of Gatanades, be gone!"

"Fergus, hit it again!"

Action Longsword = 22. Damage 4 (Holy) Slash.

Inspiration Re-Roll Damages = 5 (Holy) Slash.

Bonus Action (Fey Gift) Fergus has Advantage on his next attack.

(Unclear if non-magical attacks are hitting hard and in what condition the adversary is, so ramping it up ...)

Recognizing the desperate straits that Almeric yet again finds himself in, Cainneach rips his gaze and attention from Famh-Elk and drops his bow, draws his shortsword and dagger, and races to engage the stony spectre in melee combat.  After his two swings, Cainneach will circle the alabaster fiend to leave room for the others to smite her.  He leaves Salt behind to stay safe and contemplate Famh's transformation.

Shortsword +1 - Attack vs. Stony Spectre: 8, damage (magical slashing): 14  (w/Hunter's Mark)

Bonus Action - Two Weapon Fighting
Dagger - Attack vs. Stony Spectre: 21, damage (piercing): 7  (w/Hunter's Mark)

Salt - Dodge

Elk-Famh is just on the verge of dissolving into tears of utter despair.  Her mind feels like its been mired in treacle (INT 7), but horrid visions are beginning to blossom of her friends not recognizing her and leaving her to rot in this terrible place -- or still worse, thinking that ...

Cainneach.  Let it be Cainneach who shoots the fatal shaft, and oh Morkaan, Gatanades, please let him never, ever know; never even suspect why the greatest elk he ever brought down never once moved as his arrow pierced her ...

The sound of Salt's pealing barks of joy is as beautiful to her as the organ of the church back in Igham, the first church organ she ever got the chance to hear.  It is as beautiful to her as the organ was in the Baron's private chapel at the service of thanksgiving for his preservation from the traitors, where she'd learned how innocent her ear had been when she'd supposed the wheezy melodeon of the Igham village mission church to be a mighty organ.  But the sound of Cainneach's tender whisper of recognition is more beautiful, and to her ears alonr fa louder, than any of those sounds.  She cannot answer in words; but she seems to perfectly understand the meaning of what he said ("Languages Giant Elk , understands Common, Elvish, and Sylvan but can't speak them.").  She bells tenderly, infinitely softer than the ringing challenge she clove the air with a few moments before.  Then she makes an effort of will and draws her mind back to the battle at about the same time he does.  Thanks to the rather close attention she's been paying him, she realizes he is about to flank their foe and moves to let him past even as she readies her antlers to deliver a followup head butt in his wake

===========================

Ram attack 18, damage if successful 8 bludgeoning

(OOC: Not sure if Famh's attacks would be considered magical; she is a natural beast, but a rather rare and legendary one (MM: "The majestic giant elk is rare to the point that its appearance is often taken as a foreshadowing of an important event, such as the birth of a king. Legends tell of gods that take the form of giant elk when visiting the Material Plane. Many cultures therefore believe that to hunt these creatures is to invite divine wrath.") 

(OOC: assuming she's still in melee range or at least that the fight hasn't drifted more than 20' away from her, in which case of course she'll have to Charge (6 extra damage; 16 if you'd like another roll to hit; STR 14 save for the spectre to avoid being knocked prone) to attack since the Ram attack only has a reach of 10'

Ori struck at the Moon-thing but it flickered out of the way at the last moment, Cainneach dove in with his ancient blade missing the mark but his dagger finding purchase.

The huge elk crashed into the demon knocking it back as Almeric ran it through, as it fell to the ground Fergus and Tana burned it to ash......

Fergus-

Almeric stumps to one knee, turning his sword point down to use it as a crutch, resting on the quillon and crouching as if in prayer. The Capellar is exhausted from the fight, both mentally and physically but exhilarated in victory. Taking a breathe on his knee, Almeric prayers quietly.

I will love thee, O Lord my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my defence.  My God, in whom I trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, and my stronghold. It is God who girds me with strength of war. He teaches my hands to fight, gives me the speed of the hart and makes me to break even a bow of steel. Glory be to The Saviour." 

=EDIT=

Almeric has two wounds on his torso, one issues blood while the other is quiet. Neither wound is fatal but they could quckly become infected. The Crusades had shown Almeric that more men die of infection or disease than ever did from sword or spear.

The Knight enters a short meditation while praying, visualising the fight that has just happened in his mind. This techniques that was taught to him by the Master-at-Arms of Crescentium Fortress. 'To see where the enemy struck is to know where you failed to parry'. It is an excellent way to increase a defence. 'You don't win by killing the most enemy, you win by staying alive the longest.''

Almeric's abilities and potential have increased markedly, since collecting the Relic of St Ambrosius at Hob's Dell. The knucklebone of the saint blesses him with a radiant power that infernal creatures find irresistable and indefenceable. The female Spectre in the tower was destroyed, almost in a single blow. The Moon Goddess was stunned by its power, then engaged by it, unable to escape destruction. Almeric can use this knowledge to make the destructions of such things short work in the future. Perhaps one day, he will return to Hob's Dell and destroy Gardener Jack?

His prayer done, Almeric rises slowly and turns to stare deeply into Fergus eyes. The cold, calculating Capellar has returned.

Cainneach first takes a step toward Almeric to see if the Capellar is gravely injured, slumped over as he is.  Upon discovering that Almeric is merely praying, the forester turns his attention to his greatest concern, the mythical beast that was formerly his dear Famh.  Salt has already leapt forward and is darting in circles around and through the elk's legs, sniffing furiously, trying to make sense of what his limited canine mind believes has happened.  "It takes a huge animal indeed to make Salt appear small.  And how odd to see the hound so amiable toward this elk, when he'd been bred to take deer down on the hunt."  Cainneach walks slowly up to the massive creature, his gaze fixed on her large, oddly coloured eyes.  "Just like Famh's, not like any elk I've seen ..."  He reaches a hand up toward the velvety muzzle and tentatively strokes it, murmuring to her, "What have the Good Folk done to you, Famh?  Is this the cost of the magic they've given you?  Can you come back to us ... to me?  Please ..."  The forester, with tears welling up in his eyes, cuts his plea short, lest his companions hear him breaking down.

With the imediate threat dealt with, Ori breathing a sigh of relief turns his attention the the elephant in the room, well the Elk in the room is more appropriate. Seeing the animal wasn't acting violently any more, Ori scans the room of the rest of his group. Realizing that Famh was no where to be seen, and that Cainneach was.. consoling the Elk? Wait is the Elk Fahn? When had she learned to do that. Probably a trick she learned to impress her woodsy crush! He grins a bit, those two were quite the pairing, he remembers those days. By habit, Ori pats at the pocket in his waist band without realizing what he was doing.

Taking a moment to ponder the situation as Almeric prays, he realized this was really the first time he didn't sink into the deep pool of Chaotic power within him to get him through this fight whike with this group. He always relied on the stirring tempest within, even earlier with the spectral that tried to, eat or kiss him, coukd have been either it was trying to do. Was he getting comfortable in this roll? He found he could use his head more then when he didn't let his inner beast out (raging) like his old performance days where he wasn't actually trying to kill his fellow actors. But being good at fake fighting wasn't always a good transition to fighting for your life. That's where Ori dependent on beast inside to carry him through.

Perhaps Ori was starting ti believe he was as capable as Almeric tried to tell him, well that's a dangerous thought. 

Ori will inspect the swords he picked up earlier (are they silvered? I think the earlier description was "silvery" and considering them scimitars)

Famh-elk's eyes fill with tenderness at the touch of Cainneach's hand on her muzzle.  She starts to nuzzle him gently on the shoulder ... well, she intended to nuzzle his shoulder, but her nose is now so vast that it reaches from his ear to a point halfway between his shoulder and elbow, and she quickly has to stop nuzzling lest she knock him over.  At his final plea, the tenderness in her eyes mists over with a film of unshed tears.  It is plain she has no idea what happened to her or how to reverse it.  You would almost swear you see the lips of her elk-form silently forming what could only be words; but anyone watching closely enough to read her lips can tell she is only whispering over and over, "Primroseblossom ... why ... why ... ?"  

Then a breath of calm seems to fall on her from the ancient greenwoods her faerie ancestors knew, and the lonely moors they walked where no mortal yet had delved.  Her eyes clear,, and she first taps her hoof to get Cainneach's attention and then looks urgently over at Tana.  She falls into a muse immediately after, as if she were searching the depths of her own mind and soul for anything relating to her current condition.

===========================

Arcana 3

Animal Handling 3

Nature 3

Quote from OisinmacCameron >>

Famh-elk's eyes fill with tenderness at the touch of Cainneach's hand on her muzzle.  She starts to nuzzle him gently on the shoulder ... well, she intended to nuzzle his shoulder, but her nose is now so vast that it reaches from his ear to a point halfway between his shoulder and elbow, and she quickly has to stop nuzzling lest she knock him over.  At his final plea, the tenderness in her eyes mists over with a film of unshed tears.  It is plain she has no idea what happened to her or how to reverse it.  You would almost swear you see the lips of her elk-form silently forming what could only be words; but anyone watching closely enough to read her lips can tell she is only whispering over and over, "Primroseblossom ... why ... why ... ?"  

Then a breath of calm seems to fall on her from the ancient greenwoods her faerie ancestors knew, and the lonely moors they walked where no mortal yet had delved.  Her eyes clear,, and she first taps her hoof to get Cainneach's attention and then looks urgently over at Tana.  She falls into a muse immediately after, as if she were searching the depths of her own mind and soul for anything relating to her current condition.

===========================

Arcana 19

Animal Handling 20

Nature 1

 

 

Cainneach is, of course, observing Famh-Elk very closely, seeking any attempts to communicate so that he might understand what is happening to his dearest companion.  And naturally this observant fellow can read lips, perhaps even those of the huge elk variety.  "Could the unicorn really be behind this?  They are also mythical creatures, possessing unknown magic, but would Primroseblossom do such a thing?"  Cainneach's mind briefly wanders, contemplating the hypothetical psyche of the unicorn, but the sudden stamping and clear gestures of Fahm-Elk shake him from this reverie.  "Of course, that's brilliant!  Way to keep your wits about you, Fahm!"  He then turns to Tana, the quiet one, and inquires politely, "I know you enjoy speaking with animals and the like ... do you think you might speak to this one here so we can figure out to help Fahm?"

Tana immediately turns to Almeric when the fight is over, casting a glance over his wounds while he prays. She notes that the injuries could have been worse but shuffles around her pouch to produce some gauze to stem the bleeding. Offering to patch him up quickly, Tana gives an approving nod at her medical handiwork before seeing if anyone else had been hit.

At Cainneach's voice, Tana darts a glance over – having nearly forgotten about the giant elk now in their presence. Blinking curiously at the creature, she registers Cainneach's words and notes the missing form of Famh. Strange that she hadn't made the connection before.

"Yes, of course! Let me see if I can communicate with her." She responds with a faint smile in both their directions before gently prodding at the elk's mind.

'Famh? Are you alright? What happened?'