Lucky looks at Zanoth. He then stares off into the middle distance. It's name was Ever Stone. A diamond the size if your fist. Worth a kings ransom it was. When I held it in my hands the world just seemed right but alas It was not to last and it was gone all too soon. .... as for how much you've "lent" me... only your friendship and maybe a spare copper or two to pay for drinks after you've had your fill.
“It is ok my diminutive friend, perfection of ones skills and valour in battle is more important than mere coppers to me. But the question still remains as to our future path. There is the question of what those Dragonkind were doing skulking around that bush-land area for days, exposed and in danger.. searching for something, but I am not certain we can explore that avenue without undue risk.
So unless there is any dissent, it looks like we’ll be heading off toRydwyrna with the amulet.”
<Turning to Rivu>;
“In another life, without such danger I would be tempted to stay. Your offer of aid is welcome, but I need nothing more that what I have already beholden with my eyes.”
Zanoth's last statement caused Rivu to blush slightly, but she quickly composed herself and addressed Zanoth's statement about the dragonborn traipsing about the wilderness. "You mean they weren't just headed back to the Marwood and the occupied Elven lands? That doesn't make any sense. If the item was of such importance, wouldn't they have been directed to turn it over to some council of higher authority? I mean, just look at us? Our logic tells us to take it to Rydwyrna, possibly the most secure place in all of the free lands. Why would they go through such effort to steal it, only to galavant about the wilderness, exposed and easily endangered?"
Rivu nods at Mills with a smile. "You are right. Your course of action is clear. It just gives me the shivers to think of some secret ancient devilry hidden just a giant's stone throw away from The Ridge. If Feorac's family amulet is the key to locating and unlocking it, then getting that thing as far away from here as possible, as quickly as possible must be our top priority. If there's nothing else I can do, gentlemen, I'd suggest making all haste."
Aye, fast horses, spares so we can do a mid-day switch and ride hard, and supplies. Might I also suggest sending out a “copy” team, disguised as us in different direction, and after a day have them return slowly via a different route. Hopefully ruses may confuse pursuit. Keep lookouts for any approaching enemies to the town, and maybe consider some preparedness drills for the townsfolk so they know when to hide, when to run and hopefully not needed, but when to fight.
Dark times seem to be brewing and we should use the most of the light we have whilst we have it. Let’s get moving.
Just about everything the Outlanders asked for they got: refreshed supplies for the road, rations, water, whiskey; four of Radill's fastest horses, only four because Bercha thought Zanoth's idea of sending out a mirror group in the opposite direction was spot on, and took Radill's other four horses for that group; and before each man left Rivu's Temple of Light, she gave them each a blessing sealed with a holy kiss. Lucky couldn't help but notice that his and Gor's kisses were on the forehead, and both Mills' and Zanoth's were on the lips, but he decided he'd bring that up later, now they were burning daylight.
Once again the group had to defer to Mill's knowledge of the roads and trails of the Highlands. The quickest route from Hyssop Ridge to the fortress metropolis of Rydwyrna was to follow the River Amryn along its course south to Pearl Hollow and there to pick up a ship to take them along the southern coast of Iewiuf, and up the Red River. First things first, though, the group had to make a treacherous two day, if the weather cooperated, journey down the steep roads and craggy mountain goat trails to somewhere they could get a boat or two. Mills instinct told him to avoid going directly to Silver Valley, the largest city on this side of the River Amryn, and the seat of Eoran Fionghann the Eorl of almost all the Highland lands west of the river, including Hyssop Ridge. Instead he wanted to head for Cold Bend. As the group trotted away from Hyssop Ridge to the south east, Mills explained that Cold Bend was a community of families that had been excommunicated from their clans for a variety of reasons. When pressed about why they would be kicked out of a clan by Gor, Mills explained that some of the larger clans would revoke clan rights for criminal offenses, for not paying taxes, or sometimes just because they angered their clan chief or Eorl. He further explained that there weren't too many clanless Highlanders, as there were ways to earn your way back into a clan, or into a new one, but some of the clanless found it liberating to not owe taxes to anyone. Of course, that also meant they were entirely on their own for law enforcement and protection. Lucky commented that Cold Bend sounded like just his kind of place, and after that discussion about the destination pretty much ceased.
It wasn't until after dinner sitting by a warm fire inside a small cave that overlooked a steep wooded hill, that anything eventful happened. As the group sat around the fire, finishing off the roasted grouse that Mills had brought down with his bow, they all felt the ground tremor slightly beneath them in a rhythmic pattern, and heard their horses, that were tied to a picket line they'd setup between two nearby trees, neighing and braying excitedly. Gor stepped up to the mouth of the cave and looked out onto the moonlit landscape to look for a possible source. Just then a massive shadow passed his field of vision, and Gor looked right to see a huge ogre yanking on the mane of one of their horses!
(OOC: Bad luck, the Ogre beat everybody in initiative.)
Before anybody had enough time to grab a weapon, the ogre had yanked one of their horses so hard that it snapped the rope of their picket line. All three of the other horses bolted into the forest in fright, and the ogre started dragging the screaming and panicked animal back up the hill.
(OOC: Batter up!!! Ogre is now 40' up the hillside above the mouth of the cave. Remember you can post your turn's worth of actions whenever you have time, because we use blocked initiative. Been a while, I know, so don't hesitate to ask any questions in our private message chat.)
Zanoth hears the screams of the horses and see’s the outline of the ogre in the cave mouth only a short distance away.
Calling forth the powers of Saxwyn a ghostly skeletal hand appears next to the Ogre, grasping for it’s skin. Zanoth then runs towards it, grabbing his spear and pointing it in the direction of the beast. Calling out a curse a black mist flows out from his spear, seeping into the skin of the Ogre. Then planting himself ready for the upcoming charge, Zanoth gets ready to take it’s weight on the deadly tip of his spear.
/OOC
Initiative: 1
Move: 30 ft towards Ogre, so 10 ft from it.
Free action: Get Spear in hand, ready for Ogre to move into 5’ range (Polearm Master - Reaction hit if moves into range)
Bonus Action: Hexblades Curse on Ogre (+2 damage, Crit on 19 or 20, +5 hp on Ogres death)
Action: Cast 0:Chill Touch on the Ogre.
23 vs AC11 for 5 (necrotic - stops regeneration of hp).
I am going to assume on it’s turn it will move into 5’ range of me, so here is my Polearm Master reaction attack;
Got stands back behind the others and takes out his star map chanting in druidic causing a streak of celestial light (guiding bolt)out at the ogre (20 hit 12 damage)
(OOC: So because of Gor's successful hit with the Guiding Bolt, Zanoth's polearm master reaction attack would have been rolled with advantage. As such I rolled again and it scored a hit for 10hp damage.)
Being quickly smacked by necrotic magic, an arrow, and then a bolt of radiant light caused the hulking ogre to grimace and growl in pain as blood started to flow and contusions started to form on it's skin. It immediately forgot about the meal of horse, releasing the animal to scurry off into the dark forest, and turned and strode directly toward Zanoth. Zanoth's lightning fast reflexes paid dividends as he thrust out with his spear as the massive creature closed distance. What happened after Zanoth jabbed the bipedal behemoth with his spear caused all of his allies no end of fear. In a swing whose swiftness defied reason, the ogre crashed the tree trunk he carried as a club into the side of Zanoth's head. A sickening crack reverberated throughout the woods, and Zanoth dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Lucky stared down at him in slack jawed fright, and then up at the huge beast that just accomplished something he'd never seen before, knocking out his best friend.
(OOC: Bad dice luck; rolls are in the campaign log. The ogre rolled a 20 to hit, and then 24hp worth of damage. Zanoth is currently at 0hp and will need to make death saves each round unless he receives healing. That's the ogre's full turn, so you all are up to bat. FYI for anyone who looks, the ogre does now appear bloodied.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Zanoth sees stars, what the…. what had happened ? He had never been hit that hard, a single blow had knocked him unconscious, but then he had never fought something ten feet tall before. Staggering to his feet, he see Mills standing behind him, hand outstretched touching his back, the healing energy coming to an end.
Struggling to his feet as quickly as he could whilst the ogre recovered it’s swing, Zanoth stabbed forward with his spear to the Ogres bulging stomach to be followed up by the butt-end to its legs. He knew he was taking a risk standing in-front of the creature after taking such a blow, the next could be his end if it landed with equal force, but he forged ahead anyway, glorying in the fight.
/OOC
As I am last initiative, it means Gore goes before me, I have time to stand. I guess sometimes being last in initiative is good eh ?
Lucky sees everything in slow motion as his only friend is crushed brought back to life then attacks. As Zanoth attacks he snaps out of his funk and follows suit.
Lucky looks at Zanoth. He then stares off into the middle distance. It's name was Ever Stone. A diamond the size if your fist. Worth a kings ransom it was. When I held it in my hands the world just seemed right but alas It was not to last and it was gone all too soon. .... as for how much you've "lent" me... only your friendship and maybe a spare copper or two to pay for drinks after you've had your fill.
<Laughing at Lucky>
“It is ok my diminutive friend, perfection of ones skills and valour in battle is more important than mere coppers to me. But the question still remains as to our future path. There is the question of what those Dragonkind were doing skulking around that bush-land area for days, exposed and in danger.. searching for something, but I am not certain we can explore that avenue without undue risk.
So unless there is any dissent, it looks like we’ll be heading off to Rydwyrna with the amulet.”
<Turning to Rivu>;
“In another life, without such danger I would be tempted to stay. Your offer of aid is welcome, but I need nothing more that what I have already beholden with my eyes.”
Zanoth's last statement caused Rivu to blush slightly, but she quickly composed herself and addressed Zanoth's statement about the dragonborn traipsing about the wilderness. "You mean they weren't just headed back to the Marwood and the occupied Elven lands? That doesn't make any sense. If the item was of such importance, wouldn't they have been directed to turn it over to some council of higher authority? I mean, just look at us? Our logic tells us to take it to Rydwyrna, possibly the most secure place in all of the free lands. Why would they go through such effort to steal it, only to galavant about the wilderness, exposed and easily endangered?"
Mills shrugs. "We're in the dark. If we didn't need to secure the amulet I'd say we go find out with our own eyes. We'll look into it after."
Paladin - warforged - orange
Rivu nods at Mills with a smile. "You are right. Your course of action is clear. It just gives me the shivers to think of some secret ancient devilry hidden just a giant's stone throw away from The Ridge. If Feorac's family amulet is the key to locating and unlocking it, then getting that thing as far away from here as possible, as quickly as possible must be our top priority. If there's nothing else I can do, gentlemen, I'd suggest making all haste."
You can provide us with provisions for the road.
Just about everything the Outlanders asked for they got: refreshed supplies for the road, rations, water, whiskey; four of Radill's fastest horses, only four because Bercha thought Zanoth's idea of sending out a mirror group in the opposite direction was spot on, and took Radill's other four horses for that group; and before each man left Rivu's Temple of Light, she gave them each a blessing sealed with a holy kiss. Lucky couldn't help but notice that his and Gor's kisses were on the forehead, and both Mills' and Zanoth's were on the lips, but he decided he'd bring that up later, now they were burning daylight.
Once again the group had to defer to Mill's knowledge of the roads and trails of the Highlands. The quickest route from Hyssop Ridge to the fortress metropolis of Rydwyrna was to follow the River Amryn along its course south to Pearl Hollow and there to pick up a ship to take them along the southern coast of Iewiuf, and up the Red River. First things first, though, the group had to make a treacherous two day, if the weather cooperated, journey down the steep roads and craggy mountain goat trails to somewhere they could get a boat or two. Mills instinct told him to avoid going directly to Silver Valley, the largest city on this side of the River Amryn, and the seat of Eoran Fionghann the Eorl of almost all the Highland lands west of the river, including Hyssop Ridge. Instead he wanted to head for Cold Bend. As the group trotted away from Hyssop Ridge to the south east, Mills explained that Cold Bend was a community of families that had been excommunicated from their clans for a variety of reasons. When pressed about why they would be kicked out of a clan by Gor, Mills explained that some of the larger clans would revoke clan rights for criminal offenses, for not paying taxes, or sometimes just because they angered their clan chief or Eorl. He further explained that there weren't too many clanless Highlanders, as there were ways to earn your way back into a clan, or into a new one, but some of the clanless found it liberating to not owe taxes to anyone. Of course, that also meant they were entirely on their own for law enforcement and protection. Lucky commented that Cold Bend sounded like just his kind of place, and after that discussion about the destination pretty much ceased.
It wasn't until after dinner sitting by a warm fire inside a small cave that overlooked a steep wooded hill, that anything eventful happened. As the group sat around the fire, finishing off the roasted grouse that Mills had brought down with his bow, they all felt the ground tremor slightly beneath them in a rhythmic pattern, and heard their horses, that were tied to a picket line they'd setup between two nearby trees, neighing and braying excitedly. Gor stepped up to the mouth of the cave and looked out onto the moonlit landscape to look for a possible source. Just then a massive shadow passed his field of vision, and Gor looked right to see a huge ogre yanking on the mane of one of their horses!
(OOC: Bad luck, the Ogre beat everybody in initiative.)
Before anybody had enough time to grab a weapon, the ogre had yanked one of their horses so hard that it snapped the rope of their picket line. All three of the other horses bolted into the forest in fright, and the ogre started dragging the screaming and panicked animal back up the hill.
(OOC: Batter up!!! Ogre is now 40' up the hillside above the mouth of the cave. Remember you can post your turn's worth of actions whenever you have time, because we use blocked initiative. Been a while, I know, so don't hesitate to ask any questions in our private message chat.)
/OOC
Mills draws his bow and fires an arrow at the ogre, trying to keep a range that puts Zanoth between him and the ogre
Attack: 9 Damage: 8
Paladin - warforged - orange
Got stands back behind the others and takes out his star map chanting in druidic causing a streak of celestial light (guiding bolt)out at the ogre (20 hit 12 damage)
gives advantage on next attack
Lucky will get up and pull out his Sword and Whip then dash after Zanoth. Take up perch just behind the big man under his sphere of protection.
Wait up big guy!
Item interaction equip Sword, action equip whip, Bouns Action Cunning Action to dash to keep up with Zanoth.
(OOC: So because of Gor's successful hit with the Guiding Bolt, Zanoth's polearm master reaction attack would have been rolled with advantage. As such I rolled again and it scored a hit for 10hp damage.)
Being quickly smacked by necrotic magic, an arrow, and then a bolt of radiant light caused the hulking ogre to grimace and growl in pain as blood started to flow and contusions started to form on it's skin. It immediately forgot about the meal of horse, releasing the animal to scurry off into the dark forest, and turned and strode directly toward Zanoth. Zanoth's lightning fast reflexes paid dividends as he thrust out with his spear as the massive creature closed distance. What happened after Zanoth jabbed the bipedal behemoth with his spear caused all of his allies no end of fear. In a swing whose swiftness defied reason, the ogre crashed the tree trunk he carried as a club into the side of Zanoth's head. A sickening crack reverberated throughout the woods, and Zanoth dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Lucky stared down at him in slack jawed fright, and then up at the huge beast that just accomplished something he'd never seen before, knocking out his best friend.
(OOC: Bad dice luck; rolls are in the campaign log. The ogre rolled a 20 to hit, and then 24hp worth of damage. Zanoth is currently at 0hp and will need to make death saves each round unless he receives healing. That's the ogre's full turn, so you all are up to bat. FYI for anyone who looks, the ogre does now appear bloodied.)
/OOC
Mills rushes to get the big fella standing again, casting cure wounds for 8
Paladin - warforged - orange
/OOC
Lucky sees everything in slow motion as his only friend is crushed brought back to life then attacks. As Zanoth attacks he snaps out of his funk and follows suit.
Raiper 14 Damage 11
Whip off hand 12 Damage 6
Sneak attack on hit 6
Ooc:Lol guess Lucky peed himself
Attack at advantage for guiding bolt?
Plus halfling luck! Reroll 1s
Paladin - warforged - orange