Jex steps forwards, stowing his bow away again as he steps out. Showing his palms upwards to reveal they are empty he takes another step closer. "I am a friend. From Sheercleft. My companions are on the ridge, we warned your Khaz of the goblins and that we would be following behind. I have come to scout and find the best way forwards. I was hoping to find the command tent and kill their leader." He gives a little bow, but keeps his eyes raised. "As you say, I am invisible and can be in and out before they know I was there. If you could point me in the right direction? We should be quick, my friends are less quiet and not far behind. I'd hate to alert them to an attack in their rear before I can leave them leaderless."
The dwarf grunts, lowering his spear and nodding towards Jex in acknowledgement.
"Can't see a thing in this bloody smoke," he says, spitting on the ground besides his boar. The creature sways its head in the half-elf's direction, snorting heavily, and the Dwarven rider pats the beast's flank to settle it. "Ain't natural. Mark my words. There's summat out 'ere stirrin' it up, but I'll be damned if we can find it. What's y'name lad?"
The dwarf reaches down towards Jex with a gloved hand.
Jex takes the offered hand. He considers a moment on the name but remembers he will likely have to deal with this dwarf again and his companions have been less than supportive of his deceptions. "Jex" He offers. "I will see what I can find. If nothing, we can at least break that shield wall for you."
Uglar barks a laugh and spurs his boar, sending the beast charging off between the charred trees. The dense woods make the ride seem absurdly fast and with the smoke pushing in on all sides it makes for a claustrophobic experience. Abruptly, the boar stops, sniffing the air, before barrelling off to the right. Through the brush the loud stomping of enormous feet and a deep grunt can be heard drawing rapidly closer.
Jex taps Uglar on the shoulder to get him to stop. "Something big ahead. Best I slip into the trees, come after I hit it." He slips off the back of the boar, drawing his bow and placing his mask back over his face he silently heads for the sound.
Uglar grunts and nods, but when he looks back Jex is gone. The half-elf vanishes into the smoke, sneaking ahead to see what he can find. Ahead he can see the hulking silhouette of some kind of giant moving about the woods.
Rolling his eyes in frustration, Jex lets the bow go slack and creeps closer to see what he can find. Maybe the command centre is here and I can kill the leader.
Slipping from smouldering tree trunk to tree trunk, Jex approaches the large figure. Beyond it a group of four humanoids stand in a circle, arms raised and chanting in what sounds like goblin.
Jex picks his way through the undergrowth, cat like and agile, he avoids the leaves and branches as he makes his way around the giant figure in the smoke. Another emerges into view and he makes a path between them, getting closer to the goblin shamans in the mist. He raises his bow, about to shoot. You with the staff. Maybe you're in charge? He is about to release an arrow when a thought strikes him. He lets the string go slack again, releasing his right hand he almost snaps his fingers. I need to try this. Now seems the perfect opportunity. He concentrates on the circlet that squeezes behind his ears willing forth the magic within. A bright spark lights up in his hands and he flings it outwards at the goblin holding the staff. The heat and light from the dark stun him a little, he is shocked that he even managed to call upon, the power gushing to his head as the ray slams into its target, turning him to dust. The ball is still there in his hand and he knows he must use it now. This is how Seid and Vark must feel all the time. No wonder they love it. Easy though, should have guessed. He thought too soon though, the shock of the heat and light of the first bolt and the distracting feelings of power and thought of his companions put him off and the second ray is poorly aimed, he hold out his hand, holding his breath and straining as he tries to guide it's course with his mind. He really doesn't know what he is doing though and it barely moves closer to the target. He releases the final ray though, more in the zone now and recovered from the original shock. His combat senses kicking in, the ray strikes well on the target, burning a hole through his chest. He steps back behind a tree, moving silently through the woods again in case they saw him, though he knows in his heart that he has not set a foot wrong and nobody would see him here. He brings up his bow, ready to strike again at the third target.
Letting loose an arrow before anyone has even had time to react, Jex takes out the closes goblin, an arrow straight through the neck, killing him silently before the scream can even gather in his throat. He slumps forwards. Jex continues his run, knowing the heat of combat is upon him, he is not so silent now, relying on the mask as much as his footwork as he puts trees between himself and the remaining enemies he can see through the fog.
The rushing of rapidly displaced air and the dull pounding of hooves on soft earth are the only warning Jex gets as Uglar comes charging out of the smoke with surprising speed as he ambushed the giant creature that they first saw. It lets out a bestial snarl that almost morphs into a yelp as it's toppled onto its back and then quickly dies as a death rattle.
The remaining goblin lets out an eery giggle, before hurrying over to its fallen comrade, taking the staff and hat, and vanishing into the undergrowth.
One of the nearby giants bellows and runs at Uglar, swinging a massive club, but the clumsy weapon just leaves a dent in the ground besides him.
Jex looks at the fleeing goblin and the giant humanoid attacking his dwarven friend.
With a sigh he leaps at the giant creature, both blades extended. They sink deep into the flesh of the ogre, but Jex can feel that despite the quality of the strike, the sheer weight of the beast meant us blades did not sink deep enough to get anything but fat. He withdraws to a defensive stance, ready to find his next opening.
Uglar's boar breaks away from the ogre, wheeling around for a brutal ride-by-attack that knocks the enormous giant on its back! Pushing itself up with a groan the ogre attempts a wild swing at Jex that the half-elf easily dodges. From somewhere through the smoke behind him a taunting voice can be heard, but Jex shrugs the unwanted influence off.
Spotting an opening left by Uglar's charge, Jex ducks low and with a wide sweep draws his scimitar and as part of a continuation of the same movement brings it through the leg of the ogre. Even the chunky knee joint of an ogre is no match for the sharpness of this blade as it slices through the fat, muscle and bone as though they were water, removing the lower leg entirely. As the beast howls and collapses, Jex brings his dagger through the neck that lands in front of him to end the misery of the beast. He looks at his scimitar impressed. Every time! You have a thirst for taking limbs don't you? He moves off to the side, ducking behind a tree, hoping to lose the focus of the caster that he had felt assaulting his brain moments before. Delimber? Dismemberer? I need something cleverer by the time the others arrive.
"Aha! Nicely done!" Uglar bellows, spurring his boar into action once more and sending the beast barrelling off towards what looks like another ogre lurking in the smoke. Moments later Jex yet again hears the cackling giggle of a manic goblin echoing in his ears. This time the insidious whispers take hold, assaulting and twisting his mind, spawning delusions and provoking uncontrolled action.
All of a sudden, the half-elf finds himself unable to move.
On cue, the goblin in the pointy hat leaps out of the woods with its staff and whacks Jex on the head with it hard enough to draw blood. The goblin is dressed all in red like a jester and the head of the staff is carved with the cackling face of a laughing goblin. The assassin's assailant giggles hysterically and vanishes away back into the smoke.
Shaking his head to regain his senses, Jex wards off the goblin with a clever feint from his scimitar, taking the opportunity to step back.
"Uglar! Help! Mage!" He yells for the dwarf as he steps back into the trees to try to get out of sight of the goblin and hope his mask will do the rest. He grabs the potion that Val had thrust on him before they left the camp and drinks it down fast, feeling the wounds on his head closing.
I hate when she's right. Wait, I don't think I had a chance to know that before. Damn my head hurts, that blow must have knocked some sense from me if I'm thinking of them.
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Jex steps forwards, stowing his bow away again as he steps out. Showing his palms upwards to reveal they are empty he takes another step closer. "I am a friend. From Sheercleft. My companions are on the ridge, we warned your Khaz of the goblins and that we would be following behind. I have come to scout and find the best way forwards. I was hoping to find the command tent and kill their leader." He gives a little bow, but keeps his eyes raised. "As you say, I am invisible and can be in and out before they know I was there. If you could point me in the right direction? We should be quick, my friends are less quiet and not far behind. I'd hate to alert them to an attack in their rear before I can leave them leaderless."
The dwarf grunts, lowering his spear and nodding towards Jex in acknowledgement.
"Can't see a thing in this bloody smoke," he says, spitting on the ground besides his boar. The creature sways its head in the half-elf's direction, snorting heavily, and the Dwarven rider pats the beast's flank to settle it. "Ain't natural. Mark my words. There's summat out 'ere stirrin' it up, but I'll be damned if we can find it. What's y'name lad?"
The dwarf reaches down towards Jex with a gloved hand.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Jex takes the offered hand. He considers a moment on the name but remembers he will likely have to deal with this dwarf again and his companions have been less than supportive of his deceptions. "Jex" He offers. "I will see what I can find. If nothing, we can at least break that shield wall for you."
The dwarf grasps Jex's forearm and heaves him up onto the back of the boar.
"Uglar," he replies. "You know anything about tracing magic, Jex?"
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Jex shrugs. "I know people who do. May I suggest running around madly and letting luck handle it? They can be rather a chore if asked for help."
Uglar barks a laugh and spurs his boar, sending the beast charging off between the charred trees. The dense woods make the ride seem absurdly fast and with the smoke pushing in on all sides it makes for a claustrophobic experience. Abruptly, the boar stops, sniffing the air, before barrelling off to the right. Through the brush the loud stomping of enormous feet and a deep grunt can be heard drawing rapidly closer.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Jex taps Uglar on the shoulder to get him to stop. "Something big ahead. Best I slip into the trees, come after I hit it." He slips off the back of the boar, drawing his bow and placing his mask back over his face he silently heads for the sound.
Uglar grunts and nods, but when he looks back Jex is gone. The half-elf vanishes into the smoke, sneaking ahead to see what he can find. Ahead he can see the hulking silhouette of some kind of giant moving about the woods.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Sneaking closer, Jex draws an arrow, attaching it to his bow, aiming for the neck he waits for the opportune moment to release...
As Jex draws closer to the large shadow up ahead, he notices smaller figures moving in the smoke beyond it.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Rolling his eyes in frustration, Jex lets the bow go slack and creeps closer to see what he can find. Maybe the command centre is here and I can kill the leader.
Slipping from smouldering tree trunk to tree trunk, Jex approaches the large figure. Beyond it a group of four humanoids stand in a circle, arms raised and chanting in what sounds like goblin.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Jex picks his way through the undergrowth, cat like and agile, he avoids the leaves and branches as he makes his way around the giant figure in the smoke. Another emerges into view and he makes a path between them, getting closer to the goblin shamans in the mist. He raises his bow, about to shoot. You with the staff. Maybe you're in charge? He is about to release an arrow when a thought strikes him. He lets the string go slack again, releasing his right hand he almost snaps his fingers. I need to try this. Now seems the perfect opportunity. He concentrates on the circlet that squeezes behind his ears willing forth the magic within. A bright spark lights up in his hands and he flings it outwards at the goblin holding the staff. The heat and light from the dark stun him a little, he is shocked that he even managed to call upon, the power gushing to his head as the ray slams into its target, turning him to dust. The ball is still there in his hand and he knows he must use it now. This is how Seid and Vark must feel all the time. No wonder they love it. Easy though, should have guessed. He thought too soon though, the shock of the heat and light of the first bolt and the distracting feelings of power and thought of his companions put him off and the second ray is poorly aimed, he hold out his hand, holding his breath and straining as he tries to guide it's course with his mind. He really doesn't know what he is doing though and it barely moves closer to the target. He releases the final ray though, more in the zone now and recovered from the original shock. His combat senses kicking in, the ray strikes well on the target, burning a hole through his chest. He steps back behind a tree, moving silently through the woods again in case they saw him, though he knows in his heart that he has not set a foot wrong and nobody would see him here. He brings up his bow, ready to strike again at the third target.
Letting loose an arrow before anyone has even had time to react, Jex takes out the closes goblin, an arrow straight through the neck, killing him silently before the scream can even gather in his throat. He slumps forwards. Jex continues his run, knowing the heat of combat is upon him, he is not so silent now, relying on the mask as much as his footwork as he puts trees between himself and the remaining enemies he can see through the fog.
The rushing of rapidly displaced air and the dull pounding of hooves on soft earth are the only warning Jex gets as Uglar comes charging out of the smoke with surprising speed as he ambushed the giant creature that they first saw. It lets out a bestial snarl that almost morphs into a yelp as it's toppled onto its back and then quickly dies as a death rattle.
The remaining goblin lets out an eery giggle, before hurrying over to its fallen comrade, taking the staff and hat, and vanishing into the undergrowth.
One of the nearby giants bellows and runs at Uglar, swinging a massive club, but the clumsy weapon just leaves a dent in the ground besides him.
"A little help here, lad?"
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Jex looks at the fleeing goblin and the giant humanoid attacking his dwarven friend.
With a sigh he leaps at the giant creature, both blades extended. They sink deep into the flesh of the ogre, but Jex can feel that despite the quality of the strike, the sheer weight of the beast meant us blades did not sink deep enough to get anything but fat. He withdraws to a defensive stance, ready to find his next opening.
Uglar's boar breaks away from the ogre, wheeling around for a brutal ride-by-attack that knocks the enormous giant on its back! Pushing itself up with a groan the ogre attempts a wild swing at Jex that the half-elf easily dodges. From somewhere through the smoke behind him a taunting voice can be heard, but Jex shrugs the unwanted influence off.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Spotting an opening left by Uglar's charge, Jex ducks low and with a wide sweep draws his scimitar and as part of a continuation of the same movement brings it through the leg of the ogre. Even the chunky knee joint of an ogre is no match for the sharpness of this blade as it slices through the fat, muscle and bone as though they were water, removing the lower leg entirely. As the beast howls and collapses, Jex brings his dagger through the neck that lands in front of him to end the misery of the beast. He looks at his scimitar impressed. Every time! You have a thirst for taking limbs don't you? He moves off to the side, ducking behind a tree, hoping to lose the focus of the caster that he had felt assaulting his brain moments before. Delimber? Dismemberer? I need something cleverer by the time the others arrive.
"Aha! Nicely done!" Uglar bellows, spurring his boar into action once more and sending the beast barrelling off towards what looks like another ogre lurking in the smoke. Moments later Jex yet again hears the cackling giggle of a manic goblin echoing in his ears. This time the insidious whispers take hold, assaulting and twisting his mind, spawning delusions and provoking uncontrolled action.
All of a sudden, the half-elf finds himself unable to move.
On cue, the goblin in the pointy hat leaps out of the woods with its staff and whacks Jex on the head with it hard enough to draw blood. The goblin is dressed all in red like a jester and the head of the staff is carved with the cackling face of a laughing goblin. The assassin's assailant giggles hysterically and vanishes away back into the smoke.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Shaking his head to regain his senses, Jex wards off the goblin with a clever feint from his scimitar, taking the opportunity to step back.
"Uglar! Help! Mage!" He yells for the dwarf as he steps back into the trees to try to get out of sight of the goblin and hope his mask will do the rest. He grabs the potion that Val had thrust on him before they left the camp and drinks it down fast, feeling the wounds on his head closing.
I hate when she's right. Wait, I don't think I had a chance to know that before. Damn my head hurts, that blow must have knocked some sense from me if I'm thinking of them.