The Long Road of the Mage King (Game Thread)

Dog dodges out of the way of the dangerous flaming hooves and then ripostes with (you guessed it) his longsword:

Attack: 12 Damage: 8

I forgot Tock's death save: 5

Tyrol fires again at the nightmare.

Hand crossbow Attack: 20 Damage: 8

His bolt strikes between the ribs, causing the nightmare to stumble. It is struggling to stand and kick randomly to try and stay in the fight.

(Feytok is up.)

Feytok will attempt to plant his axe in its side. Attack: 16 Damage: 11

Feytok's axe does just  that and it is enough to put the nightmare down.

(Combat has ended! Tock will only do another death save if everyone fails to revive him with an action.)

Dog is immediately trying to stabilize Tock (medicine 1) and also grasping at Tyrol or FeyTok for a healing potion to feed the kenku (7).

As the nightmare falls Feytok pulls his axe and runs to Tock. Grabbing his healers kit he will stabilize Tock(no roll needed). Once he is safe Feytok will fireman carry Tock. "We can't be too far from the monastery. "

Dog mutely helps FeyTok carry Tock and with a took into the darkness to attempt to see anything that had been coming up behind the nightmare (perception 9), he helps ferry Tock through the darkness alongside FeyTok, motioning Tyrol to sprint off after Keyrie, Nev, and Gentoa to the monastery. 

Dog, Tyrol, and Feytok push themselves on a grueling pace for a mile, Tock hanging limp over Feytok's and then Dog's shoulder. They arrive less than 10 minutes later to find Keyrie, Neventi, and Gentoa safe. Gentoa is petting Keyrie in her elk form, saying "Neigh, neigh!" while her mother sits on the base of a broken column, laughing.

(Take a short rest and RP for a bit. I'll be writing Tyrol out during this rest and we'll have Lucien arriving shortly.)

Lucien:

OOC: did we give Tock a healing potion? I just realized I have one and I think others have a couple.

Does Dog see or hear anything nefarious or heavenly approaching? He's quite out of sorts at this point, wanting to be able to trust the dryad's assertions that the monastery grounds are safe but not sure.

What's left of the monastery? Dog will take a look around the area after they've caught their breaths, seen to the safety of everyone, and checked to see that they were not followed. He would then like to collapse in a clump out of exhaustion, probably making silly "arf" noises to make Gentoa laugh.

(Nope. Tock is stable but unconscious still. Still preparing a map and description. Will have it in a couple of hours.)

"I bandaged him up for now. He's stable. We should look for some cover, a room with a lock, and an escape. Maybe a place we can have a fire and not be seen." Feytok will start looking around both for a place to set a secure camp and for anything of use left in the ruins.

The ruins are evident but the monastery that was here has long since been overtaken by nature. Rather than a single building, the footprints of structures remain, such as the floor of the old bell tower that once rang out to the monks that once lived here.

This is where the troop first arrives. The steps lead down to more scattered ruins, but even from up here it is evident that no structure remains. Identifying what may be consecrated is not easy. The circular floor of the old bell tower is obviously one holy place, however, as it is engraved with religious symbols and wards against evil. More trees grow down the steps as the forest begins to thicken to the east and south.

Following the half-buried steps leads to an old fountain that is mostly drained, surrounding by statues partially overgrown.

It is possible that this fountain is consecrated as well, as it is also heavily warded and engraved all over.

Most of the rest of the area reveal partial walls, pieces of stone columns, and patches of grass where shrubs and trees have not yet taken over.

(If you are taking a short rest, roll any hit dice you care to.)

Feytok will lay Tock in the bell tower.  Not a particularly faithful man he isn't sure how holiness works but he dips his axe into the well just in case.  "I'm ok. Yall rest, I'll watch."

You all might start to see a goblin running toward you. "HELLO! IT'S ME! IT'S ME! ITS JUST GASH THIS GOBLIN IS YOUR FRIEND GASH OR GREGORY!! HELLO EVERYONE!"

By now you've probably gotten used to Gash's greetings as he is very cautious when approaching people from afar. And by cautious he just starts yelling about being friendly. He catches up to you all, huffing and puffing.

You would also know that he often introduces himself as Gregory to new faces as he always says, Gash is quite an unpleasant word, normally.  He answers to both, it would really be up to you to decide which name you refer to him as... but he's been trying to get Gregory to catch on a little, though lots still refer to him as Gash.

"Tyrol... Tyrol...Crowley needs you. His old braces gave out finally. He needs someone that can fix him right up. He was asking for you specifically." Gash got all these words out without a breath taken.

"oh, hello everyone. whats going on?"

Lucien has been waiting for several days at this old Monastery, trying to commune with the traveler for another sign as why he is here. As usual, the traveler only appears when he wishes.   Finally, late one evening, Lucien hears the coming approach of hoof beats, and then what sounds like a child laughing and repeating 'neigh, neigh'. Not sure if this is who the Traveler sent him here to find, Lucien gives himself the Blessing of the Trickster and hides in the shadows.

11

Keyrie will settle down in the bell tower as well, she will stay in animal form for as long as possible in case they need to run again, but if someone talks to her directly or asks her to change back she will so she can answer them.

Lucien, watching from behind a tree in the pitch black of the night, begins to recognize some of the people that have arrived at the ruins. The minotaur Tyrol is unmistakable, as is the goliath Doggear. He also recognizes the fire genasi, Feytok. These are people from the circus that he traveled with for a time. He does not recognize the human woman with the child. Nor does he understand why there is an elk standing calmly among all of these people. When Gash runs up, yelling his introduction, it is clear that these people are no threat.

Nev, seeing Feytok lay Tock gently on the old stone, runs over to see if he is still alive. She quickly pulls out her lute and plays a short healing tune, waking him up with 4 HP.

Tyrol is surprised to see Gash run up to him. "He tried to make his own leg braces?" He growls in frustration. "That man is stubborn as a minotaur, I swear."

Seeing Tock healed and his party safe, he makes a snap decision. "I'm going to go back. Gash, they could use your help, if you're willing to stay with them for a while."

After a round of goodbyes and good lucks, Tyrol strikes out towards the Long Road, hopeful that he can travel safely with the same luck as Gash has.

"Good to see you Gash, er Gregory.  He is right,  we're in a bad spot"

Dog thanks Nev for healing Tock, and greets Gash with a giant back slap, "Gash, how in the hell did you find us? It is really great to see you. Did you see anything on your trek here? Signs of fiends or angels? We are in a bad, and very strange spot, and this might get dangerous."

He fills him in on the story thus far, introducing him to Nev and Gentoa.