Edgewalkers Campaign Thread

Acrobatics: 11

The shifter is grappled.

Vusgaar cuts himself off short of spell meant for the runner just shy of having the magic disperse into the ether. Though he had to stand there for a few moments, eyes squeezed shut, and heated breathing given time calm to their usual even pacing. Even then, when next he looks at the shifter, it is -- for the first few moments -- with an expression that still read 'ready to amputate a few limbs off the wildling.

"I cede... to the wisdom." Is all he'll say, prior to walking over to to the fallen shifters to check their forms for anything to repurposed/of use.

The shifter glares back at Vusgaar, disgust and pity in his gaze as he struggles against Talaak.

Khern sheathes his swords calmly. "Chuniigi tribe. Bit far south for your pack, huh? They're probably getting more desperate."

The shifter shifts his glare to Khern and keeps his mouth shut.

Ani cleans the blood off her scimitars on their victims before sheathing them. She'd survey their perimeter as the others deal with the final shifter.

Meiara moves her sphere near the shifter, just in case he breaks from Talaak's grip.

As Ani would slink off to survey the perimeter to make sure there aren't any more hiding in the shadows, she'd realize that she should probably help with the interrogation and circle back.

(Passive perception 19)

Stealth on the circle back: 21

Ani would pop up directly in front of the grappled shifter, arms crossed. "We asked you a question. Why are you so far south?"

Intimidation: 23

She'd continue, "Have you or your tribesman seen Kalaak Raiders recently?

If so, what direction?

Are you the only ChinChin raiders in the area that you know of?

Any word or chance of the Tundra Shifters at least attempting to group up and fight off the Clicklacks?

Have you heard anything about what's been driving the Clicklacks most recently?

If so, what?"

After a barrage of questions, she'd turn to step away before turning back abruptly, narrowing her eyes as she leans in closer.

"And where's Martha!?"

The shifter glares at Ani, and growls out. "Looking for supplies. Yes. Everywhere. Not giving up my fellow Chuniigi. Can't speak for the Sky Tellers. Kalaak are insane, who knows what's driving them." He snaps his mouth shut, looking stubborn. While you clearly scared him, his short, minimal answers make it clear that he doesn't plan to make this easy.

Ani would roll her eyes, "Do you really think we have the patience to play this game?" She'd jut her chin out to encourage Talaak to tighten his grip. "Try again."

Persuasion: 12 | 23

The shifter stares Ani down. "Going to kill me anyway. Thoughtstealers. You don't let savages live." He says the word savages mockingly. "Might as well die still free and keeping my brethren safe. You don't have patience? I have plenty. And out of things to lose, at the moment, since you killed all your leverage." He jerks his head at the shifter bodies scattered across the snow.

Talaak grins down at the shifter, "You think the Kalaak will be gentle with your tribe? Then you may leave them to their work. We are not here for you, you came to us. We're here for the Kalaak. Though I can understand how your... nature... lends itself to protecting them."

"Not protecting Kalaak. Kalaak are all of our enemies. Protecting other Chuniigi," the shifter says simply. "Proven you'll kill them without a thought. Want the Kalaak? Wander around the Tundra a bit. They'll find you. And then...they will not be gentle." He bares his teeth at Talaak. "That word doesn't exist here, thoughtstealer. Think you scare me? You're just a slave, following your little masters' every order without question. Even give over your dreams to them. And in exchange, you give up your wildness. Not going to last long here, thoughtstealer. So kill me already. I know you're just dying to." He laughs bitterly. "Can smell the wildness on you. Still a little bit left, hmm?"

Talaak's expression becomes extremely severe. He growls, a bit more animalistically than he intends. He tightens his grip on the shifter's neck, snapping it with a sickening crack.

He licks his lips nervously, eyes looking at the body in front of him, though they seem to stare through it. He mutters quietly, "No, no. Not like this."

He stands up, pushing the corpse into the dirt, walking off deeper into the Tundra, "We've got... we've got more to kill. They need to be brought back to the Path, whatever they say."

It is not until Vusgaar heard the audible snapping of joints and bones that he stopped pretending to examine one of the many trinkets found upon the bodies. However, he says nothing for a while, and just watches Talaak start wondering away. The whole while much of the more bestial aspects had begun to fade. Though some signs of it would linger. He knew this. Just as he knew instinctively not to engage his fellow Edgewalker at the moment, and instead just looked to Khern to take point on making sure Talaak was going the right direction.

Ani would pat her nose and point at the dead body, "He was good." He did stump her, but with a shrug, she'd just carry on following close to Talaak.

Only when the shifter dies does Jhalaar lower her bow, replacing the arrow in her quiver. She shoots one last look of disgust at the bodies scattered across the snow before taking up her prior position at the back of the group.

The group reforms and continues moving. The remainder of the day is quiet. You camp, managing to get a fire started in the snow, and sleep the night, presumably setting watches. The next day dawns cold and crisp, with a softly keening wind.

What's Today's Lucky Victim: 16

Sigh...

Perception again!

Perception: 17

Looky looky lemme killy: 14

Vusgaar's Sight Beyond Sight: 11.

Here comes the nat1! 5

Perception: 13