At the same time as his blades hit Nadia, Zack takes advantage of the opening, his breath ragged from this drug on fight. The Dragonborn up there still a major concern..... but if he could just.... Zack stopped thinking, and simply did.. as he brought the blade around walking into the stall door, closing it as a consequence, his blade flies sideways, as the sharp edge coasts towars Xolkins back, though he hoped to connect with Xolkins neck....
Rauagh!!! he cries out in his flail Just DIE you piece of shit! AOO: Attack: 23 Damage: 9 (GWF-F - Rerolling the 2: 3)
Your blade cuts a wide dash across is back to match the other gruesome cut you gave him earlier. He yells in pain but still manages to get his attacks off. His legs are shaking, his breathing ragged. With one arm of no use, and barely able to stand, he looks like he is on his last leg.
The pain she felt was soon numbed by pure adrenaline. Despite her ragged breathes, she manages out, “You’re not taking me anywhere.” The elf stumbled backwards to create some distance between her and the Zhent leader so she can shoot an arrow at him in hopes of finishing him off.
The arrow strikes Xolkin in the chest just next to the heart. He stumbles back from the impact, slamming against the stable wall and dropping his weapon. For a moment he tries to keep standing but he can't, and he slides down the wall until he hits the ground and slumps over.
Meanwhile Krűl up top kneels down over Nadaar. He pulls out a small knife and cuts a scale off of his head. He takes a moment to admire it before putting it away and grabbing his greatsword. He climbs down the ladder and starts to approach Zack.
"Are you finished with him? Good, saves me the trouble. Now let's end this."
Zack is up. Krűl is approaching you but there is a 25ft gap between you
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
At this point, all Zack wanted to do was collapse... his body protesting against even being here right now. The heat that was inevitably rising, was .. for now comforting.. at-least at this distance. Nadia had been saved from Xolkin atleast. There was one more.. what felt like a mountain... Zack closed his eyes for a moment as he took a breath, before finally composing himself. Blood and sweat intermingling as his blue eyes met red scales. You know.... under different circumstances.... We coulda been buds... it's not often I get to train with another sword user... at-least not a big sword user.... and.. hey.. Nadia... he says, sparing a glance behind him He's probably heavy..... But Gran should be safe from the fire for now.... But go get Nadaar.... if you can still heal..... heal him... and you two get out of here.... I'll protect you... One last time.... he then charged at Krul, closing the distance, and with all the strength he could muster The price of freedom.... Sure is high huh... Here I come! His weapon flitted from a side position to a straight on, flat out projecting his entent at a full force, straight on... downward strike with all the might he had left.
As you charge at him Krul spits blood on the ground. As your blade comes down he arcs his own blade up deflecting your blow with such strength that it rebounds back to you. The flat of your blade smacks you hard in the face, disorienting you momentarily. (No damage dealt but Zack's next attack is with disadvantage) Krul laughs loudly at the display. "Well it looks like I'm in charge now with Xolkin out of the way. I'll have to replace the others but that should be easy. But now that I'm running this outfit, things will change. No more bribes, get in our way, and your head comes off. Starting with yours."
Nadia’s eyes were burning and she wasn’t sure if it was because of the tears or the fire, but when she finally sees Xolkin fall she’s able to breathe, even just a bit. Her hands are shaky, and her body was screaming at her to run when the dragonborn approached them. But when Zack spoke, she readies another arrow aimed straight for Krul. “You’re an idiot if you think I’m going to leave you here by yourself, Zack. Drop the hero crap and let’s put this guy back in his place.” Her jaw clenches, and before she shoots her arrow she says, “Let’s finish this together.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The arrow strikes the Dragonborn square in the chest and sends him reeling back. He coughs loudly as blood pours out of his mouth with every breath, his confident, superior look turns to one of pain and anger. He gathers his strength and glares at Nadia with murderous intent, but being blocked by Zack he has no choice to go through him to get to her, and so he intends to. Attack: 7 Damage: 10Attack: 8 Damage: 9 The Dragonborn tries to lift his greatsword to finish off Zack, but as he does so he coughs violently causing him to buckle under the weight of the sword. He tries to gather his strength and this time he manages to connect a blow but it simply doesn't cut through Zack's armor. Once again he coughs and pink, bubbly blood gushes from his maw.
Zack lets out a cry of pain as the massive, flat, and heavy side of his blade connects with his face, luckily just missing his nose but forcing him to close one eye that would likely black later. Recovering his balance as tears of pain sting his face, a mix of the building fire and his most recent shame wound. All the scars he had picked up today ached. Heftign his blade, he could find no words to respond to Nadia with, but seeing the dragonman falter as much as he had... No quippy comments came to mind. only somberness.... and dread they wouldn't be able to reach Nadaar in time.... all in the moments before he swung his blade.... for a decapitation strike.
The dragonborn finishes his fit of coughing and stands back up tall just in time for your sword to connect with his fleshy neck. In one quick and powerful swing the dragonborns head flies clean off his shoulders, landing several feet away. His sword drops and his body crumples to the floor as blood spurts from his neck. Despite the fire and the neighing horses, all seems calm in the world once more as the last enemy falls.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Zack looks to Nadia, his eyes half lidded. he looked close to fainting but he managed to gravel out Nadia... Drag that ******** body out of here..... I'll get Nadaar..... Make sure you... and your friend.. aren't in front of any doorways. I'm letting the horses out... after I get Nadaar out of immediate harms way..... I'm sure Xolkin still has something of worth on his otherwise worthless body.... Would be a shame to let it burn away...
With that, zack took just a few moments to catch his breath, and steady his body, as he sheathed his sword, freeing up his hands as he headed to the loft area to pick up the fallen bard, and (Athl: 23) despite his sore body, easily shif him over the edge. Getting to his knees, and eventually his chest as he lowers him down carefully.... Following suit slightly to the side... before softly dropping himself the rest of the way from dangling. Once there... He would (Athl: 23) draw on that same reserve of strength and carry the dragonborn bard outside, over his shoulder on the side where the blade was blunt, so as not to cut him. And set him down outside, about twenty feet from the fire..., Watching Nadia as she did or didn't do as he asked her to.
Once she either did ot didn't move Xolkins body out.. if not, he would do so himself....
If she did... he would wait til her, Gran, and Xolkin were away from the stables before he cautiously let each horse out making sure he himself was outside with a door between himself and each one... And unless something horrible happened between then and them all escaping... he would limp his way back out to be where Nadia was. Offering her a smile..... and then.. collapsing.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nadia’s body was overwhelmed by the feeling of relief for a brief moment when she sees the dragonborn fall by Zack’s hand, but soon her body was hit with exhaustion. Despite this though, she forces herself to follow through with what Zack asked of her. She puts her bow away and starts dragging Xolkin’s body out of the burning stables. She wasn’t as strong as the fighter was, but she sure tried her best, even with misty eyes when she gets to Gran’s body and started moving him away too.
When Zack had finished what he had been doing and collapsed by the ranger, she was overcome with emotion. She used what little healing she had to heal herself. If she had held onto it, she could have brought Nadaar back, then Zack wouldn’t have fallen like he did. She swallowed the knot in her throat and wiped her tears away as she remembered what Zack had said prior to her moving the bodies. Without another beat, she starts searching Xolkin and Gran’s bodies for something. Anything. “Please.”
You both manage to get your respective loads out safely. The horses flee the burning stables which, by the time Zack passes out of exhaustion, is almost fully engulfed in flames. The flames light up the town like a candle, and though the building is a total loss, it doesnt seem like its threatening to spread to anything nearby.
Meanwhile Nadia searches Xolkins body, hoping to find something that might help Nadaar, however the search yields little. He has a pouch of money, 4 platinum and 13 gold, A gold ring emblazoned with the symbol of the Black Network, some personal affects, a bloodied letter, and a small key. The letter difficult to read as it is almost soaked through with blood but as far as you can tell it's a writ of passage. Though it's hard to make out everything it looks like it's from Dutchess Morwen Daggerford, and that its bearer should be considered a personal emmisary of the dutchess herself. While this may have been useful for Xolkin at somepoint, it's of no use now and unlikely to be useful in it's current state anyway.
The key is plain, made of iron and is especially small, likely designed to be hidden easily on ones person. What it goes to however is a mystery at the moment, nothing on his body appears to need a key.
Unfortunately it seems the most valuable item on his person was the gems he traded to Zack earlier, and they do you no good right now.
Grans corpse has a pouch containing 14 but unfortunately also lacks any items that may heal the wounded.
Nadia. You check on Nadaar after searching the corpses, he seems to have stopped losing blood. For a moment you think he may have passed but he gives a loud snore as he takes in a deep breath. After waiting a moment it seems his breathing is regular and as far as you can tell he is stable just unconscious. You feel confident he'll pull through without any magic healing.
Nadia is able to compose herself after some time, assuring herself that Nadaar was okay, healing slowly, and Zack was fine when she adjusted his body to a more comfortable position, he was just extremely tired and had an affinity for passing out after intense battles. She would shove Xolkin's body away from the group after looting him, then would look to Gran's with a defeated look on her face. "You shouldn't have come back..." She would say to his lifeless body, her eyes welling up with tears again. "I'm sorry I... I couldn't do anything to save you, but... Thank you."
The ranger couldn't bring herself to dig a grave yet for him as her body was screaming for rest, but she forced herself to stay awake until Zack woke up. She hugged her knees and watched the barn burn in the meantime.
A few hours go by. The fire slowly grows until the entire building is engulfed. Eventually the roof collapses and thick black smoke rises into the midnight sky. It will take some more time for it to go out completely but the fire starts to die ever so slowly on it's own, though it's likely to burn through onto the morning. The air is filled with the smell of smoke and a combination of burnt wood and flesh as the dead inside are slowly consumed by the flames. The rest of the town however is silent as the grave. Save for the horses, who've fled to the far end of town away from the fire, there is little on the way of sound or movement. While you sit there watching the fire and contemplating everything that has happened since your arrival, you notice a pair of glowing eyes watching you from a distance. From the doorway of one of the houses, about 60 to 70 ft away from you, you see a cat staring at you, it's eyes reflecting the light of the fire. The creature just sits and stares for a while, before unfurling its wings and stretching its body and returning to inside the house. Looking back to Zack and Nadaar, both men are sound asleep, it's not the most comfortable place to sleep, but you've all been through a lot the past day. In a way this day ends similar to the last, under the stars around a fire, though the circumstances are far from conventional. Regardless Nadia you feel the need to rest, and should do so soon if you want to be awake and rested for the others in the morning. But you still have time if you so choose.
(Unless they want to do otherwise, I'm gonna let Zack and Nadaar stay unconscious for now and count it all towards their long rest. Since you only need 4 hours, you have time time, well say an hour and thirty, to do whatever you'd like on the mean time. If theres nothing then we'll push forward to the next day.)
When she realizes neither of the boys were going to wake up (which she was fine with anyway, as they both desperately needed the rest), Nadia simply sits there. The first time she sees the cat in the house it almost gave her a heart attack, the elf half convinced it was a ghost or something until she fully saw it's body illuminated by the fire. She calms down soon after and watches it just as it stares at her causing her to begin thinking of how nice it would be to be a cat right now. Or maybe a dog... A horse?
While her mind goes over what animal would be the coolest to be, she barely noticed herself nodding off until finally, she falls asleep.
Nadaar, you're the first of the trio to awaken. Before you even open your eyes you are greeted to the smell of smoldering flame, birds chirping and flys buzzing. When you open your eyes you find, perhaps to your surprise, that you are very much alive. You're several feet away from the stables, which are now a smoldering pile of wood. You don't remember how you got here, your last waking memory being the fight with the Red. The red is no where to be seen. Instead Zack is next to you and it appears he passed out where he stood. Nearby is Nadia, who looks like she fell asleep while keeping vigile over you and Zack. As you try to move you find that your body is sore all over, but most everything is where is should be though you do notice a sore, scabbed area where a scale once was on your head. The source of the buzzing sound seems to be a small host of flys, which have gathered around the corpse of the young blonde haired Zhent. After a few moments Zack wakes up, soon followed by Nadia. It appears you all lived to see another day.
Zack slept throughout the night.. oblivious to everything. Hos body had been stretched to the limit in that fight and it protested the very idea of waking up. His rest seemed fitful however. His face contorting not too greatly, but enough that he seemed to be having a nightmare as the dawn approached. Through his eyelids his pupils could be seen.. glowing that beautiful.. yet.. in this moment.. ghostly blue. After a few moments... he awoke, but it wasn't peacefully.... as his eyes opened, the blue glow was more intense, and within his arms.... a Red glow emanated from a tiny sphere that seemed to be within him.... deep under the flesh... as if triggered by some recent event... Sizzling could be heard but no fire, nor heat could be detected.
After a moment, Zack crawled to his hands and knees and what started as a low, pained grunt.... slowly turned into an agonized screaming. Every vein in his body was tense, and visible over his muscles. His neck was taut, and his face contorted into agony. breaths coming out as very rapid, ragged huffs. Then, much like the first, a blue glow radiated from his other arm in the same place. His pain seemed to double and his scream was muted into a gurgle, as spittle flew from his face. His body buckling under the stress, as he contorted on the ground in spasms similar to a stroke, if the person was lucid through the entire ordeal.
After a minute, but to him, felt like an eternity, the glow ceased.... the only exception being the swordsmans eyes, which now glowed with soft intensity. He lay there ... limp, gasping for breath, and staring up into the sky. Another few minutes would pass before he seemed 'fine' again, and even then he lay there, looking up and blinking as he regained his composure. I remember what .. they did.. to me.. he whispered...
Nadaar initially fought against the stirring of consciousness. It wasn't as if he was an early rising before taking to the road. An the more his mind grew clear, the harder it became to ignore an uncomfortable coolness and dull pain emanating from his forhead. Yet, as memories of the night's venture claw their way to the forefront, he cracked open an eye expecting to see Xolkin or the red towering over him. A few seconds later and he shoots up, giving the scenery a real once over before closing and covering his eyes.
"Cut it... a little close."He says to himself between chuckles and coughs. Incidently rubbing at the sore in the process of covering his eyes, he scowls, realizing part of what happened, but then huffs and decides to worry about it later. Noticing what he thought to be stirrings from Zack(or was it merely nightmares again?), and figuring Nadia would not be long behind, he gets too his feet fully intent on finding the Red's Greatsword. That, and his personal longsword. Even if he could not properly wield it yet, the wish to learn and no small amount of petty revenge drove him to act. If he fails to find it either among the wreckage or somewhere outside within a couple of minutes, Nadaar returns to the others, absentling working on the kinks still in his body. Until Zack's screaming led to his rushing over drawing whatever weapon he had available to strike whatever Zhent or goblin had survived the night to strike!
"Zack!" He shouts as he rushed over, and in his confusion at that point, start to reach out for him until the blue of some energy -- the weave visibly distorted perhaps -- started flowing off his arms. 'By the nine... what is this madness?' (Medicine: 19). Once Zack's arms gave out and he began to spasm, Nadaar is there to roll him then onto the side to at least make it easier breathe. Once things settles down more Zack is left to roll back onto his back. But not without Nadaar staying close, and then looking around to see if anything may have triggered the event. Unfortunately, he cannot quite hear the whispers, but narrowed his eyes down on the human until Nadia woke up.
"I do not know what happened, but... he seems to be settliing. I... I am going to see to the gate. Make sure they actually secured it."He would say to her if she didn't run off or appeared to distracted, and then start for the front gates.
At the same time as his blades hit Nadia, Zack takes advantage of the opening, his breath ragged from this drug on fight. The Dragonborn up there still a major concern..... but if he could just.... Zack stopped thinking, and simply did.. as he brought the blade around walking into the stall door, closing it as a consequence, his blade flies sideways, as the sharp edge coasts towars Xolkins back, though he hoped to connect with Xolkins neck....
Rauagh!!! he cries out in his flail Just DIE you piece of shit! AOO: Attack: 23 Damage: 9 (GWF-F - Rerolling the 2: 3)
Occassional Dungeon Master.
Your blade cuts a wide dash across is back to match the other gruesome cut you gave him earlier. He yells in pain but still manages to get his attacks off. His legs are shaking, his breathing ragged. With one arm of no use, and barely able to stand, he looks like he is on his last leg.
The pain she felt was soon numbed by pure adrenaline. Despite her ragged breathes, she manages out, “You’re not taking me anywhere.” The elf stumbled backwards to create some distance between her and the Zhent leader so she can shoot an arrow at him in hopes of finishing him off.
Attack: 21 Damage: 5
Hunters Mark one: 3
The arrow strikes Xolkin in the chest just next to the heart. He stumbles back from the impact, slamming against the stable wall and dropping his weapon. For a moment he tries to keep standing but he can't, and he slides down the wall until he hits the ground and slumps over.
Meanwhile Krűl up top kneels down over Nadaar. He pulls out a small knife and cuts a scale off of his head. He takes a moment to admire it before putting it away and grabbing his greatsword. He climbs down the ladder and starts to approach Zack.
"Are you finished with him? Good, saves me the trouble. Now let's end this."
Zack is up. Krűl is approaching you but there is a 25ft gap between you
At this point, all Zack wanted to do was collapse... his body protesting against even being here right now. The heat that was inevitably rising, was .. for now comforting.. at-least at this distance. Nadia had been saved from Xolkin atleast. There was one more.. what felt like a mountain... Zack closed his eyes for a moment as he took a breath, before finally composing himself. Blood and sweat intermingling as his blue eyes met red scales. You know.... under different circumstances.... We coulda been buds... it's not often I get to train with another sword user... at-least not a big sword user.... and.. hey.. Nadia... he says, sparing a glance behind him He's probably heavy..... But Gran should be safe from the fire for now.... But go get Nadaar.... if you can still heal..... heal him... and you two get out of here.... I'll protect you... One last time.... he then charged at Krul, closing the distance, and with all the strength he could muster The price of freedom.... Sure is high huh... Here I come! His weapon flitted from a side position to a straight on, flat out projecting his entent at a full force, straight on... downward strike with all the might he had left.
Final Gambit Attack: 18 Damage: 9
Occassional Dungeon Master.
As you charge at him Krul spits blood on the ground. As your blade comes down he arcs his own blade up deflecting your blow with such strength that it rebounds back to you. The flat of your blade smacks you hard in the face, disorienting you momentarily. (No damage dealt but Zack's next attack is with disadvantage) Krul laughs loudly at the display. "Well it looks like I'm in charge now with Xolkin out of the way. I'll have to replace the others but that should be easy. But now that I'm running this outfit, things will change. No more bribes, get in our way, and your head comes off. Starting with yours."
Nadia is up
Nadia’s eyes were burning and she wasn’t sure if it was because of the tears or the fire, but when she finally sees Xolkin fall she’s able to breathe, even just a bit. Her hands are shaky, and her body was screaming at her to run when the dragonborn approached them. But when Zack spoke, she readies another arrow aimed straight for Krul. “You’re an idiot if you think I’m going to leave you here by yourself, Zack. Drop the hero crap and let’s put this guy back in his place.” Her jaw clenches, and before she shoots her arrow she says, “Let’s finish this together.”
Bonus action: Moving hunters mark on dragon boy
Action: Attack: 17 Damage: 9
Extra damage: 3
The arrow strikes the Dragonborn square in the chest and sends him reeling back. He coughs loudly as blood pours out of his mouth with every breath, his confident, superior look turns to one of pain and anger. He gathers his strength and glares at Nadia with murderous intent, but being blocked by Zack he has no choice to go through him to get to her, and so he intends to. Attack: 7 Damage: 10Attack: 8 Damage: 9 The Dragonborn tries to lift his greatsword to finish off Zack, but as he does so he coughs violently causing him to buckle under the weight of the sword. He tries to gather his strength and this time he manages to connect a blow but it simply doesn't cut through Zack's armor. Once again he coughs and pink, bubbly blood gushes from his maw.
(Next attack, he can't add his +2 to damage.)
Zack is up
Zack lets out a cry of pain as the massive, flat, and heavy side of his blade connects with his face, luckily just missing his nose but forcing him to close one eye that would likely black later. Recovering his balance as tears of pain sting his face, a mix of the building fire and his most recent shame wound. All the scars he had picked up today ached. Heftign his blade, he could find no words to respond to Nadia with, but seeing the dragonman falter as much as he had... No quippy comments came to mind. only somberness.... and dread they wouldn't be able to reach Nadaar in time.... all in the moments before he swung his blade.... for a decapitation strike.
Attack: 17 Damage: 11
Occassional Dungeon Master.
The dragonborn finishes his fit of coughing and stands back up tall just in time for your sword to connect with his fleshy neck. In one quick and powerful swing the dragonborns head flies clean off his shoulders, landing several feet away. His sword drops and his body crumples to the floor as blood spurts from his neck. Despite the fire and the neighing horses, all seems calm in the world once more as the last enemy falls.
Zack looks to Nadia, his eyes half lidded. he looked close to fainting but he managed to gravel out Nadia... Drag that ******** body out of here..... I'll get Nadaar..... Make sure you... and your friend.. aren't in front of any doorways. I'm letting the horses out... after I get Nadaar out of immediate harms way..... I'm sure Xolkin still has something of worth on his otherwise worthless body.... Would be a shame to let it burn away...
With that, zack took just a few moments to catch his breath, and steady his body, as he sheathed his sword, freeing up his hands as he headed to the loft area to pick up the fallen bard, and (Athl: 23) despite his sore body, easily shif him over the edge. Getting to his knees, and eventually his chest as he lowers him down carefully.... Following suit slightly to the side... before softly dropping himself the rest of the way from dangling. Once there... He would (Athl: 23) draw on that same reserve of strength and carry the dragonborn bard outside, over his shoulder on the side where the blade was blunt, so as not to cut him. And set him down outside, about twenty feet from the fire..., Watching Nadia as she did or didn't do as he asked her to.
Once she either did ot didn't move Xolkins body out.. if not, he would do so himself....
If she did... he would wait til her, Gran, and Xolkin were away from the stables before he cautiously let each horse out making sure he himself was outside with a door between himself and each one... And unless something horrible happened between then and them all escaping... he would limp his way back out to be where Nadia was. Offering her a smile..... and then.. collapsing.
Occassional Dungeon Master.
Nadia’s body was overwhelmed by the feeling of relief for a brief moment when she sees the dragonborn fall by Zack’s hand, but soon her body was hit with exhaustion. Despite this though, she forces herself to follow through with what Zack asked of her. She puts her bow away and starts dragging Xolkin’s body out of the burning stables. She wasn’t as strong as the fighter was, but she sure tried her best, even with misty eyes when she gets to Gran’s body and started moving him away too.
When Zack had finished what he had been doing and collapsed by the ranger, she was overcome with emotion. She used what little healing she had to heal herself. If she had held onto it, she could have brought Nadaar back, then Zack wouldn’t have fallen like he did. She swallowed the knot in her throat and wiped her tears away as she remembered what Zack had said prior to her moving the bodies. Without another beat, she starts searching Xolkin and Gran’s bodies for something. Anything. “Please.”
Investigation (if needed): 10
You both manage to get your respective loads out safely. The horses flee the burning stables which, by the time Zack passes out of exhaustion, is almost fully engulfed in flames. The flames light up the town like a candle, and though the building is a total loss, it doesnt seem like its threatening to spread to anything nearby.
Meanwhile Nadia searches Xolkins body, hoping to find something that might help Nadaar, however the search yields little. He has a pouch of money, 4 platinum and 13 gold, A gold ring emblazoned with the symbol of the Black Network, some personal affects, a bloodied letter, and a small key. The letter difficult to read as it is almost soaked through with blood but as far as you can tell it's a writ of passage. Though it's hard to make out everything it looks like it's from Dutchess Morwen Daggerford, and that its bearer should be considered a personal emmisary of the dutchess herself. While this may have been useful for Xolkin at somepoint, it's of no use now and unlikely to be useful in it's current state anyway.
The key is plain, made of iron and is especially small, likely designed to be hidden easily on ones person. What it goes to however is a mystery at the moment, nothing on his body appears to need a key.
Unfortunately it seems the most valuable item on his person was the gems he traded to Zack earlier, and they do you no good right now.
Grans corpse has a pouch containing 14 but unfortunately also lacks any items that may heal the wounded.
Nadia. You check on Nadaar after searching the corpses, he seems to have stopped losing blood. For a moment you think he may have passed but he gives a loud snore as he takes in a deep breath. After waiting a moment it seems his breathing is regular and as far as you can tell he is stable just unconscious. You feel confident he'll pull through without any magic healing.
Nadia is able to compose herself after some time, assuring herself that Nadaar was okay, healing slowly, and Zack was fine when she adjusted his body to a more comfortable position, he was just extremely tired and had an affinity for passing out after intense battles. She would shove Xolkin's body away from the group after looting him, then would look to Gran's with a defeated look on her face. "You shouldn't have come back..." She would say to his lifeless body, her eyes welling up with tears again. "I'm sorry I... I couldn't do anything to save you, but... Thank you."
The ranger couldn't bring herself to dig a grave yet for him as her body was screaming for rest, but she forced herself to stay awake until Zack woke up. She hugged her knees and watched the barn burn in the meantime.
(I'll use my passive perception 15 if needed)
A few hours go by. The fire slowly grows until the entire building is engulfed. Eventually the roof collapses and thick black smoke rises into the midnight sky. It will take some more time for it to go out completely but the fire starts to die ever so slowly on it's own, though it's likely to burn through onto the morning. The air is filled with the smell of smoke and a combination of burnt wood and flesh as the dead inside are slowly consumed by the flames. The rest of the town however is silent as the grave. Save for the horses, who've fled to the far end of town away from the fire, there is little on the way of sound or movement. While you sit there watching the fire and contemplating everything that has happened since your arrival, you notice a pair of glowing eyes watching you from a distance. From the doorway of one of the houses, about 60 to 70 ft away from you, you see a cat staring at you, it's eyes reflecting the light of the fire. The creature just sits and stares for a while, before unfurling its wings and stretching its body and returning to inside the house. Looking back to Zack and Nadaar, both men are sound asleep, it's not the most comfortable place to sleep, but you've all been through a lot the past day. In a way this day ends similar to the last, under the stars around a fire, though the circumstances are far from conventional. Regardless Nadia you feel the need to rest, and should do so soon if you want to be awake and rested for the others in the morning. But you still have time if you so choose.
(Unless they want to do otherwise, I'm gonna let Zack and Nadaar stay unconscious for now and count it all towards their long rest. Since you only need 4 hours, you have time time, well say an hour and thirty, to do whatever you'd like on the mean time. If theres nothing then we'll push forward to the next day.)
When she realizes neither of the boys were going to wake up (which she was fine with anyway, as they both desperately needed the rest), Nadia simply sits there. The first time she sees the cat in the house it almost gave her a heart attack, the elf half convinced it was a ghost or something until she fully saw it's body illuminated by the fire. She calms down soon after and watches it just as it stares at her causing her to begin thinking of how nice it would be to be a cat right now. Or maybe a dog... A horse?
While her mind goes over what animal would be the coolest to be, she barely noticed herself nodding off until finally, she falls asleep.
12th of Marpenoth
Time: Morning
Nadaar, you're the first of the trio to awaken. Before you even open your eyes you are greeted to the smell of smoldering flame, birds chirping and flys buzzing. When you open your eyes you find, perhaps to your surprise, that you are very much alive. You're several feet away from the stables, which are now a smoldering pile of wood. You don't remember how you got here, your last waking memory being the fight with the Red. The red is no where to be seen. Instead Zack is next to you and it appears he passed out where he stood. Nearby is Nadia, who looks like she fell asleep while keeping vigile over you and Zack. As you try to move you find that your body is sore all over, but most everything is where is should be though you do notice a sore, scabbed area where a scale once was on your head. The source of the buzzing sound seems to be a small host of flys, which have gathered around the corpse of the young blonde haired Zhent. After a few moments Zack wakes up, soon followed by Nadia. It appears you all lived to see another day.
Zack slept throughout the night.. oblivious to everything. Hos body had been stretched to the limit in that fight and it protested the very idea of waking up. His rest seemed fitful however. His face contorting not too greatly, but enough that he seemed to be having a nightmare as the dawn approached. Through his eyelids his pupils could be seen.. glowing that beautiful.. yet.. in this moment.. ghostly blue. After a few moments... he awoke, but it wasn't peacefully.... as his eyes opened, the blue glow was more intense, and within his arms.... a Red glow emanated from a tiny sphere that seemed to be within him.... deep under the flesh... as if triggered by some recent event... Sizzling could be heard but no fire, nor heat could be detected.
After a moment, Zack crawled to his hands and knees and what started as a low, pained grunt.... slowly turned into an agonized screaming. Every vein in his body was tense, and visible over his muscles. His neck was taut, and his face contorted into agony. breaths coming out as very rapid, ragged huffs. Then, much like the first, a blue glow radiated from his other arm in the same place. His pain seemed to double and his scream was muted into a gurgle, as spittle flew from his face. His body buckling under the stress, as he contorted on the ground in spasms similar to a stroke, if the person was lucid through the entire ordeal.
After a minute, but to him, felt like an eternity, the glow ceased.... the only exception being the swordsmans eyes, which now glowed with soft intensity. He lay there ... limp, gasping for breath, and staring up into the sky. Another few minutes would pass before he seemed 'fine' again, and even then he lay there, looking up and blinking as he regained his composure. I remember what .. they did.. to me.. he whispered...
Occassional Dungeon Master.
Nadaar initially fought against the stirring of consciousness. It wasn't as if he was an early rising before taking to the road. An the more his mind grew clear, the harder it became to ignore an uncomfortable coolness and dull pain emanating from his forhead. Yet, as memories of the night's venture claw their way to the forefront, he cracked open an eye expecting to see Xolkin or the red towering over him. A few seconds later and he shoots up, giving the scenery a real once over before closing and covering his eyes.
"Cut it... a little close." He says to himself between chuckles and coughs. Incidently rubbing at the sore in the process of covering his eyes, he scowls, realizing part of what happened, but then huffs and decides to worry about it later. Noticing what he thought to be stirrings from Zack(or was it merely nightmares again?), and figuring Nadia would not be long behind, he gets too his feet fully intent on finding the Red's Greatsword. That, and his personal longsword. Even if he could not properly wield it yet, the wish to learn and no small amount of petty revenge drove him to act. If he fails to find it either among the wreckage or somewhere outside within a couple of minutes, Nadaar returns to the others, absentling working on the kinks still in his body. Until Zack's screaming led to his rushing over drawing whatever weapon he had available to strike whatever Zhent or goblin had survived the night to strike!
"Zack!" He shouts as he rushed over, and in his confusion at that point, start to reach out for him until the blue of some energy -- the weave visibly distorted perhaps -- started flowing off his arms. 'By the nine... what is this madness?' (Medicine: 19). Once Zack's arms gave out and he began to spasm, Nadaar is there to roll him then onto the side to at least make it easier breathe. Once things settles down more Zack is left to roll back onto his back. But not without Nadaar staying close, and then looking around to see if anything may have triggered the event. Unfortunately, he cannot quite hear the whispers, but narrowed his eyes down on the human until Nadia woke up.
"I do not know what happened, but... he seems to be settliing. I... I am going to see to the gate. Make sure they actually secured it." He would say to her if she didn't run off or appeared to distracted, and then start for the front gates.
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