[It has been almost two months since your first mission.] [You have been instructed to gather at the now-familiar Blackened Blade. You will be working with operatives known to you, and your contact will meet with you at the appropriate time.] [Session Start] * Girdnick enters the Blackened Blade, much to the dismay of the proprietor * AkareDialden creeps in and slinks over to a table, keeping to the shadows to barkeep: "Girdnick wants beer. You pour for Girdnick." * Girdnick drops a few silver coins on the counter. "Girdnick pay with money this time." * Drunik hobbles into the Blackened Blade and takes a few looks around * Kansakhad wanders in and looks for familiar-looking people "Most certainly, Ugly." * Victor comes in not all that much later, he doesn't appear to have spent any of the money on his somewhat dingy coat. * Barkeep turns, fills a mug, and slides it across to Girdnick. "Girdnick's name is Girdnick. Why Girdnick have to always remind you that?" * AkareDialden cleans his nails with his sword * Drunik walks over to Kahsakhad and greets him warmly * Girdnick grabs his beer and has a seat across from Akare "Nice to see you again, come, let's get some drinks" Good day, Girdnick * Barkeep smirks. "Girdnick it is. Ugly in the evening, Girdnick?" * Kansakhad nods to Drunik. Yes, I could use a drink. * Victor smiles to the group then heads over to the barkeep plunking down two silver. "Think I'll have an ale myself." * Girdnick shrugs. "YEah, I guess you are, at that." * Barkeep chuckles, nods his head in deference to the reference, and pours one for Victor. * Drunik walks over to the bar, and places two silver on the bar for two ales. to Akare: "Good to see someone who remember Girdnick's name" "So, Priest, I hear you were away for a good while with your friend there. Where'd you get to?" I make it a point to remember names "Just a little sabbatical to see the country" "It's good to be home, though" * Girdnick waves to Drunik, Victor, and Kansakhad. "Come sit, fellas" * Kansakhad raises an eyebrow at Drunik. "My, you're one for understatement." * Victor takes the ale and heads over. * Girdnick dribbles beer from his lips as the glass clinks against his jutting tusks So, how's everyone been? busy, you might say. I can't complain myself "Girdnick good. But spent two nights in a cell." "Girdnick not know humans don't mark their territory" * Drunik comes over to the table after getting his ales Ah, well, good thing to learn. "Humans are silly. How you know who lives where if you no smell them at the doorway?" hehe Girdnick, there are others that also don't "mark their territory" as you suggest. For one, I'm pretty sure the elves don't do it. Reading typically, a more work than dependent on instincts, but has the advantage that you can recognize people you haven't smelled before. It's a skill, interpretting letters as sounds. ::He points to some text in the bar, perhaps the prestadigitized glowing sign for a local beer brand:: * Girdnick shrugs again and rubs his finger along the inside of his mug, trying to get the last few drops of beer his tongue might have missed. "So aside from our large friend, what have you two been up too? Business been good, Victor?" * Victor nods. "One explosions, only three angry thugs, not bad sales, good few months on the whole." Victor deal with angry thugs? Victor need Gridnick bash thugs a bit? My business is my own; but i am still alive talking to you now, so it hasn't been a bad 2 months. * Victor smiles. "That's a good attitude Girdnick, perhaps once I can afford some staff/" * Girdnick waves the comment away. "Victor Girdnick friend. Victor have angry thug problem, Girdnick fix." * Victor leans back. "Well, those gentleman learned their lesson, but I suppose I will call on you next time someone feels the need to file a complaint." * ElvenWoman strolls into the Blackened Blade, surveys the patrons, and gives your table a little nod. She heads over to the bar. "Bitter, you know what I like!" * Barkeep pulls out a small glass, pours a double of black goo, and puts a tindertwig next to the glass. "Always have one for you, Nistlen." * ElvenWoman is now known as Nistlen :under his breath "Yeah we all know what you like, honey" * Barkeep is now known as Bitter * AkareDialden slinks over to the bar Milady. (in elven) "I'm sorry, have we met?" She smiles. * Victor drinks his ale. * Nistlen takes her drink to the table where everyone is gathered, and nods Akare over with her. * AkareDialden walks over to the door and looks out nonchalantly * Girdnick drops a gold coin on the table. "So what services will this cover?" "Scratching someone's back." * Victor pauses mid drink but manages to avoid losing anything he drank already, he puts his ale down and is curious. * Victor snickers. * AkareDialden slinks back to the table * Girdnick turns away from her, while sliding the coin towards her with his other hand. "I like it hard." * Kansakhad stifles a laugh * Drunik rolls his eyes * Nistlen takes the coin, and walks over behind Girdnick. Man knows what he wants. "Yeah, that's right... a little to the left" * Nistlen stands behind Girdnick, and runs her nails over his back. A small line of blood shows up where she passed by. "Oops, sorry. Sometimes I don't know my own strength." "You got what you paid for." She returns to her seat. "Not bad... for an elf, you can scratch hard." * Nistlen grabs Akare's wrist. "I'll be keeping that, thanks." * AkareDialden smirks and his crosses arms * Brute grumbles his way into the bar and heads straight for Bitter. "You know." "So, lady, I thought you didn't like us much. Why you come back?" * Victor gets a flash of recognition as he realizes that this is the same elf, not another in the same line of work. * Kansakhad shifts uncomfortably * Brute turns and eyes your group with disdain. "Eh, I know how to forgive." * Drunik feigns ignorance * Bitter rushes into the kitchen. "And it has paid off. Free gold never hurt anyone!" She smiles at Girdnick. * AkareDialden scowls "Girdnick get free gold lots. Girdnick smash, Girdnick take gold." Can't win them all Akare. * Brute stomps over to your table. He towers over you and glares at Drunik and Kansakhad. * Drunik takes a swig from his drink * Victor keeps nonchalantly seated as this wouldn't seem to be his fight. * AkareDialden fingers his swords "Make room." * Girdnick slips a hand under his cloak and grips the handle of his boneblade. "Who this guy?" * Wench rushes out from the back to your table, and drops a large hunk of meat, crusted with red flakes, in front of the Brute. * Girdnick grimaces in disgust. "I'll just, uh, put it on your tab. Anybody else want anything?" "Yuck. Why humans make food on fire?" * Bitter scrambles to fill a mug, and holds it out for the Wench. * Drunik shrugs. "You heard him, make some room" Sorry, fella, I didn't catch your name * Brute rips off a hunk and hands it to Girdnick. "Fire, indeed." * Victor scoots his chair over slightly. He doesn't actually crowd up next to whoever is sitting on the otherside though. "I'm Truggle. They," pointing to Drunik and Kansakhad, "can verify who I am." * Brute is now known as Truggle * AkareDialden scoots over, with a questioning glance to Drunik and Kansakhad * Wench steps quickly over to Bitter to deliver Truggle's ale. * Girdnick sniffs the meat and hands it back. "They burned it..." * Truggle reaches behind him, takes a chair, unceremoniously dumps the halfling out of it, and puts it under himself. * AkareDialden snickers "Not burned. Just hot." [The frightened halfling tumbles to the floor, turns it into an acrobatic roll, and continues to move until he is out the door.] * Truggle takes the meat back from Girdnick, puts it in his mouth, and exhales the smoke rising from his tongue. "Fire-roast. Mmm..." "So uncouth. Do any of you know this man?" "Nope" Haven't had the pleasure. "Drunik. Are all these with you?" "You heard the man, the two of us have met him before" "I wasn't told there was to be a woman. Again, I ask, 'Are all these with you?'" * Kansakhad looks towards Nistlen. "No, she's not. She just came to scratch Girdnick's back." "She can take care of herself, mind you, but no. * Truggle addresses Nistlen. "Private business. Get lost." * AkareDialden grins and glances at Nistlen * Girdnick looks back and forth between the woman and the brute * Nistlen glares at Truggle. "You watch how you talk to strangers, little boy. Never know who you'll meet again and might do you a favour." "I don't care who you are. You are in my way now, and you should be worry about who you meet again... in a back alley!" He lets out a sloppy, roaring laugh. Everyone is hit by at least a few drops of spittle or partially-chewed meat. "Nistlen, maybe we'll meet again, but Girdnick has a job to do." * Drunik wipes his face with the back of his hand * Victor casually wipse off the spittle. * Nistlen wipes the drool off her arm, and addresses everyone but Truggle. "May we meet again, with better company." And to Truggle: "We will meet again, and no company will help you." * Nistlen lights her drink and shoots it down, then turns and strolls proudly out the door. * Girdnick rises with Nistlen and escorts her to the door with a smile. * Victor raises his drink to her, maybe she means it, maybe she talks big, but it's respectable either wa. * Victor then looks to Truggle. "So, you the contact for today?" * Girdnick returns to the table and plops into his seat, splintering the wood slightly. * Truggle pulls out a privacy orb and places it in the center of the table. He takes another bite of his fire-roast, then a large gulp of his ale. When he speaks, the mash in his mouth is clearly visible. I'll take that as a yes. "What kind of work you have for Girdnick?" "You are going to shut down a machine that is causing us some problems." sabotage is my specialty "Girdnick good at fixing things" * Girdnick cracks his knuckles Sounds like fun. "It's running around in the Towering Wood, up near the Shadow Crags." "What's it look like? "This machine is a Warforged, then?" "So I'm told." "It thinks it deserves a name, calls itself 'Slice'." What does it want? Not a very friendly name at that. Although what it lacks up in charm it makes up in description. "It took a job from us, and we paid for it to travel there. The job's not done, and it's not back here. We can only assume it took advantage of us, or was a spy." Do we get extra pay if we also accomplish its job? "Not for you to do." "And if Slice has already completed its task?" * AkareDialden is getting antsy * Victor is thinking the job through, he seems quite comfortable. It hasn't, or we wouldn't be sent to stop it. Can you tell us anything about the abilities of the warforged we're being sent to stop, so we can better prepare outselves? "Traitors to the Maw don't stay traitors for long. They magically transform." He grins. "Into the dead." Another roaring laugh thunders through the room, ale sprinkling everyone. * AkareDialden bends his head down as soon as he starts laughing "Who's to say it's just slow." * Victor makes a soft heh sound. * Drunik turns to the others. "Anyone know where the Towering Wood or Shadow Crags are? Can't say that I do. "The machine is trained to go into a combat trance, so there is no reasoning with it. It has no subtlety, so just find it and destroy it." What can you tell us about its combat abilities? It will help our mission if we have a good idea of what we're up against. * Truggle looks at Kansakhad with big eyes, and speaks very slowly. "It. See. Enemy. It. Kill. Enemy. With. Sword." nods. "I. See." * Girdnick burst into laughter. * Victor smiles. "Well, if you could get us a map, we'll take it down. Should we try to figure out why it failed, maybe get a lead on who might have been really employing it?" * Drunik stifles a chuckle at the exchange. "I'm as ready as, heh, I'm going to be once I know where we must travel" "Who wants to take responsibility for the equipment for this mission?" "Girdnick can hold crap" I should probably concentrate on our adversary. "What stuff we need to carry? "Girdnick, the mighty master of subtlety. 'It like that when Girdnick find.'" He grins widely. "Someone else?" what are we taking? "I suppose you're as good as any." He grabs the privacy orb. "Hold this." * AkareDialden takes the orb [They both hold onto the orb, and you can see their lips moving, but no sound comes from their lips.] Ah, I wondered how that thing looked from the outside. * Girdnick rises, heads outside, and begins preparing his orc-horse for travel [Truggle hands Akare something.] * Truggle removes Akare's hand from the orb, and places it back in the center of the table. "Any questions? Yeah, if we get the chance, should we try to find out why he went rogue? * Girdnick reenters the room "Did I instruct you to talk to the machine?" "Does it know we're coming?" "If it's smart, it will know SOMEbody's coming." No, we just might find something interesting on his body. If you don't care, I don't care. "All materials are to be submitted for review. But expect to keep most of it for yourselves." Works for me, I'm ready. "Alright, then let's go" "Take the Orien Trade Road to Erlaskar between the lakes. Everyone have papers?" * Kansakhad nods How long of a travel is this? "I'll need to pick up my horse. Anyone need to gather supplies first?" * Girdnick looks awful confused * Girdnick pulls a crumpled ball of paper from his bag. "Is this it?" (his official documents, obviously recently used as a tissue.) I'll need to buy some, I don't get out of the city much. "If you ride, it will be several weeks, but the trade roads take you through several cities for resupply." "Somehow, Girdnick, I think that you might find what you need in there." "Take the road north to Greenheart, then head north into the Towering Wood." * Victor stands up. "I'll come back here once I've got them." He heads off to go get some papers. * AkareDialden follows Vic out the door "Report here when you return. We'll know." * Truggle stands, takes the orb, and departs. * Drunik heads back to the stables to pick up a horse * Victor returns after a while, papers in hand. * Kansakhad goes to get his horse and meets back at the meeting spot (horse and other travel gear) (papers and horse) * Girdnick waits the whole time for everyone to return, chewing on a cinnamon stick * Drunik returns on a horse after buying some feed * AkareDialden trots in with a light pack horse [The intrepid adventurers travel the well-patrolled Orien travel roads from Sharn into the Eldeen Reaches. The open plains give them a view of lush forests, towering mountains, and serene lakes. They pass through several small cities, and eventually arrive in Greenheart, the capital of the forest-nation of the Eldeen Reaches.] * Girdnick asking a passerby, "Where are the Shadow Crags?" * Victor has been antsy for most of the trip, if asked he's worried about losing customers, but he hasn't made a point of complaining about it. [Girdnick is regarded strangely before receiving the response, "North, Ugly!"] * Drunik (asking Akare at some point during the travel) "So what did Truggle give you to use?" (back to Drunik), oh, that was money for papers so are we being reimbursed for our expenses, or were you gonna keep that money? no, for my papers, Girdnick So was you the only one supposed to go? Girdnick had to use his papers too. Papers aren't that expensive. There's something you're hiding. If he paid for travel papers, Girdnick wants money too. Especially when he offered it to whoever in the party spoke up. *fishes out 2 silver for Girdnick* By the way, some folks in town said the machine was running around this way.. *points northeast* Ahem. So what exectly _did_ Truggle give you? Because there was no need for a privacy field for petty cash for travel papers. [Following Akare's directions, after restocking, the group ventures out into the wild Towering Wood.] An astute observation, Kansakhad. Your deduction is pretty impressive. There was a privacy field for a reason, and I intend to keep private matters private. If it were something you needed to know about, I would have already told you. No offense. * AkareDialden offers a friendly handshake "I don't care, I just want to be back home. I don't like the thought of Truggle being a superior" * Girdnick reaches to grap Akare's arm when the coins are offered, but his swipe is a little low and Akare flinches away from his hand (grab) Yeah, I definately prefered our first one, easier on the eyes. * Kansakhad frowns. "Well, we'll see about the need-to-know thing later." he says, as he shakes AkareDialden's hand. so long as we get paid for our work, I'll gladly work for an ogre * Girdnick ties his belonging tightly as he addresses Akare "Girdnick think you lie. Girdnick sees you steal before you knock out the person. That not fair. Girdnick watch his own back." * Girdnick thumps Victor's shoulder. "Girdnick watch Victor's own back too." * Victor gets knocked forward slightly. "I appreciate it." * AkareDialden smirks at girdnick [Journeying farther into the endless forest, it starts to get darker, even during the daylight hours. There's an eerie feeling all around you.] So Vic, what'd you do with your shop? Surely, you fear theft for being away so long "Just like being back home." [Everyone hears a skittering off to the left, behind a thick clump of shrubbery.] Fortunately I don't keep too much stock on hand. * Kansakhad looks towards the shrubbery. "What was that?" * AkareDialden halts his horse and clutches his swords * Girdnick straps his boneblade to his wrist * Drunik stops his horse and loads a crossbow bolt * Girdnick hops off his orc-horse and begins leading it with his free hand * Victor hops off as well and starts casting a spell. [A screech leads a swarm of rats to combat with you, two of which are considerably larger than the others and covered in bony plates. These two are slavering and foaming at the mouth, the drool melting anything on which it falls.] * Drunik also gets off his horse and casts Longstrider * Girdnick places himself slightly between the rats and Victor and lunges to attack. * Victor , once his round comes in init again, draws and then throws a vial of alchemist frost at the swarm of rats. * Victor obviously abandons the spell to do so. * Girdnick leaps forward with an orcish swear and drives the metal tip of his boneblade into the shoulder of one of the larger rats, thenslings it's crumpling body to the side * BonyRat2 is angered by the slaughter of its mate, and attempts to drive its fangs into Girdnick, but he swats it away easily. * Rats swarm all over Girdnick, and two of them manage to stand up on their hind legs and get above his boots to nick his legs. * Drunik shoots a wide shot and misses the remaining of the two larger rats. He then drops his crossbow, drawing his mace and stepping forward. * Kansakhad fires a blast of fire from his fingertip at the large rat attacking Girdnick, sorching its body badly * AkareDialden leaps at the rat, brandishing his swords dramatically * Victor gets out the bottle of alchemist frost, as promised, but he just holds it for the moment. "If those rats give you too much trouble Girdnick, move and I'll ice 'em." (Readied action, if Girdnick moves and a threat remains) * Girdnick swings at the rat, which deftly ducks under his blade * BonyRat2 climbs up onto Girdnick and sinks its teeth into his chest, saliva dripping down and etching lines of blood in his flesh. Girdnick falls to the ground, his mouth hanging agape. * AkareDialden curses * Rats swarm the nearest target, Akare, and manage to find many openings in his defenses as he tries to step around the little beasts. (Can I get a toss at them when they swarm away from Girdnick or are they so close it doesn't matter?) * Drunik rushes in to Girdnick's aid, muttering a prayer to Dol Arrah as he gives Girdnick healing warmth. "Someone help pull Girdnick away while I disable the rats for a few seconds" * Victor makes motions to start that, but won't be there for a few seconds. "Will do." * Kansakhad fires another energy ray at the bony rat, roasting it completely in fire * AkareDialden tries to stab the little critters at his feet, but he underestimates their speed * Rats continue to eat away at the nearest target, biting Akare several more times about his legs and feet. * Victor pulls Girdnick away from the nasty ratses, he keeps the potion handy, as dropping it's a bad idea. * Drunik concentrates for a moment, then shouts "Peace!" Followed by, "Get the injured out now, you only have seconds!" * Kansakhad goes over and assists Victor in moving Girdnick * Rats seems uninterested in continuing the attack. * AkareDialden crawls quickly away from the rats * Rats swarm over their nearby dead, seeing no one nearby who threatens them. They begin feasting on the gigantic dead bodies. [Having averted disaster for now, the group travels a distance away from the slaughter and takes stock of themselves.] * Victor walks along helping Girdnick move and having put away his potion. * Victor helps Girdnick move by, well, moving him. Help is perhaps the wrong word. Drunik: do you have any more healing magic we can use to revive Girdnick? It'll be very hard to travel if we have to carry him. "I only have one good curing left in me, otherwise it will be minor. I'm looking to see who will need it more" * Drunik starts chanting, and light passes from his touch into Girdnick and then Akare * Victor looks around once the two are up. "We may want to use a scout once we get closer to our target. I can be quite effective against it, but I need a minute or two to prepare." "Akare, I can help a little more, but it's my last bit of healing and I'd rather save it for an emergency. How are you faring?" If I take a hit, I'm probably dead so we'll see when the time comes save your healing "I'll use it on you when we camp tonight then" * Victor nods. "Let's get moving then." "Girdnick not feel so good. Need more armor." I think the people in the last town said he was within a day of here Ah, then let's find a defensible spot and camp. Don't think we're in condition to fight at the moment. "Victor need scout? Girdnick scout." Sounds like a good idea to me. * Victor nods. "Just don't take him on on your own." "How about the two of you save your strength for the machine. I think we'll need it more then." "Girdnick scout tonight. Girdnick find Slice, then we break machine." Girdnick, get some rest. "You camp here? Girdnick come back with news." * Girdnick heads out into the woods. * AkareDialden falls asleep, his back to a tree, cloak wrapped tightly around him * Victor gets out his crossbow. "Alright, when the time comes I'll snipe it, with a bit of magic I'll be quite effective against it, so long as he's not shooting back effectively at me. * Kansakhad nods I'll take first watch, then, unless someone else wants it? "Go ahead, I'll take second watch" I'll take last. * Drunik uses the heal on Akare before Akare goes to sleep, as was discussed earlier * Victor keeps his crossbow out and then beds down until it's his turn to watch. many thanks, mr. dwarf [The night passes uneventfully, despite the fact that their quarry could have overtaken them overnight.] * Victor rouses any that need it come morning. * Kansakhad yawns has Girdnick come back yet? * Kansakhad does his morning meditation * Victor shakes his head. "How are you on scouting Akare?" I can not be seen when i wish * Victor nods. "Well, that may be wise." [Following Akare's directions in the morning, the group travels into an even deeper section of the forest. There is almost no light breaking through the canopy overhead.] Ready yourselves, gentlemen, he's nearby let me take a look * Victor nods and casts weapon augmentation (living construct bane) on his crossbow. * AkareDialden returns well, i've got good news i think * Victor nods. "Yes?" hm? Slice appears to be inspecting Girdnick's wounds. His head is propped up on a pile of leaves. I think you should go speak to him, i'm going to get in the tree canopy to jump on him if anything happens How far away is he? * Victor seems fairly disturbed by this development. a few yards up ahead maybe we should just watch and see what he does? * Victor shakes his head. "Our orders were clear, this isn't an investigative mission. Now if one of you wants to talk to him I don't object, but I'm not sticking my neck out to do so." we should get him away from drunik first (retcon girdnick) girdnick, right * Victor shrugs. "If he didn't kill him before I doubt he'll kill him now, not when he's got other priorities. Look, do what you feel you have to do, the spell will expire soon, I can cast another, but.." * AkareDialden scurries off into the brush * Victor readies to put on his game face if there's a sudden attack. We should go in non-threateningly Either that, or charge in and immediately attack him. Throw him off guard, or take the element of surprise while we still have it. But we need to decide now what we're doing. I say the later. But if you both want to talk, so be it. "I'd prefer not to just rush right in, and find out more about what he did and didn't do. Maybe knock him out, interrogate, and then do what seems appropriate?" I don't care which we do. But we need to decide now, and do it. * Victor nods. "Well, you've got the deciding vote whether you like it or not." I'm willing to not finish him if he's knocked unconcious, but I'm not going to hold back before that point in a fight." Victor: I'll agree with that. Ok, well, we're just standing here. We need to do something now. "Well, if you're going to charge in and attack, let's go over here and I'll ... 'bless' ... this plan first" * Victor nods and loads his crossbow. * Victor once he's out of hearing range casts shield of faith. Faith in what? Who knows. * Drunik casts Bless when they get out of hearing range, and declares that he's just going to tend to healing and slowing it down * Victor nods. "Your choice." He then grins and focuses for a moment, and his hair grows longer, his limbs gain added definition and flexibility, his hands and feet become far more suited to gaining a grip, and he has a far more wild look about him. "Let's go." * Girdnick lies in the center of a small opening in the trees. You don't see anyone else around. * Victor bounds forward and scampers up the first tree that offers a clear shot of Girdnick. He's favoring speed over silence, but isn't yelling or anything. [An axe ripples into existence as it clips a few hairs off Kansakhad's head. It's owner, Slice, ripples into view soon after.] "I knew they'd send someone. I'm done with the Maw, and now so are you!" * Drunik states in a clear voice, "HALT!" * Victor takes his shot from a distance up that tree. He then quickly reloads. * Kansakhad takes a step back from Slice, and concentrates on a defensive stance. * Victor keeps moving up the tree when he reloads, trying to get to a nice branch to sit on. * Slice darts over to Drunik, heaving his axe high and bringing it crashing down into the dwarf's shoulder. "There will be no witnesses to bring more." * AkareDialden fires an arrow from his hidden tree perch. it whistles through the air and pelts Slice in the midsection [A strange liquid layer beneath Slice's armour seems to deaden the impact of the arrow.] * Victor takes another shot, and is probably on a safe perch by the time he climbs again and reloads. * Slice takes three heavy steps over to Kansakhad and swings his large axe, which is deflected away six inches from its target by some sort of invisible field. "Arrgh!" * AkareDialden fires another arrow towards the warforged, hitting its mark with a thwack * Kansakhad moves deftly away from the hulking warforged * Victor curses his last miss and takes another shot before reloading. * Victor curses rather more after that. * Slice charges after Kansakhad as he retreats, but the angry warrior is again thwarted by the mental defenses of the slight man. * AkareDialden fires another arrow, but it whizzes past harmlessly * Kansakhad fires a bolt of fire at the warforged, singing it * Victor grins, "Didn't know you had it in you to go toe to toe with a warforged Kansakhad." He takes another shot and reloads. * Victor looks at his crossbow after seeing the result of that hit. "I did imbue this thing, right?" * AkareDialden curses as he sees the arrow he just fired ignore his target * Slice shakes off the last few flames clinging to him, and glances at the arrows that hang limply from his body. "You die, wizard!" He steps in to beat down Kansakhad, but is blinded by his rage and knocks a large chunk out of a nearby tree. * Kansakhad fires another ray of fire at slice, covering him in flames * Victor loses the effects of his transformation, but he just keeps on firing and reloading, even in his less wild but still sketch state. * Victor lines up this last shot carefully, even as the hair recedes and his small claws switch to nails again. "This better work cause I need someone alive to get me down." * Victor then grins when it hits. * Slice heaves his axe out of the tree and suddenly stops moving altogether, midswing. * Victor shouts when that happens. "Yay! That'll teach you to take on your makers, in the broad sense of the term. Uh, anyone got a rope?" * AkareDialden leaps out of the tree * Kansakhad checks Drunik to see if he's alive or not * Kansakhad pulls out his potion of cure light wounds and pours it down Drunik's throat Ah, yeah, tending to him is important. I'll just stay up here for now. * Victor puts away his crossbow with a satisfied pat and stays on the branch * AkareDialden walks over to Drunik and Kansakhad * AkareDialden searches Slice's body Little help? * Kansakhad looks up to victor You can't climb down? Might be able to, but it's really not the same when I'm not shifting. "Owowowowowwww" Does anyone want this big hulking axe? * Kansakhad looks to Drunik. "You ok?" * Kansakhad looks to Akare. "I bet Girdnick would be happy to take it, if he were awake." If he's willing to reimburse us for the cost we could get at market, sure. Anyways, so anyone have rope? Yeah, but remember we still have to cart it all back to Sharn anyway. * AkareDialden throws his grappling hook tied to silk rope up to Victor * Victor catches it and secures it. "Thanks!" "I'll be okay in a bit, just give me a bit to recover" Is this warforged dead? Or just in some sort of suspended animation? I don't have much experience with them, but aside from looking beat-up, it doesn't look "destroyed" to me. * Victor cautiously climbs down. Once at the bottom he pulls at the grappling hook from a different angle causing it to come tumbling after. * Victor examines the warforged. Can he tell if it is dead or unconscious? * AkareDialden puts the hook and rope away * Victor shrugs. * Kansakhad looks at the warforged some more Yeah, it looks like it could probably be repaired. I can cast a spell to do it, but can't say I much care. * Kansakhad swings his quarterstaff at the warforged's head and lands a blow. "That's for calling me a wizard." * Victor laughs. "Well, what do you prefer to be called? You earned it today." psion, actually. [The inert warforged collapses, its joints bending in impossible directions.] Ah. Well, looks like we're done here. Nice work psion. * Kansakhad jumps back, slightly surprised. "Wow. I didn't think I hit it _that_ hard." in any case, let's grab its belongings and part of it to give to Truggle, and head home. [Other than the axe, it doesn't seem to have any belongings.] we're meeting Truggle in the bar, yes? Yeah heh, in a couple of weeks * AkareDialden walks back to his horse and saddles up * Victor gets Girdnick on his horse and then saddles up behind him. [Many uneventful nights later, the group rides into Sharn. Girdnick's fever has broken under Drunik's care, and he is fully capable when they reach home.] [They check in at the Blackened Blade, leaving behind Slice's head as proof of their success.] [Each of them, several days later, receives a bag with 400 gp and two potions of Cure Light Wounds.] [Session End]