Episode 2

Jan 29, 2018 11:46 pm

Constablebrew says:

Miracle? Maeriks ...returns the mans clasp, giving him a firm grasp on the shoulder as well and a wide grin.

OOC:

This takes place a little earlier, out of sequence here, but a little more detail retcon after Maeriks shows kindness in his response.

Oram accepts Maeriks' shoulder grasps and returns it.

"Oisim koishyas hen nay hiee gedae bashish hen samath," he says.

Bryn explains it is a Heshbaan saying, means something like "May all the blessing that a man gives return to him by a blessed man."

Jan 29, 2018 11:53 pm

Yasi speaks harshly and formally to Oram...

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Ron (SGT) Oram

Jan 29, 2018 11:58 pm

Oram is visibly angered and responds sternly....

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Brimming with anger, but also held in check by command, Oram looks out towards the forest, back at his superior, as if considering it one more time.

Then abruptly he breaks free of his stance at attention and steps away boldly in defiance. He pulls out a small knife, the only weapon he has left and starts walking away, in the direction of the last horn sound.

Jan 30, 2018 12:03 am

Furious, Yasi yells out in rage at the defiant troop.

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Yasi is quaking with hostility as he barks orders, louder and louder. When he finishes, Yasi has his hand on the hilt of his bronze gladius.

Ron (SGT) Oram

Jan 30, 2018 12:10 am

Oram stops in his tracks. He closes his eyes and cringes, gritting his teeth, the muscles in his jaw pulsing. The grip on his knife so hard his arm is shaking.

He glares out one more time to the forest. And then turns, sheathing his knife.

He walks back to his commander, sets back at attention first, and then looks at Yasi square in the eye. He speaks softly in a low voice, measured and cool but obviously right on the very brink of rage.

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With that, Oram backs up and looks at everyone around briefly, and then down at Bezil Koral. Oram is still covered in blood, his own, and still wobbly from his wounds. Without delay though, he heaves Koral up again, over his shoulder and starts hiking it as fast as he can down the hill, towards the ruined stone stairs that lead back to trail and the camp.

As Oram walks away, the horn sounds out from further uphill in the forest again, for the third time.

Jan 30, 2018 11:28 am

Another quick translation from Bryn after the intense altercation between the soldier and officer:

Yasi ordered Oram to turn away from the horn sound and carry the Captain back to camp. Yasi says the horn is a false signal. Yasi even threatened Oram and his family if he disobeyed. Oram says that there is a devil named Iz Jeddriss in the woods, and that the soldiers and workers if they are out there would be desperate for help. Yasi is furious about the whole thing, especially it seems about Oram mentioning the devil and speaking its name Iz Jeddriss .

Jan 30, 2018 11:38 am

Still seething from the argument with Oram, Ensha Yasi surveys the scene one more time. There is still a great nervousness and frantic way about him. He still carries his helmet. His head and face are covered in sweat now. The small wound on his head is reddened, likely to be a bruise over time, with a small cut in the center.

He looks at all of the others as Oram walks downhill carrying Koral. Stepping up to Kray, the officer says something quick in Heshbaan, and then does his best at speaking Yuoric.

"Go. We go. Return to camp. Go, Lord. All return."

He points downhill, in the direction of Oram who is walking further and further away at a rapid pace despite his heavy carry.

Yasi signals for Kray to get everyone together and move out, back to the camp.

Jan 30, 2018 5:30 pm

Xorthan Inactive for 3 months

When Yasi sees Kray lighting a cigarette and not answering immediately, the armsman officer redirects to Bryn, speaking Heshbaan.

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Yasi then looks at Ivor and Maeriks first, seems to decide against it, then turns to Thorn. Reverting to his broken Yuoric, he commands, "Go. Move your master's servants down. Away. Move the Dannis. All go. Back to camp."

OOC:

In Jeres and the other Markelands, "Danni" is a racial slur, or at least a lazy moniker, for Danneins. I think y'all knew that already, but just in case.

He points downhill with strong hand signals.

Thorn

Jan 31, 2018 11:28 pm

Yasi's words are ignorant and annoying. Rather than waste time attempting communication, Thorn stares at him blankly and speaks softly to Kray as he moves next to him.

"Besides missing guts, something is not quite right with Koral."

Thorn then moves away from the rest, after Oram, and catches up to him. He taps the man on his shoulder, gesturing to relieve the wounded soldier of his burden.

OOC:

If Oram lets Thorn take Koral, Thorn's going to hold him such a way where he can get a good look at his face. I want to see if a close inspection can reveal what might be going on with this dude.

Rolls

Investigation - (1d20+6)

(19) + 6 = 25

Feb 1, 2018 12:27 am

Xorthan Inactive for 3 months

Oram tries to understand Thorn as he approaches. This soldier is really trying to move out with this fireman's carry, now in the darkness of night falling, so it is a tough interchange for a moment and maybe some confusion. Oram does agree to put Koral down to the ground though, with some uncertainty of what Thorn is asking.

Thorn begins to assess Koral's status and manifestation. Oram kneels down beside him, looking on. Thorn uses a makeshift torch, lit from the burning carcasses, to illuminate the area for his inspection.

Thorn notices the following:

Koral is very pale and clammy all over. He is perspiring profusely.
Koral's breathing is irregular, shifting from no breathing at all for several seconds, to quick hyper ventilation, to erratic gasping.
Koral's eyes and mouth are displaying strange movements. His eyes seem to be locked into a back roll into his head, showing only the whites when his eye lids flutter open here and there. Koral's jaw is clenching and releasing at odd intervals, and his mouth is opening and closing in disturbing manner, with twisting lips and gritting of teeth sporadically. Also he is salivating severely.
The skin on the back of Koral's neck is reddening and swollen.
There is a wound on Koral's abdomen, maybe a 4-5 inch cut, but it also looks like it is closed up, at least partially. It is like he was cut, but then the wound was sealed, but then it was infected and still reddened and oozing.

Overall, Koral is in bad shape. He has a pulse, is breathing, but shows all kinds of weird signs of stress and injury.

Oram looks on at Thorn, speaking in Heshbaan apparently questioning. Thorn can tell he is wondering what to do, likely asking if Thorn has any answers or solutions.

Thorn

Feb 1, 2018 12:41 am

Constablebrew Inactive for 3 months

Thorn looks back at the group.

"Hey Big Man!" he calls out to Maeriks. "Come take a look at this fellow."

OOC:

If and when Maeriks comes over, Thorn will point out his observations.

Bull Maeriks

Feb 1, 2018 4:32 am

Maeriks rushes over to inspect the wounded Koral. Had he not been occupied with the hound and Oram, he would have seen the dark figure performing its dark magic and would be hesitant to touch him, for fear of bad luck. Old stories of dark magic are hard to shake, even after having lived through the horrors of the ziggurat and knowing that he himself has a secret magic of his own.

He beckons Thorn to lay the man down and does the best to help the sick man.

Investigation to see if Maeriks gets a sense that magic was involved here. He didn't see the whole organ extraction event, so Kroal's wounds are mundane as far as he knows. If he picks up on some sort of magic, then he will be wierded out and will be rolling his medicine check with disadvantage. Assuming that there was some actual magic to pick up on. J's call.

[ +- ] Maeriks Mac Hannoc

Norach Maeriks Mac Hannoc ✎

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/77/07/f3/7707f3b5d3b4e3ab7d85e63d30b5cda3.jpg

Vitals
Proficiency Bonus: +3
AC: 12 (12 Hide +2 DEX +0 proficiency)
HP: 47/63
Temp HP: 0
Initiative: +2
Status Effects: None
Death Saves: +0/-0
Hit Dice: 2/2 Druid, 5/5 Fighter

Weapons and Armor
Equipped
Armor: Hide (12)
Both Hands: Glaive / Attack Bonus: +7 (STR 4 + 3 proficiency) / Damage: (1d10+4) / Heavy, Two-handed, slashing

"Reave" War Club

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/5ulyccq33d00am5/Maeriks.war.club.jpg

Carried
Glaive / Attack Bonus: +7 (STR 4 + 3 proficiency) / Damage: (1d10+4) / Heavy, Two-handed, Reach, slashing
Maul "Reave" / Attack Bonus: +7 (STR 4 + 3 proficiency) / Damage: (2d6+4) / Heavy, Two-handed, bludgeoning
Dagger / Attack Bonus: +7 (STR 4 + 3 proficiency) / Damage: (1d4+4) / Finesse, light, thrown (range 20/60), piercing, lanyard
Javelin x 3 / Attack Bonus: +7 (STR 4 + 3 proficiency) / Damage: (1d6+4) / Thrown (range 30/120), piercing

Tactics
Refresh rest times noted in parentheses

Action Surge: 0/1 (short rest)
Second Wind: 1/1 (short rest) (bonus)
Savage Attacker: 1/1 (turn)
Spell Casting
---Level 1: 2/3 (long rest)
---AB: +7, Save DC 14
Barbaric Justice:
---Must be acting on specific tenets of the Barbaric Code of Honor
---Roll with advantage (STR, CON, Some WIS, Attack, Damage): 1/1 (day)
---Add additional damage die on critical hit
Wild Shape: 2/2 (short rest)
---Dannien Longhorn Bull (Stats as brown bear )
---Multiattack. The bull makes two attacks: one with its horns and one with its hoves.
---Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage.
---Trample. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
---HP: 34, AC: 11
---The standard transformation time is 30 minutes to get into Wild Shape form and 5 minutes to revert back to normal.
---Fast transformation time is two turns (12 seconds) Wild Shape form and 1 turn (6 seconds) to revert. Requires DC 10 CON save or suffer 1 level of Exhaustion for 1 minute. Regardless of the result of that save, duration of the Wild Shape form will be half the normal time (1/2 hour at 2nd Level). Upon transforming back to normal after a fast transformation, the character will suffer 2 levels of Exhaustion for 5 minutes.

Saving Throws
Brown text indicates proficiency

Strength: +4
Dexterity: +2
Constitution: +3
Intelligence: +1
Wisdom: +7
Charisma:-1

Feats
Savage Attacker: Once per turn, reroll damage dice and choose result to take
Great Weapon Fighting: Reroll 1s and 2s on damage dice
Improved Critical: Crit on 19 or 20
Gourmand: Detect poisoned food, prepare special meal on long rests
Polearm Master: Opportunity atk enemies coming in range. Bonus atk with offhand.
Extra Attack: Attack 2x

Skills
Brown text indicates proficiency

Acrobatics +2
Animal Handling +6
Arcana -2
Athletics +4
Deception -1
History -1
Insight +6
Intimidation -1
Investigation -2 (Passive 8)
Medicine +6
Nature +0
Perception +4 (Passive 14)
Performance -1
Persuasion -1
Religion -2
Sleight Of Hand +2
Stealth +2 (Passive 12)
Survival +6

Tool Proficiency
Cook’s utensils, Herbalism kit, Vehicles: Water

Languages
Dannein - Native

Last edited February 1, 2018 4:34 am

Rolls

Investigation - what caused Koral's wounds - (1d20-2)

(20) - 2 = 18

Medic! - (1d20+7, 1d20+7)

1d20+7 : (18) + 7 = 25

1d20+7 : (12) + 7 = 19

Feb 1, 2018 2:32 pm

Ezeriah Inactive forever!

Oram is encouraged when he sees Maeriks come over to inspect and maybe attend to Koral.

Maeriks studies the symptoms and details as Thorn talks them through. The big Dannein zeroes in and studies the abdominal wound on Koral, seeing the manner by which the skin is closed. Maeriks knows right away that it is not natural. He fears the worst - no he feels certain of it. Koral has been subjected to a dark ceremonial process. He has been assaulted by a user of black magic.

OOC:

Bro, I'm thinking the skill in play is Arcana. Will use that Natural 20 as the roll, which is freaking awesome.

Maeriks feels Koral's stomach, presses down on it to check his suspicions. When he does, Koral surges and tightens up in his whole body. The Heshbaan officer's eyes open wide and he cries out in pain. He thrashes for a bit, and all the while he bites at the air around him, baring his teeth like an animal - spittle and drool spraying from his mouth. His face is locked in a sickening portrait of mental disturbance. After a few seconds he collapses back again and stabilizes, though he continues to grit his teeth, sucking air in and then purging it out with a type of erratic fury, causing a hissing sound in and out.

Maeriks smells around Koral's stomach, at the disgusting glaze of fluids still spread around the wound. Now he is pretty sure he knows what has been done, but he can hardly believe it. Such a wicked spell could only be performed by one of the Black Moon Druids as far as Maeriks knew. Rutcranna could have, but Maeriks never knew her to delve into such sickening black medicine, no matter how ill or desperate someone might be.

Maeriks wondered if the others would understand this. They might think he was stupid for saying it because most of them did not know this type of draichta, except maybe Ivor. And he definitely won't like hearing about this.

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Maeriks tries to think of a way to treat Koral, but he knows that the man's injuries are internal. And if Maeriks is right in his assessment, then Koral is suffering more from a spiritual stress at the moment, with likely unavoidable physical harm already underway.

Kray Mercon

Feb 1, 2018 3:33 pm

Kray knew there was little chance to save the other arsman. They could only hope the Fates were busy sharpening their blades. The camp, however, needed defending.

Approaching Maeriks and Thorn, hovering over the soon to be dead Oram, Kray's focus remained on the perimeter. "The armsmen are dead." He continued to speak over the distant screams. "Screaming Or not. We need to secure the camp."

As Kray appraised Oram's condition, he could appreciate Thorn and Maeriks' interest, although time was of the essence. "Thorn, you know that camp's a prime target. What's the delay?"

Feb 1, 2018 6:58 pm

Ezeriah Inactive forever!

Yasi comes forward and commands Oram to pick Koral back up and keep moving downhill. Oram obeys his superior and heaves Koral back up over the shoulder and gets back into step.

For the fourth time, the horn sound echoes out from the forest uphill. Yasi looks back in that direction briefly, but then turns away, following behind Oram going the opposite way. Oram, carrying Koral, does not even look back this time, under command to stay on task.

OOC:

One small correction on the above, no screams have been heard from the woods. Only the horn sounds.

OOC:

Let me know confirmation of whether you guys are heading back to the camp with Oram and Yasi (and injured Koral). I think I'm hearing yes from Kray, but CB did mention earlier about an idea of investigating the horn blows in the woods uphill. Others, not sure.
I don't want to push forward either way if there is more discussion to be had.

Feb 1, 2018 10:54 pm

Xorthan Inactive for 3 months

Just horn sounds? I imagined the screaming ha. That changes things. Slaughter could be over with a man calling for help. Whether I think we go to look depends.

J, what's at the camp as far as personnel to defend it?

Also, going for that man against Yasi's direction could be considered breaking the law.

Last edited February 1, 2018 10:55 pm

Thorn

Feb 1, 2018 11:16 pm

Ezeriah Inactive forever!

Kray says:

As Kray appraised Oram's Koral's condition, he could appreciate Thorn and Maeriks' interest, although time was of the essence. "Thorn, you know that camp's a prime target. What's the delay?"

Thorn straightens as Oram resumes carrying Koral towards the camp.

"It may be nothing. I was just reminded of the monsters that took Talius. I'd hate to be taking something like that into the middle of camp."

Kray Mercon

Feb 2, 2018 12:14 am

Kray's interest was suddenly piqued as he raised an eyebrow. "Fucking Old Island." He discarded the words as if to forget the memory, thoughtful a moment. The costly battle against the Hive still ate at him from time to time, a reminder of failure.

Deadly serious, Kray continued, sure Thorn knew more. Hell, he counted on him to pick up details that Kray himself missed. The man's eye was, to be sure, at least as sharp as his blade. "Monsters? Elaborate."

Feb 2, 2018 12:15 am

Ezeriah says:

Just horn sounds? I imagined the screaming ha. That changes things. Slaughter could be over with a man calling for help. Whether I think we go to look depends.

J, what's at the camp as far as personnel to defend it?

Also, going for that man against Yasi's direction could be considered breaking the law.

OOC:

Right. No screams. Horn blows only. Four of them so far. Oram says it is his friends or the wood gather laborers signalling for help. Yasi says it is a trick, a fake signal to bait them out there to ambush. Yasi won that argument by rank.

The camp was defended by seven armsmen, two of whom were injured by arrow fire when you left. Kray remembers that Ron Oram, at the time when he asked you guys to come with him, had ordered a counterattack against what was thought to be a lone archer in the woods.

With Koral (Captain) down, that makes Yasi (Lieutenant) the commanding officer, with Oram (Sergeant) as third in command, elevated in the circumstance to second in command. All of the other guys are just unranked soldiers. Like legionnaires.

So yes, thinking of how it will be perceived if you were to go against the direction of Yasi -- probably a factor in thinking about this if you have any value on perception of adhering to the law. In the mix, you can probably tell that the law might be a bit subjective on how successful things turn out, who is affected, etc. Example: Oram broke standing orders to come out away from the camp, but it seems like it turned out to be a fortunate thing. You guys technically went against standing orders of the commander (Koral), whose general policy says that travelers should never go past boundaries set at the camp. Oram asked you to come, but you in essence joined his disobedience. No one is pressing charges against you.
Plus remember, you guys are a nobleman and his entourage. You would have to wonder if the law applies to you the same as it does to poor laborers. Remains to be seen, but the world is more about power and rank than blind commitment to laws and equality, at least that is most of everyone's experience, even in high civilized places like Jeres, even more so everywhere else. Heshba is a strange little land of weird but detailed legality, a lot of writing and traditional organization, but still...suspicion should be that all of that sort of thing might be more subjective than objective.

Feb 2, 2018 12:22 am