Setting up camp
Subject The aftermath
At this, Kal snaps: "Don't patronize me, Orc, I fought mediocre at best. We're lucky I didn't get us all killed. Keep your foul magics away from me, I'd rather die than be healed at your hands."
After a moment of dull silence between the two, Kal's angry facade falls. Almost weakly he speaks:
"I'm sorry. You don't deserve that, you pray to Heironious. Yes, please help me. I can hardl..."
With that, Kal collapses, nearly unconcious.
From: Mark
Subject Setting up Camp
Salix stops in mid stride, his scimitar raised and ready to strike the mage when he sees that it has been cut down by Surin and the hippogriff. Anger and vengeance still burning in his eyes, he looks for another target for his wrath, but there is none to be seen. He feels the intoxicating anger turning to frustration when he discovers there is no enemy to serve as outlet. He remembers his training. Like when a river is dammed, Salix must provide an outlet or his anger would find one on its own. In that case, it would probably be one that Salix (and his friends) wouldn't appreciate. So he continues toward the now-dead mage and strikes the corpse with all his force, nearly burying the scimitar in the man's chest with a near-feral howl. There is a pause as the howl echoes off the surrounding trees. Noctis takes wing and circles the group a couple of times before nervously alighting on a nearby branch.
Silently and seemingly unaware of the others, Salix closes his eyes and takes one deep breath and recites a prayer of thanks to Obad-Hai in one long, slow exhale. Because he is speaking in the language of his people, to his friends the sound is a strange mix of unknown syllables. After what seems to the group like much too long a time for a single breath, Salix seems to come back to himself. He opens his eyes removes the weapon from the mage's corpse, wipes the blood on the ground, stands and re-sheathes it. He then begins searching the corpses as if this strange display never happened.
"Help me search them," he says to the group. "There must be some indication of who they are or where they are from. It would be good to know why they attacked us."
Cai turns around, surveying the battlefield, and whistles appreciatively.
Her arm and jaw ache from where she was punched, but she was one of only a few who had not been bloodied in the battle. They had been worthy opponents. The fact that they had attacked without warning did not bother her; nature did not give warning to those too insensitive to feel its inevitable course. She had felt a small warning in the back of her mind, but not acted quickly enough before they were attacked. If she were always that inattentive, she would have frozen to death in one of the blizzards that swept her home so frequently and suddenly each year.
Now, however, her mind is alert, and she notices that a couple of their opponents seem to be breathing shallowly--not quite dead, though well on their way. She turns to Ran and, pointing to one, she asks "Do you think it would be wise to wake one long enough to question him? I'm sure we're all thinking that they were probably sent by that man from our dreams, and its possible that they know something of him."
Ran coughs, feeling suddenly weak and pained from his wounds. He takes a stumbling step towards the downed man next to him and stops, realizing that the pain might be too much for him to do more than sleep. Ran calls out weakly to Harp and says "Corporal, please take charge of the searching of these bodies. Bind tightly any who yet live that we may question them. Make sure Rochelle is well guarded."
Speaking seems to have taken all of Ran's effort and he slumps to the ground in exhaustion. His eyes close and his breathing shallows. He begins to silently meditate, calming his mind and stilling his twitching muscles. His mouth moves slightly as he almost inaudibly speaks a prayer of thanks that neither he or any of his companions were killed in this deadly conflict.
Harp, hearing Ran's command, responds "Yes, sir. Bel, Cai - search these two over here. Fal, keep Rochelle where she is until I give the all clear, but check with her to make sure she is OK. Surin, help Salix search that mage for anything of interest. Kal, sit, rest, I will see to your wounds shortly."
With that, Harp kneels down at the two men in plate, checking to see if either of them still breathe. The last man to go down still breathes and Harp chants a quick orison to stop the bleeding.( Cure Minor wound) However the other 4 are dead by the time Harp gets to them.
When Harp has completed this, and the bodies have been searched, Harp will call Surin and the others over.
" We need to make camp, both to rest ourselves, and to explore what we have found. Salix, would you and Cai go to Fal and Rochelle and bring them over while Bel and I get the horses and bring them in. Surin, when we return, I would appreciate your help in setting up camp. Bel, if you would then take Cai and maybe find us some fresh meat, I am sure that we could all use a hot meal."
Harp will ask diplomatically if either Ran or Kal need assistance in getting to the camp site.
Kal, ignoring Harps order to sit, kneels in front of his fallen enemy. He says a short prayer to Corellon Larethian, kisses the hilt of his blade, wipes it clean of blood, and sheathes it.
With that, Kal allows himself to fully return to reality. As he stands, his left leg buckles beneath him. In that moment the pain from the battle washes over him and nearly knocks him unconscious. Struggling to master his pain, Kal forces himself to stand. After two deep breaths, he takes appraisal of the battlefield, and then inspects his enemy, looking for any thing that might reveal who he is or why he attacked us. (Knowledge Religion and Arcana checks)
Harp comes forward and says something to Kal, but Kal can hardly understand the words, he's lost in his thoughts: "He fought well, he bested their leader and another where I could hardly handle one."
Dismissively nodding at whatever Harp is saying to him, Kal returns to his thoughts. "I was overconfident, and it nearly got me killed. I should have prepared more thoroughly before I jumped into combat with him. Just because I'm the better swordsman doesn't mean I'm going to win every fight I get into, battle's are precarious things and I allowed my opponent too much of a chance. "
Kal wanders around the battlefield for a while, seemingly dazed. He occasionally stops to inspect his fallen enemies bodies, looking for something that could hint at their origin. If he finds anything of value he'll bring it to Ran. (Unless it's a Rapier, in which case he'll keep it for himself.)
Harp watches in amazement as Kal staggers around, trying to be helpful. Harp shakes his head. He had seen this before. A zombie like state sets in in many wounded. They try to do normal things, but they are just making the motions. Harp goes over to Kal, gently takes him by the shoulders, and tries to get his attention.
"You fought well, and have been greaviously wounded. Your body must be given time to accept what has happened to it. If you push yourself now, it will only make the healing process take longer. You are trained as a warrior - I am trained as a healer. Let me do my job. The enemy here is going no where, thanks in large part to your efforts. Let those who are haler do this work while I do mine. Sit, rest for a bit, and I will see to your wounds shortly. I do not single you out for this - I am doing the same for the Captain and the Rangers. Why don't you join the Captain and see if you can figure out what these things were?"
At this, Kal snaps: "Don't patronize me, Orc, I fought mediocre at best. We're lucky I didn't get us all killed. Keep your foul magics away from me, I'd rather die than be healed at your hands."
After a moment of dull silence between the two, Kal's angry facade falls. Almost weakly he speaks:
"I'm sorry. You don't deserve that, you pray to Heironious. Yes, please help me. I can hardl..."
With that, Kal collapses, nearly unconscious.
Harp grabs Kal as he collapses, easing the elf to the ground. "Your wounds are deep, but not life threatening, I think. The grace my lord affords me has been mostly used this day, but I will do what little I can tonight. Tomorrow, I will be able to do more." Harp then chant the healing prayer again and lays his hands on the elf's wounds. He feels the comforting warmth of his god's healing flow through his hands and into the elf. (Heal 9)
The member of the party follow Harp's commands. Ran and Fal escort Rochelle to the site of the battle. Salix and Surin search the bodies while Harp and Bel retrieve the parties horses. When they return Salix and Surin have stripped the bodies of the fallen and the one survivor. Salix has even brought the other horses over. Bel and Cai head out looking for some food. Surin has started a fire and even has a couple pots of water set up. Harp looks at the halfling. ?Where did you get the gear?? ?Well these here fellas were settin up camp already, so I figured we could use some of their gear instead of waitn for our own.? the halfling replies. ?All their stuff is over there?, he says pointing to a nice sized pile a couple yards away.
Over the next hours the camp is set up and the gear is examined. Besides normal camp equipment the party finds the following: 2 sets of full plate armor, two steel shields, 1 very nice chain shirt, a short bow and a quiver of arrows, a very nice trident, a very nice sickle, a very nice longsword, a very nice light crossbow with a case of bolts, a spear, and a very nice morningstar. They also find the following gear: 2 vials with a red fluid in them, slightly warm to the touch, 1 vial with a light green liquid in it, 1 vial with a sort of silvery liquid in it, 2 sets of bracers and an amulet.
On the men themselves they find a total of 188 gold pieces. In Kendricks backpack they find a parchment scroll. One one of the horses, probably Kendrick' from the style of equipment, they find a bag with several large gem stones. They also find several standard packs with the usual equipment that would be found in such a thing.
The two rangers return with several rabbits and dinner is started. Harp moves the bodies several hundred yards away, hoping that the scavengers will leave the party alone this night. As they eat dinner Rochelle tries her best to help out, taking on duties that one of the injured party members would normally do. ?You were hurt because of me, it is the least I could do.? She is particularly attentive to Ran's needs, seeming to hover around him. When the party discusses what the creatures were, she pipes up. ? I have been studying their equipment and the survivor. I think I remember reading about them in a book back home.( Knowledge Planes, DC20, 17+?=?, success) They are called Githyanki, evil creatures that usually travel the Astral plane. However, I have heard that their services can be bought.
OODM: Ok that is enough for one day. I will be out of town tomorrow. I will do more on Monday. Any roleplaying you want to do let me know.
From: Jake
Subject Setting up Camp
Surin laughs with satisfaction as the wizard falls. The whole thing could have gone so much worse; if this man had been half the spellcaster that some of the members of Surin's party were, it would likely be the halfling who would be sprawled lifelessly on the ground. A quick glance around the battlefield reassures him that no one else is likely to be launching an attack at him, and he relaxes further.
"Well, let's see what we've got here," he thinks, kneeling to rifle through the pockets of the slain wizard. He is reaching out toward the body with one hand, sucking absently on a spot of frostbite on his left forearm, when Salix's attack falls. The druid's blood-curdling shriek causes Surin to throw himself back without thought, and it is the only thing that saves him from loosing a hand to Salix's scimitar.
Moving with reflex fueled by adrenaline, Surin turns his backward lunge into a controlled summersault, rising to his feet with his throwing axe poised to fling at his attacker. Recognizing the druid he checks his throw, burying the axe in the turf instead.
"Holy balls," he squawks, indignant. "What were you trying to do, kill me? I nearly soiled myself!"
Seemingly unaware of Surin, Salix takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and begins speaking in a tongue the halfling has never heard. Surin shoots him a dirty look, pulls his throwing axe from the ground, and begins searching the mage's corpse, keeping one eye on Salix as he does so.
From: Jake
Subject Late
Well hell. I was literally 3 minutes too late with my Round Nine response turn.
From: Derrell
Subject Setting up camp
"Lady Rochelle, are you hurt? Can I get you some water? Perhaps you should rest while the camp is set up."
From: Kevin
Subject Setting up camp
After they have set up camp, and as the others are sorting through the items from their fallen foes, Harp walks the perimiter of the camp. He has little knowledge of these types of things, other than an appreciation of the quality of the weapons the enemy employed. His mind returns to the difference between his own rough morningstar and the much nicer one his recent enemy had carried. He will add little to any conversation about what has been found, but will suggest, either this night or the following day, that while their task is not yet complete, and he understands the desire to complete is as quickly as possible, that the group remain where they are for at least 1 more day. This way everyones natural healing ability (and Harp and Salix's grace from their dieties) would be able to restore their companions to a more appropriate state. During this 1 day delay, Fal could spend the time to learn the spell they had bartered for from Althea, since it seems that there might be some need of that ability now. He wil also suggest, if no one else has, that they can haul all this stuff on one of the enemies horses and lead it along like a pack horse.
Harp will suggest a watch schedule to Ran, indicating that Ran and Kal would be not be required for the first nights watch, but that they would be included in the following nights watch, after they have had a chance to recover from their wounds.
When he has a chance, Harp will go to Salix and speak quietly.
"Salix, I am usure how to proceed here. I have a small ability to help heal some of the hurt that has been done to our friends this day, but not enough to make everyone whole with only one days rest. I know that our captain will be anxious to move on, no matter what his condition. I would like your support for the idea of staying here at least one day and giving you and I a chance to provide what healing we can to our friends.
Also, I am truly thankful to you for the assistance you were able to provide in our fight. That animal you summoned was truly magnificent."