Session
30B:
Proving Worth
[JadedDM]: Chrysote 18th,
Rockday; 19 bells. Immediately
departing that very night, the Tainted Hands head to the eastern gate to leave
the city of
[JadedDM]: Guard:
"Oh, it's you. Are you
off on another adventure?" he asks, noting the two new members.
[Jasmin]: "You could say
that," Jasmin says to the guard with a charming smile.
[Siara]: Siara steps up behind
Jasmin, nodding to the guard. "Should
be an exciting trip." She
half-grins at the guard.
[JadedDM]: Liam:
"Tell me, have you seen any sign of the Shadow Bats leaving the
city?" he asks.
[JadedDM]: Guard:
"No, sir."
[Jasmin]: "They probably
won't leave until morning," Jasmin points out. "That is what we
usually did when I was with them."
[JadedDM]: Kricket hands the man
a small pouch that jingles slightly. "If
they should come by, and ask if you have seen us, we'd appreciate it if you told
them no."
[JadedDM]: The guard nods
eagerly. "Yes, sir!"
[Jasmin]: Jasmin giggles lightly
as she watches Kricket, but she covers her mouth to try to stop herself.
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"Well, then...let us be off," he says, heading out of the city
with his sons behind him.
[Siara]: As they walk, Siara does
her best to stay near Kricket and Jasmin and as far away from Cardel as
possible.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin glances over her
shoulder towards the city for a few moments before she follows after the others.
Oddly, she keeps near Cardel and Liam as she walks. "Avoiding someone,
Siara?" Jasmin asks in amusement.
[Siara]: "Just trying to keep
up the pace." Siara murmurs
through her teeth, managing to maintain a soft smile.
[JadedDM]: Liam stays near the
back of the group, often looking over his shoulder.
Unable to see far in the moonlight, the effort is largely futile.
Nevertheless, he remains vigilant. Kricket
remains near the front, a spring in his step.
One would think he was on his way to the pub for a nice drink, not into
the desert. Cardel remains closer to
the middle, glancing between the two women as if trying to make some kind of
choice.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin comes up to the
side of Cardel and taps him on the shoulder. "You are looking a
little...lost Cardel," she teases.
[JadedDM]: Cardel hefts his
mighty axe over his shoulder and grins. He
looks about to say something when he is interrupted by Liam, who states quite
matter-of-factly, "He always looks like that unless there's a battle going
on."
[Siara]: Siara rolls her eyes,
rolling her shoulders back as if trying to keep something gross off.
"How far till we reach the ruins, Kricket?"
[Jasmin]: "So then, do you
always look paranoid Liam?"
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"If we keep a swift pace, we should reach the desert by
tomorrow."
[JadedDM]: Liam:
"You of all people should know not to underestimate the Shadow Bats,
Jasmin. I want to make sure they
don't catch up with us."
[Jasmin]: "Why are you so
concerned with what the Shadow Bats are going to do though?" Jasmin asks
while running her fingers through her hair. "I know that they probably
won't leave right away, so I doubt they will catch up to us tonight."
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"Ahh, you worry too much, son. Without
Jasmin and Siara, the Shadow Bats are no threat to us at all. Even
if they catch up with us, they'll never make it through the desert in one piece,
never mind the ruins. Relax, and
enjoy the journey."
[Siara]: Siara smiles a bit more
genuinely now, turning her head back towards Liam and Jasmin.
"We'll likely see the Shadow Bats as we're returning to the
city."
[Jasmin]: "Don't be too
confident you two," Jasmin points out.
[JadedDM]: Cardel:
"If they try anything, I'll just separate their heads from their
bodies," he boasts.
[JadedDM]: Liam:
"That is his usual method."
[Jasmin]: "Um, I rather you
not go separating anyone's heads from their bodies."
[JadedDM]: Cardel:
"With this axe, which I call Frenzy, I can cut through solid
stone."
[Siara]: Siara scoffs.
"Impressive."
[Jasmin]: "Can you
now?" Jasmin laughs lightly at Cardel. "I can do better than that.
Solid stone isn't all that impressive."
[JadedDM]: Cardel's smile falls
suddenly. "Better than
stone?"
[Jasmin]: "Of course. All
you have to do is use all of your lovely strength to get through solid stone.
That isn't really as impressive as you make it sound."
[JadedDM]: Cardel grunts and
comes to a stop. "We'll see
about that." Casting a glance
around, he finds a good sized rock...about as large as a goblin.
He approaches it, readying his axe.
[JadedDM]: Liam sighs.
"Don't encourage him..."
[Jasmin]: "Oh, I think I hit
a nerve," Jasmin says, laughing slightly. "Come on, Cardel. You don't
need to show off for me!"
[Siara]: "Oh good
gods...." She rolls her eyes.
"Kricket....can't you make him stop?"
[JadedDM]: Kricket pauses and
turns around to face the others. He
smirks. "Let the boy have his
fun. He gets antsy if too much time
goes by where he doesn't chop up something."
[Jasmin]: "He's going to
hurt himself," Jasmin says as she moves to walk beside Liam.
[JadedDM]: Cardel readies his
axe and begins to concentrate. Focusing
all of his energy and will, a red haze of energy begins to form around the axe
itself.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin watches in great
amusement.
[JadedDM]: Cardel brings the axe
up over his head and with a primal scream of rage, strikes down at the boulder.
A sudden cloud of dust surrounds him and there is a mighty 'crack' sound,
although it's uncertain which comes first. When
the dust clears, the stone has been cleanly cleaved in twain.
[Siara]: Siara applauds
sarcastically. "If only it had
been a pyrolisk."
[JadedDM]: Cardel hefts the axe
back on his shoulder, quite pleased with himself.
Despite the fact that his impressive physique is now covered in dust, the
axe is remarkably clean still.
[Jasmin]: "Oh, I'm sure it
is easy to cut an object standing still in two. It is different with moving
objects," Jasmin says, sneezing a good three times as the cloud of dust
starts to clear.
[Siara]: Siara bites her lip
before continuing on a few steps. She
tilts her head back at Kricket, gesturing for him to match her pace.
"You know, you have two remarkable sons."
[JadedDM]: Kricket chuckles.
"Yes, they do make a father proud."
[JadedDM]: Cardel frowns at
Jasmin and begins looking for something bigger to chop.
However, short of the distant mountains, there's really nothing in the
area.
[Siara]: "Have you thought
about marriage for either of them?" She
raises a slender brow. "Any
woman would surely be proud to stand beside such men."
Her training does her well, and her voice is warm and genuine.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin skips over to
Cardel, seemingly full of energy. "Oh, Cardel," she starts before
patting him on the shoulder, "no matter what you chop up, I'm still going
to say I'm better. There is just no winning here," she teases.
[JadedDM]: Kricket chuckles
again. "I suspect Cardel would
rather face a dozen angry dragons than think about marriage.
A fact that breaks the heart of many women, I am sure."
[Siara]: Siara's voice quiets as
it trails off. "What a
shame..."
[JadedDM]: Cardel:
"We'll see about that, once we see some real action."
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"Indeed, it is. But he
is young. Perhaps he'll settle down
in time. It would be nice to carry
on the family name, to know it is ensured after my own passing."
[Jasmin]: "You have to admit
that I at least have some skill, or I wouldn't be here now would I?"
[JadedDM]: Cardel shrugs.
"I just assumed we took you along so we'd have some warmth at night
while away from town," he says.
[Jasmin]: "Well, you aren't
going to get any warmth from me."
[JadedDM]: Cardel grins.
"We'll see about that, too."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin steps back
towards Liam, and locks an arm with him. "Oh, there is that look again.
Save me," she says playfully, looking up to Liam with a soft smile.
[JadedDM]: Liam glances over his
shoulder again. "You seem to be
in high spirits," he comments.
[Siara]: Siara's gaze slips back
to Jasmin, who is toying with both of the sons.
"What of Liam?" she questions Kricket.
[Jasmin]: "It is really a
way to pass the time. I always have a lot of energy when I'm out on some sort of
mission. The Shadow Bats didn't make the journey all that fun."
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"Hmm...I am uncertain. I
have not seen him show interest in any women.
He seems to prefer the company of books."
[JadedDM]: Liam:
"I can imagine. They
seem a somber group."
[Jasmin]: "Your group on the
other hand actually talks while traveling," Jasmin points out. "If we
did talk, we were usually fighting, or rather Gaheris was usually yelling at
me."
[JadedDM]: Liam:
"We talk often," he says. "In
fact, I'm surprised father isn't recounting the tale of how we defeated the
brown dragon, Sandbat."
[Jasmin]: "It is probably
because Siara has his attention," she says, wrinkling her nose a bit.
[Siara]: Siara overhears and
flashes back a grin. "Care to
trade, dearest?"
[Jasmin]: Jasmin shakes her head.
"No, I'm good," she says cheerfully as she gives Liam's arm a little
squeeze.
[JadedDM]: Kricket comes to a
halt. "Hold."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin pauses in her
steps, looking forward as Kricket tells them to hold. Figuring something is up
ahead, she lets her arm drop from Liam's so she can grab her swords.
[JadedDM]: Kricket draws his
rapier. "There is something up
ahead. I cannot see well in this
darkness, though."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin draws Radiant
Star and Scalebiter. "Perhaps Cardel and I should take lead?"
Jasmin offers.
[Siara]: Siara nods, more than
willing to stand behind the two fighters. She,
too, draws her sabre.
[JadedDM]: Kricket nods quickly.
"But be silent."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin quickly gives
Liam a kiss on the cheek before she moves up front to take the lead. She tries
to be as silent as possible.
[JadedDM]: Cardel walks with
her. Although a big man, the fact
that he wears no armor other than a pair of bracers makes it relatively easy for
him to remain stealthy. The two
approach what appears to be a traveling wagon.
It has been tipped over. They
see no movement in the moonlight.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin glances to
Cardel for a few seconds as if in question before she takes a few steps closer
to the tipped over wagon.
[JadedDM]: There is a stench of
death and decay in the area. The
wagon is pin-cushioned with arrows with red tips.
There are a dozen human bodies spread about, full of arrows themselves.
They look to have been dead for a day or so.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin wrinkles her
nose at the smell, but she continues on to carefully peak inside the wagon to
make sure nothing is hiding inside.
[JadedDM]: Inside the wagon are
half a dozen or so broken cages. Whatever
they once held are now gone. There
is nothing else, as whoever attacked the wagon surely stripped it clean.
[Jasmin]: Finding nothing, Jasmin
motions for Cardel to follow her as she makes her way back to Kricket and the
others.
[JadedDM]: Reporting that it's
all clear, the others move closer to the wagon to investigate.
"Bandits," Kricket says. "How
odd that they would operate so close to Voxis' borders."
[Jasmin]: "Why is that
odd?" Jasmin asks curiously.
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"It's risky. They must
be very desperate."
[JadedDM]: Liam kneels down by
the ground and examines it.
[Jasmin]: "I wonder what is
making them so desperate," she says as she watches Liam.
[JadedDM]: Liam:
"Hmm...goblin tracks."
[JadedDM]: Kricket yanks one of
the arrows from a wagon wheel. "With
red arrow tips. Must be the Crimson
Wind."
[Jasmin]: "Is it possible
they are still around?"
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"They might. These
bodies have been dead for a day or so. So
they may have moved on, though."
[JadedDM]: Liam:
"When worship of Shadowbite was outlawed, I heard a number of
goblins fled the city. I imagine the
Crimson Wind's ranks have swelled."
[Jasmin]: "Well, I say we
continue moving on," Jasmin says. "Just....I guess be on guard just in
case?"
[Siara]: "I agree.
If they are still around, we'd be easy targets in the dark."
Siara still grips her sabre, obviously unnerved by the sight of the dead
bodies. "Let's continue."
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"Ah, yes. I suppose we
should make camp soon. We have
enough of a head start on the Shadow Bats. Not
here, though. The smell is
overwhelming." He re-sheaths
his rapier.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin places her
swords back where they belong as she continues on. "How is the trip going
for you Siara? This is probably your first time out here isn't it?"
[Siara]: "I've done a bit
more traveling than you'd think." Siara's
muscles eased the further away they moved from the corpses.
"I love a bit of treasure hunting, myself."
She meets Jasmin's gaze and shrugs. "But
yes, it's been a while since I've left the city."
[JadedDM]: After putting a
couple of miles between them and the wagon, Kricket halts again.
"This should do for now. We
can start again tomorrow morning."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin finds a nice
little spot before she sits down. "What...type of things have you done for
Gaheris to consider even letting you join the Shadow Bats like he did?"
[Siara]: Siara joined Jasmin on
the ground, leaning back on her wrists, gazing up at the night sky before
replying. "Well, I suppose my
treasure-hunting stories helped. Not
really sure. I saw Gaheris often
enough, gambling at the Blue Lantern and I was looking for work."
She peers back at Jasmin. "It's
hard treasure hunting on your own." She
pauses. "We talked.
And I suppose he considered my skills enough to join you.
At least temporarily…"
[Jasmin]: "Hmm," she
says as if she was thinking but she shrugs it off in the end. "Why did the
Tainted Hands let you join?" Jasmin asks, looking at the three men
curiously.
[Siara]: Siara blinks, glancing at
the three men before answering carefully. "I
think we have similar goals." Siara
sits up a little straighter, her gold eyes fixed on Jasmin.
"Do you think it was a poor choice?"
[Jasmin]: "I wouldn't say a
poor choice, but the Tainted Hands aren't really known for letting random people
in their group," Jasmin says. "They know what I can do, but you
were...kind of random."
[Siara]: Siara makes a careless
gesture with her hand. "Oh,
well Kricket and I have a history that goes beyond the Tainted Hands.
He's one of my favorite patrons."
[Jasmin]: "So is Gaheris,
from what I remember," Jasmin says. "But all right, I guess. I was
just curious."
[JadedDM]: Liam stands up
suddenly. "Someone
approaches." He draws his bow.
[Siara]: Siara rolls to her feet,
her breathing quickening, her sabre returning to her hand.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin glances over her
shoulder before she stands. Quickly, she draws her swords.
[JadedDM]: The party can hear
them--and smell them--long before they see them.
A dozen shuffling forms, moaning in eternal pain, drag themselves
forward. It would appear to be the
victims of the bandit attack.
[Jasmin]: "...Zombies?"
[JadedDM]: Kricket sighs.
"Zombies? How dull.
More of a nuisance than anything else."
[JadedDM]: Cardel:
"Well, guess I'll handle them then."
[Jasmin]: "I can do
it."
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"Yes, I prefer that. Let
the two new people take care of them."
He crosses his arms. "After
all, if they can't handle a few zombies, they shouldn't be slayers, yes?
Let's see what they have."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin smirks.
"Oh, yes. We have to prove ourselves," she says sarcastically as she
moves to meet the zombies.
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"I'm sure you won't disappoint," he calls after them.
[Siara]: "Men...," Siara
mutters as she follows Jasmin. "Let
the women fight the zombies," she mocks, her face a portrait of irritation.
[Jasmin]: "We can do it
better than them anyway," Jasmin says cheerfully before rushing in to
attack.
[JadedDM]: Jasmin and Siara
engage the zombies. (State actions
for Round 1.)
[Jasmin]: Jasmin attacks the
nearest zombie.
[Siara]: Siara takes on a zombie
to the right of Jasmin, swinging her sabre.
[Jasmin]: [1d10] => [6] = (6)
[Siara]: [1d10] => [1] = (1)
[JadedDM]:
Siara's turn.
[Siara]: [1d20] => [1] = (1)
[Jasmin]: (Ouch...)
[Siara]: (oh well)
[Jasmin]: (We are off to a good
start.)
[Siara]: Siara brings her blade
around in an almost graceful nature, until she trips on a crack in the ground.
She hits the dirt on her knees, her sabre flying from her hands.
[JadedDM]: Cardel's mocking
laughter can be heard in the background.
[JadedDM]:
Jasmin's turn.
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [8] = (8)
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [14] =
(14)
[Jasmin]: [1d6+3] => [5,3] =
(8)
[Jasmin]: [1d6+3] => [2,3] =
(5)
[Jasmin]: Despite the fact Siara
fell, Jasmin moves in and sweeps Radiant
Star across the neck of the nearest zombie. The sword flashes into light as
she does this. The zombie's head goes flying as Scalebiter finds its way into the undead's chest before it flops to
the ground.
[JadedDM]:
Zombies' turn.
[JadedDM]: The remaining 11
zombies stumble forward, surrounding the two women.
Six on Jasmin and five on Siara. They
claw, bite, and punch at the women.
[JadedDM]: One of them, a zombie
missing an arm, manages to get behind Jasmin and scratch at her back (with his
one good hand). One lurches for
Siara, but its leg falls off and it flops to the ground.
Another two manage to claw at her while she's down.
[JadedDM]:
Jasmin's turn.
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [16] =
(16)
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [16] =
(16)
[Jasmin]: [1d6+3] => [5,3] =
(8)
[Jasmin]: [1d6+3] => [4,3] =
(7)
[Jasmin]: Jasmin quickly turns to
face the zombie that had managed a hit on her. She quickly ducks down as the
undead lunges at her again, and she cuts off a leg with Radiant Star. The undead falls to the ground, in which Jasmin
finishes him off with Scalebiter
stabbing deep into the back of its neck.
[JadedDM]:
(Actions for Round 2?)
[Jasmin]: Jasmin continues
attacking.
[Jasmin]: [1d10] => [5] = (5)
[Siara]: Siara retrieves her sabre.
[Siara]: [1d10] => [9] = (9)
[JadedDM]:
Jasmin's turn.
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [10] =
(10)
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [2] = (2)
[Jasmin]: [1d6+3] => [3,3] =
(6)
[Jasmin]: Jasmin quickly stands
from the kill, and spins around to stab Radiant
Star into another zombie. The creature moans before dropping to the ground.
At the same time, she tries to stab Scalebiter
into another zombie, but it lunges out of the way.
[JadedDM]:
Siara's turn.
[Siara]: Siara, face burning red
in shame and fury, rolls out of the way of one of the zombies to retrieve her
sabre.
[JadedDM]:
Zombies' turn.
[JadedDM]: The zombies gang up
on Jasmin, one of them managing to get by her defenses and biting into her
shoulder deeply. The zombies on
Siara show little mercy themselves, clawing at her and tearing at her clothes to
get to the warm, succulent flesh underneath.
[JadedDM]:
Jasmin's turn.
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [10] =
(10)
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [15] =
(15)
[Jasmin]: [1d6+3] => [2,3] =
(5)
[Jasmin]: [1d6+3] => [1,3] =
(4)
[Jasmin]: Jasmin cries out a bit
as the zombie bites into her shoulder, but she quickly shoves it off and shoves Radiant
Star into its gut. The zombie groans in pain, but it continues moving. She
pivots her body slightly to slam Scalebiter
into the shoulder of another zombie, actually cutting its arm off in the
process. It still keeps coming though.
[JadedDM]:
(Actions for Round 3?)
[Jasmin]: Jasmin continues
fighting.
[Jasmin]: [1d10] => [10] =
(10)
[Siara]: Siara begins to cast a spell.
[Siara]: [1d10] => [7] = (7)
[JadedDM]:
Jasmin's turn.
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [4] = (4)
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [1] = (1)
[Jasmin]: [1d6+3] => [3,3] =
(6)
[Jasmin]: Jasmin stabs Radiant
Star into the zombie that bit her again, nearly cutting the thing in half
before it drops dead (for good). She brings Scalebiter
around to finish off the other zombie, but she loses her grip, and the sword
goes flying.
[JadedDM]: Cardel:
"Ha!"
[JadedDM]:
Siara's turn.
[Siara]: Siara pulls out a tiny,
silver dagger and pours a drop of melted snow on it, her lips moving silently.
[Siara]: [1d20] => [9] = (9)
[Siara]: [2d4] => [3,1] = (4)
[Siara]: The small dagger embeds
it self in the left shoulder of one of the zombies.
It slows it for a moment, but it continues coming.
As the knife collides with the zombie, it shatters, emitting a wave of
cold.
[JadedDM]: The cold aura,
however, seems not to effect the lifeless corpses at all.
[JadedDM]:
Zombies' turn.
[JadedDM]: The zombies continue
their assault, not letting a little thing like frozen cold and lost limbs hinder
them.
[Siara]: Siara collapses,
unconscious.
[JadedDM]:
Jasmin's turn.
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [8] = (8)
[Jasmin]: [1d6+3] => [6,3] =
(9)
[Jasmin]: Jasmin rolls to the
ground in one graceful movement. During the roll she picks up Scalebiter,
and then stabs upwards with Radiant Star
into a zombie's groin. It twitches for a few moments before dropping to the
ground.
[JadedDM]:
(Actions for Round 4?)
[Siara]: Siara lies unmoving.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin continues with
her attack.
[Jasmin]: [1d10] => [5] = (5)
[JadedDM]:
Kricket's turn.
[JadedDM]: The sound of
Kricket's voice rising in song can be heard over the moaning of zombies and
cracking of limbs. Five magical
beams of energy strike the zombies surrounding Siara, knocking them away from
her unconscious form.
[JadedDM]:
Cardel's turn.
[JadedDM]: Charging forward,
Cardel literally slices one of the zombies in two with his axe, Frenzy.
[JadedDM]:
Jasmin's turn.
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [3] = (3)
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [13] =
(13)
[Jasmin]: [1d6+3] => [2,3] =
(5)
[Jasmin]: Upon seeing Siara lying
on the ground, Jasmin cries out, "Siara!" before she shoves both of
her swords forward to stab into the zombies in front of her. One of the zombies
manages to dodge out of the way, but Scalebiter
makes a home in another zombie's chest.
[JadedDM]:
Liam's turn.
[JadedDM]: Liam puts an arrow
through one of the zombie's heads, knocking it down to the ground.
[JadedDM]:
Zombies' turn.
[JadedDM]: The zombies fight
even more ferociously now that there is blood on the ground.
The ones fighting Siara now team up on Cardel, but strangely are unable
to touch him, despite the fact most of his skin is exposed.
Only one gets in a good scratch. The
two on Jasmin continue to bite at her.
[JadedDM]:
Jasmin's turn.
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [1] = (1)
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [12] =
(12)
[Jasmin]: [1d6+3] => [2,3] =
(5)
[Jasmin]: Jasmin tries to cut off
the zombie's head, but Radiant Star
goes flying from her hand as she loses her grip. Scalebiter still manages to make a home in the other zombie's
throat. It seems to gurgle for a second before dropping to the ground.
[JadedDM]:
Liam's turn.
[JadedDM]: Liam fires another
arrow, re-killing the last zombie on Jasmin.
[JadedDM]:
(Actions for Round 5?)
[Jasmin]: Jasmin moves in to help
Cardel with the five zombies attacking him.
[Jasmin]: [1d10] => [3] = (3)
[Siara]: Siara's still body
continues to bleed, her skin becoming paler.
[JadedDM]:
Jasmin's turn.
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [1] = (1)
[Siara]: (damn...)
[Jasmin]: Jasmin quickly moves to
pick up Radiant Star, then she tries
to stab Scalebiter into one of the
zombies, but then Scalebiter goes
flying. "Damnit!"
[Jasmin]: (holy hell.)
[JadedDM]:
Cardel's turn.
[JadedDM]: With a heft of his
axe, Cardel decapitates another zombie.
[JadedDM]:
Kricket's turn.
[JadedDM]: Now that the zombies
have thinned out, Kricket hurries over to Siara, fumbling with his pack.
He kneels down beside her, gently takes her head in his hand, and pours a
blue liquid down her throat.
[JadedDM]:
Liam's turn.
[JadedDM]: Liam fires another
arrow, this one does not kill, however.
[JadedDM]:
Zombies' turn.
[JadedDM]: There are two
remaining. One leaps at Jasmin, but
trips and clatters to the ground. The
other claws at Cardel, but some invisible force keeps it at bay.
[JadedDM]:
Jasmin's turn.
[Jasmin]: [1d20] => [7] = (7)
[Jasmin]: [1d6+3] => [3,3] =
(6)
[Jasmin]: Jasmin takes the time
to shove Radiant Star into the back of
the zombie's neck that just leapt at her before she picks up Scalebiter.
[JadedDM]:
Cardel's turn.
[JadedDM]: Cardel separates his
zombie's top from its bottom with a swing of his axe.
[JadedDM]:
Liam's turn.
[JadedDM]: Nocking another
arrow, Liam finishes off the final zombie. It
falls to the ground and moves no further.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin lets out a sigh
of frustration before she runs over to Siara's side. "Is she okay?"
[Siara]: Siara moans, barely able
to shift her body. It seems that
even breathing is painful. "I-"
A painful breath of air escapes her.
"Sure."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin frowns deeply as
she slowly tries to help Siara up. "Come on, let’s get you away from
these bodies," she says.
[JadedDM]: Cardel hefts his axe
back over his shoulder. "Guess
we saw, after all."
[Jasmin]: "I...I never do
that badly. Not against zombies."
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"Sloppy," he says. "Cardel.
Carry her." He stands,
and moves aside for his son.
[JadedDM]: Cardel straps his axe
to his back and then lifts Siara up easily, as if she were a child.
[Siara]: Siara grinds her teeth
together, whether out of pain or embarrassment, it is unclear.
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"This way." He
heads a little further north, away from the bodies.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin takes up the
rear quietly, her head bent down as if in shame.
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"This will do. We'll
discuss things once we're inside."
[Jasmin]: "Inside?"
[JadedDM]: Kricket begins a
spell. Suddenly, he is engulfed in a
strange, opaque hemisphere the size of a small room.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin's eyes widen a
bit. "Ohhhh."
[JadedDM]: Waiting a moment,
Cardel steps into the sphere as if it was not there, and vanishes within.
Liam follows.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin follows after
the two.
[Siara]: Once they are inside the
sphere, Siara growls softly to Cardel, "Put me down."
[JadedDM]: Inside the sphere, it
is room temperature with no wind and decent lighting.
The interior of the sphere is perfectly clear, so they can see outside
easily. Cardel sets Siara down on
the ground gently.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin takes a moment
to glance around before she finds a corner to sit in. Whatever high spirits she
was in seems to have disappeared.
[Siara]: Siara looks greatly
displeased, although slightly relieved to be away from the zombies.
[JadedDM]: Kricket sighs and
sits down. "How could that have
gone better?"
[Jasmin]: "She probably
should have stayed behind me and cast spells."
[Siara]: "Or the three of you
could have helped sooner." Siara's
voice was like chilled venom.
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"I assume you don't have much experience with undead, my dear?"
he asks Siara.
[Siara]: Siara sighed and looked
away. "Only once before."
[Jasmin]: "She fought them
when we went after the Nightmaster. That was his first defense. She did some
spell that shot fire from her finger tips, and then Gaheris took care of the
rest."
[JadedDM]: Kricket nods.
"Ah, flame. A useful
tool against the undead. Ice,
however...not so much. Most are
immune to the coldest of spells."
[Siara]: "I didn't have any
fire prepared." Her eyes slide
back to Kricket's. "My
bad."
[JadedDM]: Kricket then looks to
Jasmin. "You dropped your
weapons a number of times."
[Jasmin]: "I know. I usually
don't do that. I don't know what was wrong," she says, glancing at the
ground.
[Siara]: Siara's voice seemed
barely restrained, her gold eyes hardening.
"She never drops her weapon."
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"It's best to keep a cool head in battle.
Sometimes, going for a dropped weapon can get you killed.
It means lowering your defense. Instead,
draw another weapon if you have one. And
you should always have one."
[Jasmin]: "I'm quick enough
to grab my dropped weapon, if I do it. I can still keep some defense while doing
it as you saw."
[Siara]: Siara says nothing.
[JadedDM]: Kricket gets back up.
"Healing potions are expensive.
We only have so many."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin gives a little
nod of understanding.
[Siara]: Siara takes a few
breaths, her expression softening just slightly.
"I understand. Thank
you."
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"This little setback will delay us.
We may have to stop at Nikola first."
[Jasmin]: "Nikola?"
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"A small village in the
[Jasmin]: "Oh." Jasmin
moves to lie down, curling up a bit as she does so.
[JadedDM]: Liam:
"You mean that village full of deserters, thieves, beggars, and
refugees?" he asks with a hint of disgust.
[Jasmin]: "Don't like the
place, Liam?"
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"We've been there before. It's
dangerous, but not to slayers like us. Besides,
we are a little famous there after slaying Sandbat."
[Jasmin]: "Where aren't you
famous?"
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"Where indeed? Anyway,
perhaps we can call on some favors there. I
only have one healing potion left. I
believe Cardel has one, too."
[JadedDM]: Cardel nods, sitting
down on the ground.
[Jasmin]: "We have to make
it there first," Jasmin say softly.
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"Which is why Siara should stay off the front-line of any battles
for now."
[Siara]: Siara weakly waves her
hand. "No objections
there."
[Jasmin]: "I'll stay near
her to make sure she stays safe."
[Siara]: Siara looks to Jasmin
quickly, unable to hide her surprise. "Thanks,
Jasmin."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin smiles faintly
to Siara. "You're welcome."
[JadedDM]: Cardel:
"I can't believe they couldn't handle a few zombies...what use will
they be against pyrolisks?"
[Jasmin]: Jasmin shoots a glare
Cardel's way. "We aren't all great like you, Cardel."
[JadedDM]: Cardel:
"I'm just saying...that was a test, right?
Looks like they failed it pretty badly."
[Jasmin]: "So are you going
to kick us out and leave me on my own then?"
[Siara]: "And what do you
suggest, Cardel?"
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"I remember your first battle quite well, Cardel."
[JadedDM]: Cardel flushes
suddenly. "This wasn't their
first battle!"
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"Maybe so. But I remain
convinced this was a fluke. The
Shadow Bats would have been wiped out long ago otherwise."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin smirks a bit at
Kricket's words. "Everyone has off days."
[JadedDM]: Liam:
"I hope things go better in the ruins then.
Otherwise, we could all wind up making it our tomb."
[Jasmin]: "I like how the
three of you wanted me in your group so badly, and when I mess up you lose all
confidence in me," Jasmin says in a bit of annoyance as she turns over so
her back is to them.
[Siara]: Siara still doesn't look
too pleased. A tint of pink still
colors her cheeks, marking her as still humiliated.
Her jaw is tight. "It
will be different next time."
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"We wanted you for your skills."
He shakes his head. "Understand,
I'm willing to take this as an 'off-day' as you called it.
But if your performance in the next fight is this poor, I will not risk
my sons and my own lives to rescue you again."
[Jasmin]: "You rescued Siara,
not me," Jasmin says.
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"How long would you have lasted yourself without our aid?" he
asks Jasmin.
[Siara]: Siara will not look at
either of them.
[Jasmin]: "How am I supposed
to know?"
[JadedDM]: Liam:
"You do look pretty beat up, Jasmin."
[JadedDM]: Cardel: "This
is why we shouldn't let girls into the group."
[Jasmin]: "They were...just
lucky," she says, as if trying to convince herself of that. "I'm
better than this," she says softly and more to herself.
[Siara]: The color in Siara's eyes
flares up. "Don't second guess
yourself, Jasmin. You're better then
they've given you credit for." She
tries to sit up, but gasps and lies back down.
"If we had fought like a team, it would have ended up
different."
[JadedDM]: Liam:
"You are capable of better. You
have to be," he says, almost saying that last part to himself.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin sits up
slightly, looking to Liam. "What do you mean I have to be?"
[JadedDM]: Liam shakes his head.
"Enough. Get some rest.
We'll need our strength tomorrow when we enter the desert."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin looks ready to
say something, but she ends up lying back down to get some sleep.
[JadedDM]: After plenty of rest
and no further dangers bothering them, morning comes.
It is Chrysote 19th, Seaday at 10 bells.
The weather is clear and sunny as Kricket dispels his protective sphere
and the party breaks camp.
[Jasmin]: Jasmin rolls her
shoulder a bit to get the stiffness out. She remains oddly quiet.
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"Ah, well. Everyone get
a good rest?"
[Jasmin]: "Good
enough," Jasmin says absently as she looks around the area.
[Siara]: "Mmm."
Siara still appears weak, but she manages to sit up, grimacing a bit at
the movement.
[JadedDM]: Cardel:
"Do I need to carry them the rest of the way?" he asks
sarcastically.
[Jasmin]: "Kricket, can I
kill your son...please?"
[JadedDM]: Kricket ignores her
request. "How are you feeling,
Siara, my dear?"
[Siara]: A weak chuckle.
"I think my body hurts less than my pride."
Her smile falters. "I'll
be fine."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin crosses her arms
with an almost hateful expression on her face. She mutters something about
"being the same" and then falls silent.
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"Let's be off then. Liam,
you guard the flank. I'll take the
lead."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin follows after
Kricket, but she keeps close to Siara like she said she would do last night.
[JadedDM]: The party travels on
until late afternoon, when the hills of the highlands begin to give way to white
sand. The sun's rays above, while
usually burning to begin with, seem to be intensified as they enter the
[Jasmin]: Jasmin squints her eyes
as they enter into the Desert. "How far is it to this village?"
[JadedDM]: Kricket pauses, to
gain his bearings. "It's been a
few years...it's north of here, hidden beyond a cave.
It's sheltered in a small valley."
[Siara]: Siara can feel the sun's
rays through the tears in her clothes. She
allows her hair to fall about her face, to protect it a little from the light.
[Jasmin]: "Will we make it
there before nightfall?"
[JadedDM]: Kricket:
"If we continue at this pace, yes.
I believe so."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin nods and
continues on making sure to keep close to Siara. "This isn't going the way
it is supposed to," she says to Siara.
[Siara]: "I know."
Siara speaks softly, hoping only Jasmin can hear her.
"I'm sorry."
[Jasmin]: "What are you
sorry for? If I was with the Shadow Bats, I would be equally miserable."
[Siara]: Siara nods as they walk,
swallowing once before she speaks. "Perhaps.
But if I had stayed with the Shadow Bats....maybe it would be different
for you." There seems to be a
bit more guilt in her voice than she is letting show.
"I don't think I've been the best friend to you, Jasmin."
[Jasmin]: "I don't
understand," Jasmin says, looking to Siara. "How have you not been the
best friend to me?"
[Siara]: Siara peers back at the
other woman for a moment, seriously contemplating her answer.
"I could have been more honest with you."
[Jasmin]: "Honest?"
[Siara]: "I didn't tell you
that, I've wanted to join the Tainted Hands for some time, myself."
She drags her eyes away. "I
may have you to thank for getting me in at all."
[Jasmin]: "...If you wanted
to be with the Tainted Hands, why did you join the Shadow Bats then?"
[Siara]: A shrug.
"They were my fall-back." Siara
bites her lip. "I told you, I
needed work."
[Jasmin]: "How can you need
work when you get paid at the Blue Lantern?"
[Siara]: Siara smiles at that.
"I prefer an expensive life-style.
I never made enough to my liking."
[Jasmin]: Jasmin shakes her head.
"In the end, you still betrayed them like I did."
[Siara]: Siara opens her mouth to
say more, and then thinks better of it. "Yes.
Yes, I did."
[Jasmin]: "I guess there
isn't much to do about it now. Did you try to join the Tainted Hands
first?"
[Siara]: "I- I had made
mention of my interest to Kricket at one point.
He made it sound....unlikely."
[Jasmin]: "Yet here you
are," Jasmin points out as she glances to Kricket.
[Siara]: Siara nods, gesturing
lightly to her battered body. "Yet,
here I am."
[Jasmin]: "They wanted you
here for a reason, Siara. They want me for my skill, so they have to want you
for something too. They wouldn't have let you in otherwise."
[Siara]: "I suppose you're
right." She smiles weakly.
"You're a good friend, Jasmin. I
just hope we don't kill each other later."
[Jasmin]: "Why would we do
that?" Jasmin laughs slightly, as if that is highly unlikely.
[Siara]: Siara laughs too,
full-bodied, so that it hurts a little. "Yes,
yes. Why, indeed."
[JadedDM]:
(Okay, let's call it a night here. I'm
wiped and this is a good stopping point.)
