Session Start: Sat Aug 25 17:07:08 2007 Session Ident: #castlevania * Logging for #castlevania started [The intrepid party gathers in the clearing around the slaughtered zombie remains.] * Roland clicks his tongue lightly as he comes up behind Nyyx. "You should be more careful, Lady Natalia. This is going to take quite a bit of healing." * Charlotte stretches a bit. * Nyyx turns around from checking on the dead druid, who seemed to be the attackers' leader. "Ah, sorry. Getting cut up seems to be part of my job." Well, we found the druid that they mentioned. I don't know if he's the undying one, though. * Roland rubs his hands together, says a short prayer, and lays his hands on Nyyx's shoulders. Her wounds begin knitting together rapidly. * Brute has joined #castlevania That will take a couple minutes to work, Lady Natalia. Try not to get shot again before it's finished, please? * Nyyx nods. "Thank you, Roland." * Rudyard is now known as Skip * Skip looks over his wounds, "I could use some assistance, as well, Mr. Roland." * Roland turns and walks slowly over to Skip, surveying the damage. * Roland sighs a little and shakes his head disapprovingly. "You're nearly as torn up as Lady Natalia." * Skip is now known as SkipAFK * Charlotte watches the healing with a little bit of envy. "Alright, any idea what this stuff is? * Roland says a couple more prayers, and puts Skip's wounds on the way to healing. * Brute wanders around the group, axe readied, playing bodyguard as the party heals. * Nyyx ties up the druid's corpse, just in case it returns to life. Good plan Thanks. I figure it's better to play it safe. * Nyyx hefts the body and secures it to the back of her horse. "We'll know sooner or later if he's the one we have to worry about." * Charlotte nods So where next? The actual camp, if this isn't it. gotcha Think they'll be expecting us now? Considering that we were just ambushed in such a deliberate fashion, I think they know we're coming. True. Though this wasn't much of an ambush. We have at least one person of stealthy inclinations. Scouting ahead of us would definitely be a good idea. * Nyyx nods. "I agree." Yeah... I can scout around, but sending too many people might defeat the purpose of stealth. What do you think? If you're comfortable with scouting, go ahead. Skip will undoubtedly accompany you. * Nyyx nods. "It'd probably be safer." Yeah * Roland picks out a small pouch from the other treasure, checks the contents carefully, then slides them gently back into the bag and puts it in a well-padded pocket on the inside of his belt. * Nyyx keeps an eye on the dead druid strapped to her horse's back. Skip, mind scouting with me? * Skip shakes his head, "No. Lead the way." Sure. * Charlotte moves [Charlotte and Skip sweep ahead and find the bandit's trail as the walked to the ambush site.] * Skip examines the trail and whispers to Charlotte, "Can you track them?" I can certainly try. All right. Lead on. [Charlotte follows the trail.] * Skip follows cautiously, taking time to examine the area for traps and ambushes. Hm... okay, I think I've got an idea of the route now. I haven't noticed anything odd. Have you? * Skip whispers to Charlotte, "Do you see any dog or wolf tracks? I injured a beast and it ran in this direction." Yeah. Headded the same direction * Skip looks disappointed. "The main camp will know we have sprung the trap. They will be ready for us." Charlotte, stay here. I'll go tell our comrades the situation. Understood. "Nothing to be done for it now but to push on." * Skip takes out a whistle, "Use this if there is trouble." * Charlotte nods, and takes it * Skip races back to the group and slips out of the woods in front of Roland. * Charlotte sticks around and tries to stay reasonably hidden Oh, Sir Mudskipper. Welcome back. You have news? We've found their trail. The one they took to get to the clearing. But we've also found the wolf's trail leading back to the camp. They will know we are coming. Unfortunate. Any changes to the plan, or should we continue on as normal? If we could make them forget, that would be good. I dun know how, so I guess we just fight at a disadvantage. * Brute shrugs. There are ways to gain advantage. We could attack in the night. Or, if Theodore is capable, we could teleport into an unexpected attack point. * Nyyx nods. "At this point, I don't think just talking is an option anymore, anyway." How close do you think we are? To the camp, I mean. A day and a half or so. Right, so we might as well keep moving. At least for now. It would be prudent to stay off their chosen path. * Skip nods, "I would agree, but this doesn't seem to be a chosen path. I think it is simply the path the ambush party took to get to the clearing." I see. If anyone was coming, Charlotte and I would know well ahead of time. Theodore, if you are capable of maintaining a Message link, it would be a good means of communication to the scouts. true. A way of communicating would help a lot. * Nyyx nods. Theo, is it possible? * Theodore points at Skip and mumbles a spell. Yes. Just whisper, and I will hear * Skip nods. "Give me a few minutes, then continue your pursuit." He disappears into the forest. * Skip catches up to Charlotte and they push on through the woods. We're over a day away. We need to make it as far as we can before nightfall. Lead on. * Roland starts the group forward after the scouts, then. Alright * Charlotte moves [The party advances through the woods until night shrouds the forest.] [The party makes camp in the forest and sets watch.] [Charlotte hears large bodies moving past the camp in the darkness during her shift.] * Charlotte blinks, and starts nudging people awake. She whispers forcefully. "Someone's passing through. Be on your guard." * Skip sits up and begins putting on his armor as quietly as possible. * Brute follows Skip's lead and dons his armor as well. Shall we go check it out? * Skip nods to Charlotte, "Scout it out. If there's trouble, lead them to us." * Charlotte nods, and moves * Skip whispers to Theo, "If a fight breaks out, we're going to need some light." * Theodore whispers to Charlotte "let me see an arrow. I will make it glow and you can fire it at the noice." What would that achieve? We will be able to see them and they won't be able to see us. Hm. Sure. * Charlotte hands one over * Theodore casts light on the arrow and hands it back * Charlotte moves Thanks * Charlotte moves towards the other group * Charlotte frowns. She can't make out any of the shapes with her puny human eyesight. SHe pulls out the Light arrow and fires it at the general vicinity of hte group * Charlotte fires it at the general vicinity of the shadows successfully [The arrow sticks into a nearby tree and illuminates the area.] [Three maimed human warriors stand stock-still in the bright light.] * Nyyx curses quietly in a gutteral tongue. * Skip sees the bright light, "So much for scouting. Let's move." * Skip closes the distance between himself and Charlotte as quickly as possible. * Brute advances ahead toward the light and draws his axe. * Charlotte reaches for a normal arrow * Nyyx has drawn her sword and is advancing toward the group of maimed humans. * Roland is following just behind Nyyx, without armor or weapon. Not that he usually has those, mind. * Roland is, however, accompanied by a small, currently darkened lantern that is currently floating over his left shoulder. * Nyyx moves toward them 40'. * Charlotte moves quickly and fires an arrow at one of the maimed humans. * Charlotte hits it. It doesn't seem terribly phased by the arrow sticking out of its chest * Skip moves toward the light as fast as he can. [The three figures disappear in the direction of the bandit camp.] * Theodore lets loose a fireball at the enemy group * Roland winces. "Would you like a side of forest fire to go with your toast?" [The forest errupts in orange flames. Long, spidery shadows cover the landscape.] * Brute rushes to catch up with the figures, toward the flames. * Roland hustles after Nyyx, nearly passing her, but holding up. * Charlotte rushes after the figures * Nyyx breaks into a run and takes a literally flying leap, cleaving her blade cleanly through the two figures she lands closest to and landing softly as they fall into halves on either side of her. * Charlotte finds them and fires an arrow at them * Charlotte misses! * Charlotte doesn't let that get her down. She practically instantly grabs another arrow and fires it * Skip continues his mad dash toward the enemy. * Charlotte hits it, but it isn't down yet [The remaining humanoid runs out of the fire and rolls on the ground, putting out the cinders on his clothes.] * Brute dashes close to the mystery figure, shouting for it to lay still. * Skip continues to swiftly move through the forest before disappearing in a puff of smoke and reappearing on the far side of the remaining foe. * Charlotte rushes into view of the remaining one and points her bow at it. "We have you surrounded! Surrender!" * Roland runs forward, wondering when the hell Nyyx got so fast. [The man on the ground puts up his hands and stops moving.] Alright. Who are you? "Roderick Duncan." * Nyyx keeps her sword trained on the man on the ground while keeping an eye on the two fallen figures. * Skip allows his comrades to interrogate the man while he examines and searches the fallen enemies. [The fallen humanoids have no equipment of value save rapiers.] How are you still standing with wounds like that? "I made a Pact of Return. Damn little good it did." Pact of Return? "Pact of Return"? What does that mean? "It means you already killed me once today." A Pact of Return is a pact with your deity. In exchange for a bit of your health, the next time you die, you're brought back to life. "Well, close enough." Which deity did you make the pact with? "Wee Jas." * Roland frowns. Wee Jas does not generally approve of undead or resurrection. Has she changed her mind? "I'm guessing that was retorical." You're correct. I don't expect you to know what's on Wee Jas' mind. * Skip walks over to the group. "Did you see Wee Jas herself to make your pact?" [The man laughs.] "No, boy." * Nyyx mutters, "If this is Gregor's doing..." This does explain the immortal bandits, though. * Nyyx nods. Who's your leader? "My leader? The cleric runs the camp." He wasn't with you when you tried to ambush us? "No." And who's the druid? He didn't make the pact? "What druid?" * Theodore casts cone of cold at the largest area of the fire * Nyyx leaves for a moment to fetch her horse. * Roland waves a hand at the largest remaining concentration of fire, says a short prayer, and drops a huge mass of water on it. * Brute leans over the captive. "We have healers. I have an axe. You dun be lying to us." I'll go deal with the fire. "What?" You guys look like you have this under control * Charlotte goes to deal with it * Roland says to the not-a-zombie, "What my large friend is trying to say is this: We have already killed you once. We do not, in fact, object to killing you again, if necessary." * Nyyx brings back her horse with the druid's corpse still tied securely to it. "This fellow here." "That is the gang underboss, Certhen. He's dead. And he's not a druid." My mistake. He didn't participate in the pact, then? "No." How many of you did? "I don't know, maybe six." "'Cluding the boss?" * Nyyx unties the underboss and sets him on the ground next to the other two deceased. Anyone have a shovel? "Which boss?" The cleric. "I don't know." Why is the cleric having you raid the logging camp? Who or what are you looking for there? "Goods, coin and the like, I expect." * Brute looks at Roland. "This one, talking is slow going. You did a good talking at a skull earlier. Think we'd learn more from one of the other two?" So you weren't looking for a person? "What's it to you?" It's really going to be a lot easier on everybody if you tell us now, so we can all go to bed. * Brute hefts his axe. "Is it time to test our new friend's devotion to his boss?" Down, Brute. There's no need for violence. * Skip kicks the man, "I think we're asking the questions here." Sir Mudskipper! * Nyyx motions Skip back. "Hold for a moment, Skip." "You think? Well, what of it?" * Charlotte presumably gets a shovel at some point and has been working on controlling the fire All we want is a little information, and then you can go home, stitch up those wounds, and have a good day's rest. You give us some information, we go on our merry way, and everybody's happy. "Really? Well, some of the bosses are after someone in the camp. I'm not sure who, but that is certainly why the cleric and her aid want to knock the camp over." Her aid? Go on. "Her aid. The cleric is a woman. So what?" Oh, we're certainly not concerned about her being a woman. We'd just like to know who her aid is. "Some quiet guy. Dresses in black. Saw him beat someone to death with his bare fists once. Barely touched the guy. Creepy." That's quite useful to know. * Skip looks at Roland, then to Nyyx, and back at the captive. Is he the leader of the raids on the foresting camp? "No, the underboss is. Or was." And this man in black...have you seen his face? ( Forget his face, we need to know about his hands. ) ( Do they have six fingers? ) "Yes. Plain features. Looks to be fairly young. Slender. Tall. Dark hair and eyes. Very focused." When did he arrive? "Before I did." How many bandits are there? "Now? Counting me, thirteen." Very good. Unless anybody else has anything? * Roland looks expectantly at his companions. I'm wondernig what he was doing sneaking back out here He was going back to camp, Charlotte. .... oh, right. So what do we do with him? I'm not comfortable letting him go, if that's what you were thinking. We're not just going to let him go, we're going to give him some money to get him started in his new life. New life? * Nyyx raises her eyebrows. "New life?" * Roland looks at the torn up man. "Because you're going to go back to the nearest town, and you're going to start a new, legal, and very much less dangerous life. Right?" "Sounds good." * Roland hands the man a small pouch of gold. "You run along now, and see to it that you stay out of trouble. I'm a seer. I'll know if you don't." "And he'll tell me to use my method next." "Done and done. Goodnight." Goodnight, sir, and good luck. [The man stands up and departs quickly.] Pleasure to make your acquaintance, good sir. Goodbye * Charlotte waves * Nyyx sighs. "Thirteen bandits, and that man in black doesn't sound familiar to me." I'm sure we'll work something out. It doesn't sound like they really worship Wee Jas either, does it? Not particularly Roland, can you search your, umm....collective. Knowledge. Thing. For any mention of a way to kill someone by barely touching them? Theodore seems to do that a lot. Of course. But this man seemed to think he was hitting him and did it. As if it was a unique strike and not a bit of magic. Huh... There are a number of ways to kill with a touch. Various monk disciplines teach a way, and a number of martial disciplines have it, though I couldn't tell you exact details. Assassins are often adept in killing with anything they have at hand. Various sorts of undead are capable of energy drain, which can slay easily and without much sign. * Nyyx nods thoughtfully. This particular instance sounds to me more like one of the monk disciplines, though which order, I could not say. It will be hard to fight a man like that. * Skip looks at Theo. "You should simply set him on fire." Yeah. They're really fast, aren't they? I see. A monk and a cleric, then. And ten other bandits, not including the man we sent off. Monk orders have mostly died out in this region, though. The closest thing is the gun dancers from the south. He could be a traveler, or perhaps a last remnant of a dead discipline. If he is a gun dancer, we will have our work cut out for us. * Nyyx nods. Never seen one of those before. THat could be troublesome. * Skip yawns. "Well, let's try to get some sleep. For now, anyway. We have a long day's march ahead of us." I agree with Sir Mudskipper. * Roland heads off towards his comfy tent for a few more hours sleep. * Nyyx nods. "Me too. We'll deal with him tomorrow." * Nyyx settles down to rest. * Skip gets quickly back to sleep. SESSION END Session Close: Sat Aug 25 22:40:41 2007