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Post by Game Master on Feb 18, 2007 14:58:07 GMT -5
Aiko smells the stench of urine as Sull wets himself and trembles in terror. Brigs stammers on, pleading the monster to leave him out of this. Mason is now 10 feet away from the wolf-thing and to its left and the guard is failing misserably to open the heavy doors to the building, his weapon on the ground forgotten. Tabor's eyes dart in every direction looking for protection or perhaps an escape route. "Please protect me. I'll pay you all a reward! Please!"
The wolf creature howls in laughter "Only a halfling stands up against me. How humorous."
That statement seems to snap Lady Klarina back into reality. "He's right! Are we to stand and let Tull defend us? AHHHHHRRRAAAAHHH!"
With her battle cry Klarina pulls her sword and launches an attack. Mason and Tull spring into action a moment later.
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Post by Game Master on Feb 18, 2007 15:30:59 GMT -5
Klarina's attack catches the wolf off guard and her short sword bites into its wing (7 points). Tull stabs at the wolf next but his reach is to short and swipes only air. To close to use his bow Mason draws his bastard sword and attacks from the side. Blind sided the wolf takes a nasty gash to its hind leg. (CRITICAL 20, 20 points. Speed reduced by half and -2 dodge)
While not paralyzed with fear Earl is ill equipped for battle. He looks on in despair feeling helpless. Enraged the Wolf retaliates. He snaps his jaws deep into Tulls unprotected shoulder and throws him to the side. (6 points). Klarina swings again this time striking a good solid hit against its ribcage. (CRITICAL 20, 18 points, Further -2 speed and -1 dodge) Mason continues as well but fails to penetrate the wolfs thick hide. Tull recovers his feet and lunges at the wolf with his knife but his hand is swatted aside by the creatures human like paw. Taking more damage then the creature probably ever thought possible it looks to Klarina as its most dangerous foe. The temperature in the surrounding area drops twenty degrees as an airy frost is expelled from the creatures muzzle and blasts Klarina in an icy death. (15 points. Severe frost bite causing -2 strike, -2 parry, -3 dodge, spd reduced by half)
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Post by homeskillet on Feb 18, 2007 18:51:59 GMT -5
Feeling the rush of cold and witnessing the frost cover Klarina, something snaps. Stone's eyes well up more, but an anger begins to surge. These people came to help him and now he can't be there to save them? Klarina is cold, but she doesn't deserve this! Something stirs deep within the Earthmaster, rage. Maybe it is out of shame or a desire he never realized he had, but Stone moves in with his Naginata and begins his attack.
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Post by Game Master on Feb 19, 2007 4:13:43 GMT -5
Tull, with blood pouring from his wounded shoulder flips the dagger around in his palm and stabs down into the wolfs back. (4 points). The wolf-thing seems to have had enough of cutting blades and lifts itself out of harms way into the sky with its wounded hind leg curled up and tucked close to its belly. It breathes another cone of cold, this time directed at Mason but misses wide. Mason pulls his bow and lets an arrow fly. It bounces harmlessly off a wing. Klarina refusing to give up even this close to death pulls her horse bow as well but only manages to get it strung as her fingers have trouble responding. Aiko with his Naginata realizes his weapon will reach the hovering beast and runs forward but flails uselessly as he must dodge around Tull and Klarina. (critical miss 1) A dagger flys through the air as Earl joins the fray. The tiny blade hits the Wolf square in the chest...hilt first and falls to the ground. The guard as well seems to have come around. Maybe he believes that this is his best chance of killing the creature as hiding in the building will only prolong the inevitable. He throws his spear with incredible accuracy stabbing the creatures chest. (7 points) The blade doesn't bite deep enough to stick however and drops to the ground as well. The wolf growls something and Aiko feels magic in the air. Silvery beams of light shoot from the creatures eyes hitting the poor guard. His body wreathes in magical energy and then lays still. (18 points) Tull has his sling out now and pelts the Wolf right on the snout. (1 point) Mason fires again with his bow and again it fails to penetrate flesh as it zips over the creature. Lady Klarina, just managing to string her bow pulls back to fire only to have the cold weakend weapon split and break in her hand. (critical miss 1). Aiko slashes in a return sweep of his massive Naginata this time connecting with the wolfs left arm when it failed to gain enough loft to avoid it. (16 points).
"Is THIS what you covet so badly?" Tabor screams. Coming out of his terror he throws the medallion at the flying wolf. The creature swoops from the sky and grabs it out of the air. A pain filled Yowl is heard as its paws burns and smoke around the medallion (23 magic ward points). Dropping the medallion the Wolf flys off now mortally wounded.
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Post by homeskillet on Feb 19, 2007 22:13:31 GMT -5
Stone runs to where the medallion falls, covering it so no one will pick it up. Afraid to touch it Stone looks to Tabor," Why would a demon like that want something that will hurt him so?"
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Post by Game Master on Feb 20, 2007 3:17:17 GMT -5
"He didn't know it would hurt him. I payed Master Blimm a small fortune to inscribe an invisible protection ward on the medallion's back side. If any of you had touched it you would have suffered the same fate." Tabor points with his chin to the medallion. It is no longer active and safe to touch now. Keep it if you wish. It has brought nothing but trouble. An entire monastery of the All Fathers followers died when that monster stole it. Five more people died stealing it back to get it to me. Then there were the Knights I hired to safe guard it here, and now this." Gestures to the dead guard and the injured Lady Klarina who is being looked after by Mason and Earl. "The Lord only knows if Blimm is alright. You may have trouble getting payment." Tabor nods his head in conclusion. Yes, for saving my life, you take it. It is cursed to me. I will not have that Dragon Wolf looking for my blood. At least you can defend yourselves." Tabor begins to unlock the heavy wooden doors.
"What the bloody hell are we gonna do with it?" Brigs yells, back to normal now that the danger has passed.
Tabor looks over his shoulder before going inside. "Sell it. Fight over it. Bury it. I don't care." The door closes behind him.
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Post by homeskillet on Feb 20, 2007 23:04:39 GMT -5
Stone looks to Briggs and back to the medallion," I will take it", Stone concedes," We can't leave so innocents are attacked. I will take it and safeguard it. I will bear the curse."
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Post by Game Master on Feb 21, 2007 1:14:27 GMT -5
"All yours Stone. I want nothin to do with it." Brigs grabs the mule by the reigns and begins heading to the Inn but then stops. "If you end up selling it though....I want my cut!" He turns and continues.
"Stone." Mason calls. "Help me with Lady Klarina. She has frost bite. Its not severe though. She will be fine with rest. I think she will retain all her fingers. Well my friend, what did you think of your first encounter with a Dragon Wolf?"
Before Stone could respond, Sull answered for him. "I no want to see one again! Dogs should not fly. Very disturbing." Sull trotted along to catch up with Brigs. Mason just laughed.
The group payed 5 gold each for rooms and sleep came easy. The next day showed Klarina was able to ride with no help and Tulls shoulder was bandaged with clean linen rode the now unburdened mule. Brigs was his normal grumpy self and Earl was lost in thought. With Mason taking point as usual that left only Sull for Aiko to talk to.
"What you do when back in town Stone?"
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Post by homeskillet on Feb 21, 2007 22:15:49 GMT -5
"We will try and get our money Sull," Stone replies," Why do you ask?"
Stone is not all together there. He feels a darkness from the medallion. He knows that it is a burden that can not fall into the wrong hands.
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Post by Game Master on Feb 22, 2007 3:16:14 GMT -5
"When Sull reach town, Sull buy BIG steak and a dwarven ale with gold. Sull eat like king of Timiro! Then Sull look for work, or maybe not. Sull usually take what Sull want. People no miss what Sull take most times. Sull smart. Sull take things people no miss. things they no need right away. Never take favorite things. That when people notice they gone and look at Sull to give back. Yes, Sull smart. Sull no take from Mson or Aiko though. You friends. Sull no take from friends. That Sulls code. Aiko have code?"
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Post by homeskillet on Feb 22, 2007 17:20:06 GMT -5
"Yes, I look after friends," Stone smiles," Sull, I need you to keep an eye on Mason, keep him out of trouble when I can't, so you're with us. Is that alright with you?"
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Post by Game Master on Feb 23, 2007 1:22:36 GMT -5
Sull grins widely. "Sure. Stone trust Sull. Sull trust Stone. Go watch Mason for you." The little gulley Dwarf trots off to keep an eye on his hero.
The party camps for the night as usual. Shortly after getting set up Mason motions Aiko over. He and Klarina are huddled over Tull who is laying down, asleep on his bedroll.
"Stone. Tulls sick. His wound is infected and it looks like he has a fever." Sure enough when Aiko looks down at the little fellow he is asleep but moaning softly and covered in sweat.
"Back to Arden?" Klarina asks.
"No. I know the doctor there. He's a leech medic. He'd just make things worse. We need to get him to Garrotten and soon. Androsia is a first rate healer. She can help him."
"Any ideas?" Aiko asked his friend. He would do whatever it took to save little Tull.
"I could carry him ahead of the group. You could all catch up. Just give me the mule." Mason mused.
"No. Thats silly." Klarina shot Masons idea down off handedly. "I should take him. I have my horse. If we leave at day break I can have him back to Garrotten by Nightfall with a hard ride."
Mason shook his head. "Your injuries are almost as bad. A hard ride could tax your system to heavily and we'd lose both of you." Mason looks to Aiko. "Stone. Your in charge. No one trusts Brigs any more. What do you want to do?"
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Post by homeskillet on Feb 23, 2007 11:18:57 GMT -5
Stone looks at Klarina, her wounds are severe and the only thing keeping her alright is the ride on her horse," Lady, we need your horse. Mason will ride Tull to Garrotten," Stone wipes Tull's brow," Klarina, I will walk with you riding on the mule until Mason returns or until we reach Garrotten."
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Post by Game Master on Feb 23, 2007 23:34:10 GMT -5
Klarina looks as though Aiko just asked to have her unborn child.
"My...my horse? She's all I have..." She looks sternly at Mason. "Can you even ride?"
"Not as nobley as you perhaps but yes I assure you I will return her safe and sound. I will even buy her some oats when I reach Garrotten. Will that comfort you?"
Mason said with a slight tersness.
"No, not really. But for Tull I'll do it. I won't have this tallfellows death on my hands." Klarina reached into her coin pouch. "Here. Stable her at the Inn and be sure she gets brushed. Do you hear?" Like a worried mother she prattled on but soon everyone went to bed and Mason left with Tull and Klarina's horse before daybreak.
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Post by Game Master on Feb 23, 2007 23:44:19 GMT -5
The next day went without incident as did that evening at the very spot Mason had shown the group on the way up. The following morning with a day and a half left to go, for the group was traveling a bit slower on the return trip, the group could see a wagon with two passengers approaching from Garrotten.
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