ariel

Dalin Ghillison (Barbarian, 5th level) AC: 14 | HP: (70+5=75)/70 | Rages: 3/3 | Passive Perception: 12 Despite her gift for maps and ability to remember a town after walking it once, Dalin lingered at the end of the group as Jozelle's deft steps drew them back to the portal. Perhaps she was protecting their exit from the battle or perhaps... perhaps she was struggling more than she let on. As the distance from the battle increased, the dwarf slid her shield onto her back and reached her now free hand up to the bedroll on her pack. Bonnie wiggled herself free of the padded folds and skittered into her hand. A gentle thumb began rhythmically patting the mouse's head. Dalin's low rumbling mutters could be heard and by the time they reached the portal, she was freely talking, in bear-like growls, to her wee friend. Only Cordelia had known that Bonnie's presence helped Dalin remain calm. Perhaps the others would now too. At the portal, Dalin brought the mouse up to eye level, exchanging several puffing growls with the creature's tiny squeaks. Dalin shrugged and nodded, then nuzzled the mouse with her nose before lifting her back to her bedroll. The mouse scrambled back, deep into the layers. To her companions, she said. "She understands danger, knows we might not come back, but wants to stay... to stay with me. No accounting for taste... I guess." That the dwarf could even try to joke at this time, indicated how much calmer she felt. Dalin held her breath as she stepped through the portal. The assault of heat and sulfur was an assault that took several moments to shake. "Teekond, protect us. Of all the roads, I never thought to travel this one." Gazing at the ground, vaguely looking for evidence of the army that had passed, she responded to Jozelle, "I don't know that my skills will be much help... so many have passed and wasn't he flying? But, we could probably go in the direction they were coming from, when we first saw them from the other side." The dwarf waved a thick hand forward. Looking over to Ren and Alban, "Unless... one of you has magicks that could help find him?" Show this Has cast speak with animals, will last for 10 minutes

Me too!

Dalin Ghillison (Barbarian, 5th level) AC: 16 | HP: (70+5=75)/70 | Rages: 3/3 | Passive Perception: 12 Dalin was not a warrior. She fought, with her borrowed axe, simply because there was no longer a choice. The battlefield was not only around her but in her gut as well. The giant white bear burned cold fury, seeking release, and the dwarf internally battled to shove it down, feeling she had to wait for the "right" moment. She averted her eyes from the creature with blackened armor and eyes of bonfire, knowing that if she looked at it for too long, the bear would not be stilled. As Jozelle suggested leaving, she managed a response. "Where do we go... to follow Vadim? The door must be closed... there must be a way. If not, then the loss will go beyond these people, beyond this town." If someone had asked her the day before, if she'd willing face and potentially pass through a portal to Haasatan, she would have laughed and made a joke. But, that was when there was a choice.

Haha! True. We just need to figure out who is the lead witch hunter is, yes? And get their eyes... I mean. I don't suppose a deputy would do? We have a few names. Here are some notes I tossed together... does anyone have something to add or correct? First names: Gunter: Maybe Tiffany's partner, he left a charm at Tiffany's house that he will pick up before heading out on the next hunt... Maybe our best bet to be led to the whole group (witch hunter + deputies)? Unsure if Gunter is a deputy or the witch hunter Ernest: Mary's partner, a deputy Last names: Buckner: not Gunther or Ernest (at whose house the hunters are currently gathered, planning) Brindle: could be the witch hunter, could be Gunter?

Hello! I noticed this in the last GM post and wondering if we should stay put waiting for Gunther to come back and follow that "two-legged" back on the hunt? Perhaps we if get a direction then... Broom could fly ahead to try to warn the next witch? I posted that he will do a tour though! Perhaps we can get a bead on them even faster!

Broom Clever: 2 | Fierce: 1 | Sly: 2 | Quick: 1 | Danger: 1 | Tidy, clean and mend "Eye, eyes, two eyes in the sky! Four if Elora comes with me!" Broom looks to the frog, and the tidy crow's feather's bristle in anticipation of flight. But then, he hesitates. "Where? Where to look? The sky is big! Much bigger than the ground!" The crow looks into the blueness of the sky, as if looking for an answer. "Do a round, do a round, I will to see if two-legs on horses are gathering and then come back quick." OOC Broom will fly, taking Elora if desired, on a round of the village, staying to the edges, trying to keep out of trouble.

Yes, good luck Whitleyrr and take your time!

We haven't seen in a while... do you think it's because the DM doesn't want to kill us? 🙃

OK, thanks!

Broom Clever: 2 | Fierce: 1 | Sly: 2 | Quick: 1 | Danger: 1 | Tidy, clean and mend As the noise passes, Broom hops back to the ground and looks to Asteroth. "What, what did they say? Did you hear anything? Should we follow the noise?" OOC From Broom's vantage point on the roof and his previous passes over the town, would he have any idea where the bell clangers might have been going?

Dalin Ghillison (Barbarian, 5th level) AC: 16 | HP: (70+5=75)/70 | Rages: 3/3 | Passive Perception: 12 It was worse. Whatever Dalin had thought it would be, it was hundred fold worse than that. While travelling many roads with goods, criss-crossing the land to avoid a "boring" life back home, her imagination had not been prepared for this. Her gut wrenched in response to the horrible scene that played before her. She fought for control, but as she spoke, her voice was already echoing with a beastial undertone. She looked to Jozelle. "I don't know you well, but I count you as friend... I will help you bring him down if I can." She looked from Ren to Alban, her hazel eyes darkening. The bear was surging forth and all Dalin's fears were being replaced with its cold anger. The dwarf was still there though and she continued. "I hear his words to his army and I understand. He's trying establish control in Hethon.. the area on this side of the portal... it seems he feels the need to defend it. Perhaps it can be closed."

Broom Clever: 2 | Fierce: 1 | Sly: 2 | Quick: 1 | Danger: 2 | Tidy, clean and mend "Noise, noise! Don't like! Don't like!" Broom looks, for a moment, as if to try to follow Dash into the bushes. But, scrambling along the ground into the bushes was really not in his nature. He flitted up to the roof of the house, hoping to find a hiding spot in the eaves or behind a chimney. Perhaps he could keep eye on the horrible noisemakers from there.

Yes, just glad you are back! :) Also, wondering if Vadim seems to have any kind of personal guard? Or, is he singularly flying and moving alone across groups?

Broom Clever: 2 | Fierce: 1 | Sly: 2 | Quick: 1 | Danger: 1 | Tidy, clean and mend As Dash comes up to the side of the house, Broom hops from one talon to the other and answers. "One two-legs, like our Witch but not. Bigger with red fur! Cooking, cooking, but, can see the yard easy from inside! Shouldn't be seen, trouble." The crow looks to the salt on the ground and if wings could shrug, they did. "It's a mess, a tidy mess, but still a mess!" OOCI added a clever roll to my last post - only a 4 so I am assuming he knows nothing. :)

Dalin Ghillison (Barbarian, 5th level) AC: 16 | HP: (70+5=75)/70 | Rages: 3/3 | Passive Perception: 12 Dalin shifted her position to take advantage of the Alban's illusion. She knew little about magic, but she understood the benefit of hiding when a threat was near even if the dark thorns, translucent, gave her the heebie-jeebies. That feeling was nothing compared to the creeping terror she felt over the possibility of Haasatan rising before them. She glanced at the dark sorcerer as he finished his speech to rally the militia. It was the probably the most she'd ever him say at one time. Her lips thinned and twisted. It wasn't what she wanted to say. She wanted to tell them to run, to hide. If they ran, then maybe it would be ok for her to run too. But, as much as she wanted to, she couldn't... not with everyone staying. Dalin looked across at Jozelle, looking so posed and impossibly ready. The dwarf knew it was a show, or probably so, but she wondered if Jozelle herself even knew what Jozelle was feeling this moment. Without really knowing or understanding why, Dalin realized she cared what happened to the young woman. Her grip tightened on her axe. Sweaty palms already. The radiant beam of light from Ren disrupted her thoughts. She wasn't sure she she fancied people casting spells on her without her blessing, but the woman seemed to walk a straight line. Her gut told her she was trustworthy and she wasn't running either. She nodded thanks to the cleric, honestly grateful for any small boon that might help.

Broom Clever: 2 | Fierce: 1 | Sly: 2 | Quick: 1 | Danger: 1 | Tidy, clean and mend Broom hops to the ground beneath the window and flits to one side. He flutters his wings trying to catch the attention of those near the hutch. When he does, he tries to communicate that they should follow him back to the side of the house, out of view from the back windows. With awkward hops he moves in that direction himself, skipping through the shadowed edge next to the house.

Hi! I think you can join the scene with us in any manner given we've just arrived there... so no flow to interrupt. Broom is trying to look in a backyard window, Dash and Azeroth are nearer the rabbits in the hutch.

Dalin Ghillison (Barbarian, 5th level) AC: 16 | HP: 70/70 | Rages: 3/3 | Passive Perception: 12 At the scene unfolding before them, the dwarf swore softly in her own language and then muttered, "So much for prayer..." She winced and folded forward as writhing fear and fury deep in her belly strove for release. Grimacing, she straightened and took several steps forward to take cover behind a larger tombstone. She called out toward the militia. "It's not over! Stay alert! The real threat is to come!!!" She'd seen it enough times on the hunt. A doe in the woods doesn't run from nothing, it runs from the pack of wolves that can smell its blood. She peered forward, not wanting to see, but needing to. OOC Taking cover behind a tombstone (or gate post or tree or whatever is suitable) and looking into the center from where the ghouls were running.

Broom Clever: 2 | Fierce: 1 | Sly: 2 | Quick: 1 | Danger: 1 | Tidy, clean and mend At first, Broom does his best to keep watch, but he also has to resist tidying some roughness in the line of powder around the porchstone. Oh, how it torments him! He flits uncertainly back toward the hutch, following Dash, but then changes course to fly up to a window sill. He peers inside, but if he sees any sign of a two-legged, he will flit away, hoping not to be seen.

Dalin Ghillison (Barbarian, 5th level) AC: 16 | HP: 70/70 | Rages: 3/3 | Passive Perception: 12 Dalin wasn't thinking. She was sure if she started thinking, she'd be gone, walking a straight line out of town. Instead, she was pacing, and, to the observant, she was pacing even even more quicklySpeed now 35ft. than she used. Anxiety was fire in a belly that it seemed she was trying to expel through her feet. But, she heard the conversation around her and it set her tongue in motion too. "Gotta say, feeling a bit like wheat myself... but I agree, let's look for the amulet, try to get it back, try to use it to stop... this. As for the town, I'm hoping the guards have a few tricks. They lent me this axe and y'all say it's magic, so maybe they are more than they seem." As Ren asked about missives, Dalin immediately shook her head. She didn't want to think of the people she might never seen again. Her parents, her friends - there was too much to miss, too much to say. All the places she wanted to visit were struggling for mind's attention. Then, her thoughts skittered around the image of a hut, deep in the woods, one she thought she'd return to one day. Her step faltered. No, not now. She dragged her mind to the present. "We got a plan? What do we do if Vadim's power of minds come into play and folks start turning on each other? For me, if I got any mind left, I'll drop the axe and shield... don't let me, don't let me hurt anyone." Her step quickened again and she reached a hand out to touch Bonnie in her pocket. She'd thought of letting the wee creature go to take her chances on her own, but the dwarf wasn't convinced anywhere would be safe. As the great cracking sound and smell of sulfer reached her, she froze and spun in the direction of the graveyard. She reached up to pluck the axe and shield off her back, muttering in Dwarven a prayer to Teekond. OOC Having heard that the imps were speaking a language no-one understood, Dalin will also trigger "comprehend languages". It will last an hour.

Broom Clever: 2 | Fierce: 1 | Sly: 2 | Quick: 1 | Danger: 1 | Tidy, clean and mend "See, see...rabbits, both live and not!" His beady eyes slid from the backyard to the feet hanging in the window to Dash's own paws. "Please keep your feet. I don't know if that's a tear I could mend." The crow addressed his friends. "Can one of you talk to the rabbits, caged in the hutch? Maybe they know which house has the eyes of our dear Witch's killer..."

Rolling for hp, level 5

Chapter 3... sounds terrifying.