Chat log started at 21.12.2007 / 17:00:29
A rising cloud of dust makes vision difficult in the building, but you think you can make out a large woman with a big hammer, shouting down into the floor of the room. Along the sides, the pigs and chicken reside in their pens and are making an enormous ruckus - their noises drowning out whatever the woman is saying.
Arphaxad: Hello there!
The woman keeps shouting into the floor of the room, oblivious to your presence.
Sonadora coughs delicately and waves a hand in the dust.
Arphaxad walks through the dust cloud calling out every few steps to the women, hoping not to startle her with that large hammer in her hand.
Arphaxad: Ma'am, hello!
The woman looks up with a start and raises her hammer to a defensive position!
The woman: Ah!
The woman squints at you.
Sonadora squints back.
Arphaxad: Hello, good lady, I hope we didn't startle you
The woman looks puzzled for a moment.
The woman dismisses you with a wave.
The woman: My husband Rand's down there!
The woman: No time!
The woman yells loudly into the floor.
The woman: Raaaaaaand! You okay?!
Arphaxad: Do you need some help?
The woman glances at Arphaxad.
Sonadora enters the barn, curious....
Geyer also walks carefully into the barn.
The woman: Sure, if you don't mind taking on some sort of nasty beastie that might be hiding out down there.
The woman: Two of them even.
Arphaxad: Beasts! Then we must hurry!
Arphaxad waves his hand at the others to come quickly!
Geyer: Down where exactly?
Sonadora frowns and grumbles, walking slowly over to Arphaxad.
Arphaxad: How do we get down?
Sonadora: Is this necessary? She's the one with the hammer.
The woman: Into the basement of the place, of course.
The woman frowns.
The woman: Who are you guys, anyways?
Arphaxad: I think that matters little at the moment, as your husband could be dying down there.
Geyer: We're sort of the unofficial town guards at the moment, I think.
Sonadora: People with too much curiosity and the will to help everybody in need.
Sonadora sighs regretfully.
The woman: Hmph. Right. Well, go on down then - we could use the help.
Arphaxad heads towards the basement, casting light onto his staff as he walks.
Geyer: What happened, anyway?
The woman: We... were trying to take care of the things. They were tearing up the place, so... we decided to knock the ceiling down on them.
Ranja eyes the room cautiously, and peers into the hole after Arphax.
Geyer: Them?
The woman: Two.
The woman: Small, four-legged demons, I swear.
Sonadora: Sounds like dogs.
The woman: Hey watch out down there!
The woman: There's a lot of debris!
-> Arphaxad: You think you can make out some movement under some debris.
Sonadora peers into the hole.
Arphaxad: Something is here, come quick!
Sonadora: I don't think I can make that...
Geyer picks his way carefully down the rubble that was once a staircase.
Arphaxad: Is anyone there?
Arphaxad approaches the area that seemed to move very cautiously.
Sonadora looks for something to tie her rope to.
Geyer: Just climb down where it collapsed, lass.
The woman: Give that here, girl, I'll hang onto this end.
Sonadora hands the rope to the woman and begins to climb down.
In the basement of the building, you make out stacks of old crates, chairs, and farm implements. Cobwebs cover nearly everything, and the dust is as thick in the air as it is everywhere else. The corner of collapsed ceiling has blocked off a section of the area, though it looks light enough to clean out manually.
Sonadora: I don't want to die before I get there.
You make out movement in two segments of the room at one time - one appears to be coming from underneath the rubble, and another from the corner closest to the collapsed ceiling.
Rustle.
The woman: Do you see him?
Geyer backs slightly away from the rubble he just climbed down and draws his sword.
Arphaxad puts his staff in front of him and approaches the corner of the rubble
Sonadora cautiously approaches Arphaxad's light, holding tight to her staff.
Arphaxad: Sona, check the rubble over there! That man may be buried.
Geyer: Hello? Sir, we've come to help.
Sonadora lights the end of her staff and looks into the rubble.
You make out more movement as some pebbles slip down the rubble and hit the floor.
A heavy-set, short-legged animal lies under the rubble - its body crushed by the fallen stones. It has a black mask of hair around its eyes, and otherwise grey fur. A closer examination of the exposed head reveals what appear to be the beginning of a small set of horns or perhaps antlers.
"These badgers are reproducing like crazy! Horny bastards."
Arphaxad: Hello, are you thre Rand?
Sonadora: What is that?
Sonadora pokes it with the other end of her staff cautiously.
The creature's leg twitches!
Arphaxad calls back, keeping his eyes looking forward at the other movements he had seen -
Arphaxad: Is it dead?
Sonadora: There's something here and it's not a husband.
Geyer: She said there were two of them.
Sonadora: This one is still moving!
Arphaxad: Which means there are probably 10...
... but it looks like it was probably reflexive, as it doesn't move any more.
Geyer looks about for the second one...
Arphaxad: There is something here, in the corner
As you look more closely, it becomes apparent that a short, heavy-set man is lying still on the floor in the corner with some blood oozing out from a wound on his head and over one of his eyes. His auburn hair is matted to the side of his head, and his clothes - which consist of a simple leather overcoat over basic clothing - are covered in dust. His upper body leans against what looks like an old forge, complete with anvil and bellows nearby, but clearly covered in dust and debris due to disuse.
Arphaxad: Are you ok sir, can you speak?
Arphaxad continues looking around as he approaches the man.
Sonadora: Let's tie him to the rope and pull him up. He's going to need Sintilya.
No answer from the man.
Sonadora eyes the man critically.
Sonadora: If he's still alive.
Sonadora: Heal [1d20+7 = 24]
Geyer keeps on guard for the second "thing".
Sonadora leans down to see what she can do for him.
-> Sonadora: (Heal) It looks like he was hit in the head by a piece of rock. It left a pretty unpleasant looking bruise and a shallow cut, but he's just unconscious.
-> Geyer: (Spot) You catch some more movement coming from deeper within the rubble.
Sonadora: He's going to be out for a while with that head wound. We'll have to be careful moving him.
Geyer moves over towards the pile and begins poking in it with his blade.
Arphaxad: Well, stand near him, but be ready, theres at least one more of those things down here.
Geyer: Come out, come out, wherever ye are.
-> Geyer: You hit something soft and squishy.
Sonadora searches the room from the corner.
Sonadora: Search [1d20+8 = 22]
Arphaxad looks around carefully as well.
Arphaxad: Spot [1d20+1 = 12]
You guys don't see anything out of the ordinary.
Sonadora: Maybe it got away?
Arphaxad calls out to the lady -
Arphaxad:Are you sure there were two?
Geyer begins to brush away debris from the spot he was stabbing.
The general makeup of the room is that there's a half-buried creature you can see more easily. And the man in the corner, unconscious, and Geyer clearing some rubble now.
Sure enough, you find another one of the creatures deeper in the fallen ceiling. This one's crushed, and clearly dead.
Geyer: They're both dead
Arphaxad: What are they?
Sonadora: Maybe we should stab that other one just in case...it moved.
Sonadora points at the first one.
Geyer: Aye.
Geyer stabs it in the throat.
Arphaxad: Knowledge (Nature) [1d20+6 = 12]
Arphaxad Looks at the corpse more closely
Matt (Geyer): you rolled a d12
-> Arphaxad: Actually, upon closer inspection it doesn't appear you know it from your Arcane readings, but from your hunting over the last week. It's a badger... but with a few abnormalities. You can only make out the front half of it, but the horns are clearly out of the ordinary.
Arphaxad: Strange...
Arphaxad: Lets get this man back up there.
Arphaxad: Something is clearly not right here.
Sonadora grunts and looks at the man.
Sonadora: I can't lift him.
Geyer: Leave that ta me, lass.
Sonadora: Unless maybe I want to break my back.
Geyer hoists the wounded man up onto his shoulder.
Sonadora: Careful with his head! Or he'll never wake up.
Geyer: Strength bonus [1d20+3 = 20]
With an impressive effort of strength, you heave the man, presumably Rand, onto your back.
Arphaxad: Are you alright Geyer?
Geyer: Aye. Not a problem.
Sonadora: Let's tie the rope around him. Maybe his wife can pull from above and lighten your load for the climb.
Arphaxad: Lets head up then
Arphaxad: Nah, let Geyer, he needs the excercise
Arphaxad: Climb [1d20 = 10]
Sonadora: Climb [1d20+1 = 17]
Geyer: Climb [1d20-1 = 5]
Geyer: It might be rough for me ta actually hoist him out.
Sonadora: ties the ropes around the man chest and under his arms.
Arphaxad: We will go up and lower the rope
Sonadora ties the rope around the man's chest and under his arms.
With some effort, all three of you make it up, dislodging some rocks as you climb.
font color="#000088">Sonadora rolls her rope up and puts it in her sack, breathing heavy from the climb.
Geyer: Cleric, getcher nose outta that book and do your magic on this chap.
Ranja blinks and blushes suddenly.
Ranja: Of course!
Sonadora looks around for the lady.
Geyer lays the wounded man down on a pile of hay and steps back so Ranja can work.
Ranja kneels by Rand and begins to heal his wounds with softly glowing hands.
The woman: Is he okay?
The woman looks worried.
Ranja: I think he'll be fine. Nothing a little healing won't fix!
The woman glances at the three of you.
Arphaxad: Now...lets get him to the house and get some questions answered.
Sonadora stares at the woman, thinking something is off.
The woman: I was just talking to this girl over here... Ranja. Apparently you're the four that we'd been hearing about around town.
The woman: Thanks.
Sonadora gives a curt nod.
The woman gives a big smile as her eyes shift between Rand and the four of you.
The woman: I'm Anna, by the way. Anna Dross.
Sonadora: Sense motive [1d20+3 = 11]
Anna Dross is a tall, athletic woman of approximately twenty years. She has deep black hair and matching skin. Her face is wide-set with large, dark eyes and she has a full smile that looks somewhat dangerous.
-> Sonadora: She seems grateful you came to her aid.
Anna Dross: Yeah, why don't we take him into the house - it'll be quieter there.
Anna Dross nods to Arphaxad.
Arphaxad: Geyer, would you help get the man there?
Arphaxad: Lead the way ma'am.
Sonadora glances down into the hole again before following, frowning.
Geyer shoulders the man again and moves towards the house.
Anna Dross nods and leads the way.
Sonadora wishes Vida were here. His nose would be useful.
The Dross house is not filled with any extravagance. A fireplace and some wooden chairs sit in the entry, and Anna has you lay Rand on a bearskin rug that lies in the middle as she takes one of the seats.
Anna Dross: So...?
Arphaxad: Well, lets hear it then, what was that all about?
Anna Dross: Oh, well...
Sonadora stands near the door, frowning.
Anna Dross: This morning me and Rand heard some noises coming from inside the barn.
Anna Dross: We went over to check, and there were a couple of livestock shredded and partially eaten... nothing like what a wolf would do though.
Arphaxad listens intently
Anna Dross: This was brutal.
Anna Dross: We thought it was gone... but we started hearing noises below us, and when we went to check it was...
Anna Dross: Well, there were two of whatever they were
Anna Dross: And they came at us... just two balls of fur, teeth and claws...
Anna Dross coughs.
Anna Dross: We ran... and Rand decided to try to find you four, since we'd heard you could maybe deal with this sort of thing.
Sonadora looks at Anna and Rand for battle marks.
Sonadora: Spot [1d20+8 = 27]
GM: Rand is clearly bruised and dirty, with the contusion on his head and some blood from where the rock hit him. Anna has none.
Arphaxad: I see, and when you couldn't find us, you tried to fight them off on your own?
Anna Dross: Sort of...
Anna Dross: We figured we couldn't, really. I mean, I have this hammer...
Anna Dross taps the hammer by her side.
Anna Dross: But it's not weighed for battle... it's just some old thing that used to be in the basement until we brought it up for some chores.
Anna Dross: So, we decided we could maybe... sorta, lure them into the corner?
Anna Dross: And... Fwoomph... drop the ceiling on them.
Anna Dross: We'd had to repair it a few seasons back, so I knew what was holding it up... and with the hammer...
Arphaxad: And it worked....somewhat
Anna Dross: I guess so... somewhat. He was supposed to get out of the way...
Anna Dross breathes a sigh of relief.
Anna Dross: I'm glad he's okay though.
Geyer: Any idea what those things were?
Arphaxad: Do you have any idea what those thing were?
Anna Dross shakes her head.
Arphaxad Any other strange occurences around here lately?
Anna Dross: I did see where they got in though... one of the walls of the room is mostly sod, and they'd dug through it.
Anna Dross: I spotted the burrow in the wall when we went down and found them.
Sonadora: We didn't see a burrow....
Anna Dross coughs.
Anna Dross: I guess we probably sealed it up without thinking about it...
Anna Dross: With the ceiling.
Sonadora frowns and makes an mhmm noise.
Anna Dross: Why? Could you do something with it?
Anna Dross: Sense Motive [1d20+? = 18]
Arphaxad: Well, maybe not, but we could go have a look.
Arphaxad: So nothing else strange has happened around here lately?
Anna Dross frowns at Sonadora just slightly.
Anna Dross glances at Arphaxad.
Anna Dross: No, nothing out of the ordinary here.
Anna Dross: I mean... there was that storm yesterday...
Anna Dross: But nothing happened here.
Anna Dross: I hadn't seen snow in a thunderstorm before.
Geyer: Well, we should probably make sure it's sealed off tight. Could be more of them.
Geyer: Don't want them getting through, or you'll have to bring down the whole barn next time.
Anna Dross nods at Geyer.
Arphaxad: I see
Arphaxad: Maybe we should go take another look down there.
Geyer: I saw a forge in your basement. Are you smiths by trade?
Anna Dross grins slightly.
Anna Dross: Oh, that. No, but it was here when we bought the land.
Sonadora looks around for evidence of children.
Anna Dross: Apparently it's been here for decades.
Anna Dross: I tried my hand at it, just as a hobby, y'know?
Anna Dross: When we first came here.
Anna Dross: But that was years ago.
Arphaxad: Is it alright with you if we take another look out there?
Anna Dross: Sure thing.
Anna Dross: If it's okay with you, I'd like to stay with Rand. But if you need anything, it's only fair that I help you how I can after you saved my husband.
Arphaxad: I am going down to look for those burrows
Geyer: Aye, we should make sure no more can get in.
Sonadora glances suspiciously around the room once more and follows Arphaxad.
Geyer: Cleric, ye should stay here with him in case he needs more healing. We'll be back soon enough.
Anna Dross: Halfling - have I done something to offend you?
Anna Dross: You keep looking down at me... so to speak.
Ranja nods to Arphaxad.
Sonadora smiles briefly.
Sonadora: Nothing.
Anna Dross folds her well-muscled arms in front of her chest and tilts her head to the side.
Anna Dross: Alright...
Geyer attempts to smooth things over -
Geyer: T'aint nothing, Ma'am. She's woods folk is all, suspicious of strangers. Don't hold it against her.
Geyer: Diplomacy [1d20+7 = 25]
Anna Dross nods and grins at Geyer.
Anna Dross: Must be on account of me being so big.
Anna Dross gives a wide grin.
Anna Dross: Thanks again, all of you.
Geyer: Aye, these little ones be skittish sometimes. I'm sure she'll cheer right up once she gets ta know ya better.
Anna Dross kneels by Rand's side and begins to clean his face with a damp rag.
Sonadora resists glaring at Geyer.
Geyer follows the others outside.
Back in the basement...
Geyer: So, lady Dora...what bug did crawl up your bonnet back there anyways?
Sonadora grumbles about people who don't have children on farms, and the whole strangness of the affiar, ...
Sonadora: Something isn't right here.
Arphaxad: Well...
Geyer: Well, I agree there, but what?
Arphaxad: Let's get looking for those burrows, and stay on your guard.
Arphaxad: Those creatures...whatever they are, aren't right.
Arphaxad: I believe they once were badgers...but do not seem to be any natural badger any more.
Arphaxad: And we don't need no stinking badgers.
Geyer: That sounds like dire news, wizard.
Arphaxad: Ok ok Geyer, don't badger this situation
Arphaxad begins moving the debris out of the way.
Camilo: Apparently using a badger is somewhat like opening Pundora's Box.
Sonadora lights her staff again for better visibility.
In the process of clearing out the debris, you uncover the majority of one of the once-badgers, and notice the oddities in its form.
Geyer begins searching the basement for anything of value.
Geyer: Search [1d20+1 = 7]
Two small horns jut out from the creature's forehead and its hind paws appear to be hardening for some reason.
-> Geyer: You notice some wooden crates, the forge, and some empty sacks. That's about it.
Sonadora kneels down and inspects the feet.
Sonadora: Knowledge (Nature) +3 [1d20+3 = 5]
-> Geyer: Empty wooden crates. Probably couldn't hold much even if you wanted them to at this point. Most of the wood's either rotten or broken.
The hind feet and the horns are of the same material, but you can't piece together anything else.
Sonadora: This is strange. The feet are becoming like the horns.
Arphaxad continues searching.
Arphaxad: Spot [1d20+1 = 13]
Geyer: Check their under-bits. If they're a breeding pair there might be pups in their burrow.
Continued clearing of the debris does get you to the wall, and sure enough there's a tunnel about 2 feet by 2 feet.
A quick check - Male and Female.
Arphaxad: Look here!
Sonadora frowns and sighs sadly.
Sonadora: I don't want to kill babies.
Arphaxad: Well, allow these babies to grow and they will be killing you.
Arphaxad Puts his staff in front of him and begins to crawl down the tunnel.
Geyer: I don't either. I want ta capture them and sell them.
Sonadora glares at both her companions.
Geyer: These things could be trained as guard badgers.
Geyer: Or ta fight in the arenas.
Arphaxad: Yes....perhaps the gnome would want one.
->Arphaxad: You push yourself through the tunnel - you can make out a pinpoint of light at the end, maybe 20 or 30 feet away.
Geyer: Or ta hunt rabbits into their warrens.
Sonadora: I'll wait here unless you need help.
-> Arphaxad: Roots and dirt scrape at you, and various bugs crawl around you in the dirt and sod. The walls undulate, sometimes squeezing you tight enough that you have to push them aside to squeeze through, but you make it.
Arphaxad: Tight fit!
GM: You guys can't hear him.
Arphax: You're outside now, on the other side of the hill that abuts the barn.
Sonadora holds her lighted staff near the entrance of the tunnel.
Geyer: Did he make it?
GM: It looks like he did - you can see the light at the end.
Geyer: Just goes outside...no den at all.
Sonadora: I hope Ranja's alright. This just seems so strange.
->Arphaxad: You can make out some tracks in the slush and mud outside the other end of the hole.
Geyer: Some poor bastard will have ta do without a guard badger now. Ah well, maybe next time.
Geyer: Guess we should go outside.
Arphaxad: Where are they, they should come out here...
Sonadora: Should we take the tunnel?
Arphaxad: I'd hate to run into a pack of those demon badgers
Arphaxad tries to follow the tracks with his eyes.
Arphaxad: Search [1d20+3 = 8]
Geyer: I'll never fit. The wizard barely did, and he's a twig.
Sonadora sighs and nods, not looking forward to another hazardous climb.
Sonadora: Climb [1d20+1 = 21]
->Arphaxad: You lose track of them when they go off of the slush and snow.
Arphaxad begins to walk around the hill , thinking to himself...that ox will never get through the tunnel
Geyer: Climb [1d20-1 = 6]
Sonadora skips up the incline with no problem, barely disburbing any of the rocks.
Geyer, you climb up with some effort again, but you reach the top.
You follow the logical route of the tunnel through the hill, and see Arphaxad peering intently at the ground.
Sonadora kneels down and searches for the tracks.
Arphaxad: Look -
Arphaxad points to the tracks.
Sonadora: Survival [1d20+11 = 17]
You can make out the tracks going into the woods, the softer ground making it easier to follow.
Sonadora follows the tracks, moving silently.
Arphaxad: Lets go, before it starts to get dark.
Sonadora: Move silently [1d20+5 = 9]
Two sets of tracks, the back paws a bit more firmly planted in the ground. Four legs. Looks like theyre the once-badger tracks alright.
Geyer follows Dora, much less silently.
The tracks lead towards town, and you reach a hill near the burnt area of land you fought in just last night.
Geyer: This place has a taste fer magic, don't it?
Sonadora: It looks like the demons and the lightning creatures might have been related.
Arphaxad casts Detect magic
You can even see the burnt and withered tree where the lightning struck - ah the memories.
You notice a small burrow, about three feet in diameter, stretching underneath the roots of a tree. It's just big enough that one of you can get inside to look.
Sonadora kneels down and cautiously looks inside, just knowing her face is going to get eaten off.
You peer into the burrow and do your best to not block the light. As you peer into the darkness of the space, you make out the bodies of four baby badgers, ravaged and torn apart. Beside them are the remains of several squirrels, some torn apart and some left alone.
END SESSION