LoF: The Carrion King; Day Five

[Benji]

“Katja? If you would be so kind...” Laron murmurs to his hawk, sending it high into the sky above the harpy to watch it's progress.

He then turns to Erin, launching into teacher mode. “Often viewed as vicious and corrupted creatures, harpies know how creatures think and act. This understanding gives them an advantage when it comes to finding their favorite meals. While creatures of the wild easily fall victim to their captivating songs, these vile bird-women prefer their meals spiced with complex sentient thoughts. Easy prey makes for a boring meal.

While ultimately savage and without remorse for their actions, a number of harpies live close to humanoid societies and enjoy parlaying with creatures that they see as potential meals.

Harpies tend to wear baubles and trinkets stolen from their victims, as they like to indulge in the shiny ornaments of mankind. Up close, these creatures reek with the stench of consumed victims, and they rarely let creatures not yet captivated too near, lest they smell the gore and decay upon their feathers. For this reason, many harpies wear perfumes and scented oils.

Harpies appear wildly different in different lands. Some seem like an amalgam of vultures and women, while others bear the regal markings of hawks or falcons in their feathers. Rare clutches of harpies in isolated and tropical parts of the world even have colorful feathers akin to parrots.”

He takes a breather before thinking some more. “As for there song, I believe that everyone who lacks the will to resist it will fall captivated under the harpies spell, unwilling to do much other than watch it kill them.”

[Arpat]

Erin listens patiently to the explanation, knowing that details can save her life.
“"Thanks, for the details. "”She continues “"it went int the enemy's camp so i guess there is no harm in assuming it an enemy..."”
Erin looks at the other members...
“"maybe we should check it out and scout a little to see what it is doing there... it can't be good... but we need something to make sure we are not prey to her singing voice."”Erin grabs some animal fat and bread and makes something sticky.“"That goes for you to Ox, i don't want to see you become prey..."”
Erin prepares to leave and scout as she remembers something “"we should use handsignals to communicate when we are in combat, unless someone knows another way to make sure the hary can't attack us with her voice..."”
Erin waits until a decision is taken by the majority of the members.

[Duniagdra]

Garavel has been silent for some time. First watching as the creature circled above, then as it left to the battle market and perched there for a moment before going to the building near the old mill.

“I don't like it. Harpies don't just scout prey and leave. It's likely our presence is known now by the gnolls there. This is not good.”


After some time of keeping watch on Kelmarane and nothing comes of the harpy the mercs grow relax. In fact, nothing does come of it. The day goes by uneventful. Almah's beside herself in where to go now. She's not sure yet that you're ready for an assault on the battle market. The day soon turns to evening and the sun eventually falls beyond the horizon.

Eventually there's a call from outside. It's one of the mercenary patrols circling the monastery. It's Dullen. When the six of you join him, Brotis is there, looking out to Kelmarane. She points.
“Torches. Five of them. Coming this way.” she says.

Looking out into the night you see them. Five torches steadily making their way to the monastery from the direction of Kelmarane, but slightly to the west of the town. They're still a good way off.

“This is very odd.” Garavel says as he seems to drift in thought. “If they were to attack, they'd go without torches I think. Unless they wish for us to underestimate their numbers and they have more than five out there.”

[Arpat]

“"i can scout them. i am quite sure i can do it without bieng seen, i'll keep my distance and report back as soon as possible..."”
Erin drops her gear except for the starknife and two daggers in her belt.

stealth for scouting the 5 torches (1d20+13=19)

[Benji]

After Erin leaves, Laron turns to Garavel. “There could be any number of reasons for torches. It can fool darkvision, it could be a trap, it could be attackers without darkvision. It could even be escaped prisoners, although I doubt they'd be foolish enough to anounce their whereabouts so brazenly. We should wait for Erin to return before deciding a course of action.”

[Duniagdra]

It's about an hour and a half since Erin slipped off into the darkness. By this time everyone has come out to see. Eventually Erin returns with news and the torches are now only a quarter mile off.

[Arpat]

Suddenly appearing in front of Ox.... with a big grin on her face she brings out report:
“"5 gnolls are heading this way... they are hiding from the city, but they probably don't know we are here yet. we can surprise them if we are quick!"”

[admin]

Ox bluffs Erin in making her think she was successful in surprising him by acting a bit startled

Grinning, he says “Well, I think we should lay a trap for them - perhaps making sure they see me, while the others are hidden on the sides?”

[larenee]

“Agreed, let's take them on before they get here. Erin, did you notice a particularly good ambush spot during your scouting run?”

[Duniagdra]

“Agreed, let's take them on before they get here. Erin, did you notice a particularly good ambush spot during your scouting run?”

Erin shakes her head indicating she did not notice anyplace other than here at the monastery to set up a surprise attack.

[admin]

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Did we have an overhead Map of the Monastery & surrounding area? It would be useful to see where they are coming from, and where we could take position...

[tdsprouse]

“I'm ready, where do you want me?”. Simi unsheaths his longsword and straps on his shield.

[Arpat]

Erin moves to a position opposite of Ox and it appears like she moves out of sight (stealth).
THINKING: from this position they probably pass me and then i can attack them from behind...
she makes sure to ox that he knows she is opposite of him.

[larenee]

“We need to get moving so we can find a good ambush spot. We don't want them to get here and find our own camp.”

[Arpat]

“"there is no time and no point in moving, make sure to kill them all, who cares that they find the camp."”