CH 2: Two Heads are Better

[HorizonsDream]

"Hey!" Echo screams out towards the creature. "I thought you were going to get me? I guess you are about as stupid as you are ugly!" she taunts. ~This is probably a very bad idea,~ she thinks to herself as she points the wand at the fire nearby. "Fira," she says.

Initi Roll (9)

[JadedDM]

The Pharise lobs another small ball of flame at the giant, and it bursts on impact. But the old man's spell doesn't seem to be doing much more than singing a monster of that size.

While Gimog seeks cover by the tents with the pilgrims, Nuvain moves closer and hurls another stone, but doesn't come close to hitting. He crouches down and waits for a chance to get closer to Hollidan without the monster noticing.

"Hey!" says one of the monsters' heads to the other. "She call you ugly."

"What?!" demands the second head. "Me step on her good!"

"'Kay," replies the first, and the giant starts to stomp right toward Echo menacingly.

Echo waits for the right moment, then points the wand toward the fireplace and speaks the command word. The campfire bursts into a bright light, then goes out entirely. But the giant was able to cover both sets of his eyes in time to avoid being blinded. It then glares down at her with both heads angrily.

==============

Initiative
Echo (1d10+2): 11
Gimog (1d10): 8
Hollidan (N/A)
Nuvain (1d10+6): 9
Pharise (1d10+5): 6
Pilgrims (1d10): 3
Monster (1d10+6): 10

Round 5!

Pilgrims move away from the monster.
Pharise throws a ball of fire at the monster (1d20): 13, hit for (1d4+1): 2 damage.
Gimog moves 20 feet toward cover.
Nuvain moves 30 feet to the southeast and slings a stone at the monster (1d20): 2, miss.
Monster moves 60 feet toward Echo.
Echo expends 1 charge of the Wand of Fire to cast Pyrotechnics on the fireplace. The fireplace bursts into a big blast of light, and is quickly extinguished.
----Monster makes a saving throw vs. spell (1d20): 16, pass. The monster is not blinded.
Hollidan bleeds out 1 HP.

(OOC: Welp...actions and initiative for Round 6?)

[HorizonsDream]

~Yeah, depend on other people. I'll get right on that Gonto,~ Echo thinks to herself as she points the wand at the creature. "Fire!" she cries out.

Init Roll (7)
Dmg Roll (14)

[JadedDM]

The wand blasts the giant with a quick burst of flame. It leaps back again, avoiding the worst of it, but still taking a few minor burns. "Dat hurts!" it cries. "Stop dat!" It swings its claw at Echo, knocking her a good ten feet away. She cracks her head against the ground on impact, and everything goes black.

"Is she alive?" comes a voice from the ether. Echo is only barely aware of it.

"Do what you can..," the voice says. Warmth floods Echo's body, and she falls back asleep.

When she comes to again, she is back in her tent. It's darker now--the sun is starting to set. Her head rings from the massive trauma it took, and when she touches it, she finds it bandaged up. She is alone in the tent, and the wand is now missing.

==============

Initiative
Echo (1d10+3): 8
Gimog (N/A)
Hollidan (N/A)
Nuvain (1d10+5): 9
Pharise (1d10+5): 14
Pilgrims (1d10): 6
Monster (1d10+6): 9

Round 6!

Pilgrims move away from the monster.
Echo expends a charge from the Wand of Fire to cast Burning Hands at the monster for (1d3+12): 14 damage.
----Monster saves vs. spell (1d20): 17, pass. It takes half (7) damage.
Nuvain moves 50 feet south and casts Cure Light Wounds on Hollidan, automatically restoring him to 1 HP.
Monster moves 5 feet toward Echo and then swings his left claw at her (1d20): 12, hit for (1d4+4): 7 damage. Echo falls.
Pharise hurls another ball of flame at the monster (1d20): 10, miss.

End combat.

[HorizonsDream]

Echo rubs the bandage a little bit and winces as she looks around the tent. She tries to remember exactly what happened, but she remembers is being knocked out. With a sigh, she slowly stands, realizing she is a bit hungry, and exits the tent.

[JadedDM]

The campsite is in disarray. The fireplace that she put out is not burning again. Many of the pilgrims are huddled around it. They have looks of despair upon their once hopeful faces. Some are crying, others simply appear in shock.

Not far from the fireplace she sees the Pharise. He is talking in low tones with Hollidan, Gimog, Nuvain, Argis and Cadegund. Hollidan and Gimog seem all healed up now, perfectly fine.

The giants are not seen in any direction, but Echo notices there seem to be slightly fewer pilgrims than there were before.

[HorizonsDream]

Echo frowns slightly before she steps back inside the tent. She takes a few bites to eat from her own rations and some of her own water before she makes her way towards the Pharise and the others.

[JadedDM]

"It's suicide," the Pharise says as Echo approaches.

"Not if we're careful. We won't engage them directly. I'll take a small team, and we'll stick to the shadows. We'll follow their tracks, move in, rescue the prisoners, and get out," Hollidan says.

"It would be better if I go," Argis says.

"No, you're needed here to protect the others," Hollidan argues. "Only nine were taken, but someone must stay behind to guard the other twenty-one."

"You sure about this, Hollidan?" asks Cadegund, crossing her arms.

Hollidan nods. "They likely have a lair nearby here. If we catch them off their guard, we have a chance."

"Those prisoners may well be dead by now anyway," Argis points out.

"I'm not going to accept that. Not until I see their bodies for myself," Hollidan responds firmly.

[HorizonsDream]

"What exactly is the plan, other than surprising those things?" Echo asks. "You can't outright attack them."

[JadedDM]

"Echo?" Hollidan and the others turn toward her, surprised.

"You're awake, I see," the Pharise says. He places a hand on her shoulder and says a prayer to Gonto, completely healing her wounds. "You showed great courage today. Not much sense, but plenty of courage."

"I know we can't win in a direct fight," Hollidan says. "That's why we're going to avoid fighting if we can. But we have to try. One of the pilgrims they took was just a little girl, Echo."

=========

The Pharise casts Cure Light Wounds on Echo, restoring (1d8): 5 HP. Echo is fully healed.

[HorizonsDream]

Echo looks at the Pharise, surprised by his praise. "You said not to hurt the pilgrims, so I was limited on the things I could do with that wand," she explains before she turns back to Hollidan. "Without knowing what their lair looks like, detailed plans can't be made just yet," she says. "Though, they aren't very smart. The simplest of insults is enough to set him off. Fire seems to be the only thing that really hurts them in the end."

[JadedDM]

"We don't have much in the way of fire, which is why we'll have to avoid fighting them directly," Hollidan admits.

"Well, there is this," the Pharise says, holding out the wand. "But nobody here can use it other than Miss Soulstaff. Whether she wants to risk her life or not to take this mission is up to her, though."

[HorizonsDream]

"Who else makes up this rescue team?" Echo asks.

[JadedDM]

"Nuvain and Gimog are coming with me," Hollidan says, gesturing to each in turn. "Everyone else is either too injured or needs to stay and guard the remaining pilgrims."

[HorizonsDream]

"You're going to need all the help you can get, so I'll come along," Echo says.