The wild, wild North... a glow is seen

[DM Bob]

Kem is the only one to see the threat well enough.

She's seen these in the rocky barrens before. Rock cacti. Pretty tasty and hold a decent amount of water. Looking about? Seems like the entire side of this hill is specked with 'em. Means you'll have to pick a side: right/north or left/south to go about and greet the camp if that remains your intent.

Kem and Kri-kcht stop, but Hurk gets another volley for his troubles... it is now obvious they are shooting quills, except for that odd one that latched onto the goliath's leg. Once the life drain is used? It drops. [19 more damage. One more Wisdom check -2 this round.]

Might be smart to move out of range of the patch.

[Attilius]

She grinds her teeth while touching the odd barb & more spines stuck in her and draws their life force into her...
[Life force drain: 19 hp this round
PsP's -42
HP -11]

She quickly retraces her steps back to Kem & Kri [Wis 18-2, rolled 5]
"DO NOT GO THAT WAY!" She hisses. "Kri, what's your tracking say pathwise? use Kem's night sight to help us find the safest route around this hill AND PATCH... Maybe we use the road their sail carts have made?"

[Niachi]

Laakh's check in:

Mindlink to Kem:

<Status?>

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Kem nods to HurK - I'm not good, neither a scout, but I'll check out a few feet away. Wait here - Kem moves as stealthy as possible, using her camouflage skills and tunic to meld with the environment

[OOC: Do I roll Dex?]

[remie]

Kri-kcht leads them out of the patch towards the track.

[DM Bob]

Kri-kcht is the only one with stealth-based class skills.

You can always roll a die without asking. I'll either accept or not accept the roll.

The kreen assumes the track would've been from the south. But it's dark and there might be mixed trail sign.

Hurk can only drain 15 HP from the target he attacked. Due to his using a psionic ability - he moves half his rate... and coupled with the 7 he rolled for me off to the side vs. the 3 for init from my spiky buddies...

Multiple other spines strike the giant target as he retreats. [For an additional 12 damage. One more save vs. Wis -2, please.]

[Attilius]

[16, Rolled 6]
"LET'S GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE!" she hisses

[DM Bob]

There are over 20 cactus needles riddling Tarek-Hurkette's lower body and legs.

Frickin' hurts.

But hey, you were pretty quiet at least.

It'll take a few rounds to walk the rest of the way about the hill.

[Niachi]

Mindlink to next random walker trio, rolled a d6:
Kem again, need 16, rolled 15. -7 PSPs.

<checking in, hello Kem>

[Attilius]

Hurkette leaves the needles in for now and takes the rear position of the trio as she limps along. "I miss the cerebrum. I at least enjoyed when Master Gitmog kicked my ass..." she mumbles to herself. She keeps her eyes AND ears open to their rear 180.

[PsP's -42
HP -27]

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Kem gets somehow surprised as she hears a known voice in her head, first time use of Contact <Hi Laakh, we nearly step further into a cacti spot but luckily we were able to move away. How are you all there?> but that doesn't stop her for looking in the distance with her darkvision, looking for any unusual spot

[OOC: Bob, I'm not sure if in your game, darkvision is as daylight or thermal, but I'm looking for either physical creatures or thermal changes that may indicate life]

[Niachi]

Laakh relays the news to those at their camp.

<Oi be alert out there. I will check in with the others soon. Nothing to report here. Yet...>

[DM Bob]

You turn the hill to greet the camp.

They are, in fact, very surprised at your appearance. You see what looks to be a dozen scattered, ramshackle wind carts parked about a moderate-sized campfire (like a western, the wagons all in a circle). Some twenty-odd ragged adults - men, women and a half dozen dirty children look grim as they sit amongst themselves. They're human for the most part.

They are eating roasted meat, kes'trekel, if Laahk saw correctly.

Mismatched bows are propped everywhere, easy to reach. One woman, a mul, screams, "SLAVERS!". Throwing her meat into the fire, she moves to grab a bow that was sitting next to her. The others wide-eyed, begin scurrying for weapons as well.

You have a short time to win them over.

[Attilius]

May 29, 2021 13:57:24 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

One woman, a mul, screams, "SLAVERS!". Throwing her meat into the fire, she moves to grab a bow that was sitting next to her. The others wide-eyed, begin scurrying for weapons as well.

The female Tarek raises her free arm high in the arm, hand splayed open, while still holding the food and water in the other. "whoa! Whoa! WHOA! EVERYONE TAKE IT EASY! We are NOT slavers! We come bringing food and water." she slowly shows the bundle in her arm "We saw your camp light, stumbled into a Rock cacti patch on the other side of the hill..." she carefully points down at her pin cushioned leg "and wanted to say hello... and maybe trade information. THAT'S IT!"

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Kem also shows up as HurK said 'we' and as her stealth is null. The red-haired half-elf hides her weapons in an attempt to not look intimidating and avoid the triggering of a combat, then she stands up, showing empty hands and waving to the group - We mean no harm to you - adds to Hurk's talk, in an attempt to calm reactions aswell