Chapter 1: From the Darkness

[Basil_Bottletop]

Hektor Redgrove

 

He hadn't a word for it, but the creature quickly coming within arm's reach of him felt both familiar and alien at a balance that Hektor could not quite fathom. If it had been the human-like appendages or movements, he thought he could easily ignore it. It was something else. Something cerebral.

His gaze never wavered, but something inside his heart did. He wasn't sure how or why, but he could feel his justification for bloodshed wholly solidify within him. Fear was still bombarded him and he couldn't shake the feeling of his own impeding doom, but he at least had his resolve.

Silver, slithering words rolled off Hektor's tongue. Old habits drew out of him, pulling on emotions he'd put away for what felt like a lifetime like new growth on a fallen oak tree.

"The Nine Hells can have you!" He cursed.

 

 

Actions

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 20 by Basil_Bottletop (see edit history)

[Peacemonger]

No one dares to rush head first in, but most of the group does inch closer, gets within charging range. Sheshi though immediate offers a prayer to Leaf and a radiant flame begins to burn near the creature. It ducks, and its movement are as jarring as its appearance. Its less like a person, or even animal, and more like a marionette. Its limb jerk violently in short bursts as it avoids the blinding burst of divine energy, but it is not so quick as to avoid two bolts that sinks deep into it. Gouts of dark ichor spill from it, a similar oily color that matched the stains on Hektor's rookery, at Belluin's home.

The creature's head starts to snap and pop as regards to villagers coming towards it.

"sssssssRAAAAAAAGH!" Like leaking air spilling into a sound of pain it is a cornered animal ready to lunge forward.

OOC

PCs are up. Then a couple NPC allies rolled high enough. Then the monster.

To make the narrative easier, monster's AC is 12 to help people see whether they hit or miss. It is within charge range of everyone, can move 25' or 30' and use an action to attack.

 

Edited February 10 by Peacemonger (see edit history)

[Craigmacc]

Bellamy "Ames" Woodcock

The sudden appearance of radiant fire by the creature has Bellamy hoping that this will be over quickly, that it will burn like summer twigs. But of course not. Its erratic jerky movements only shovel more fear into his gut.

He squeezes his knife tighter, his hand numb from the action. He flinches as bolts whislte by him, and stumbles on when he sees that they have struck the beast. Some instinct tells him to move, to close the distance and cut the thing's throat while it is reeling. He is already by it by the time regret hits. His mind can't fathom the smell, the scratchy breaths. It is all too much.

He strikes out blindly, quite literally as his eyes are closed. He feels nothing, no resistance as his blade misses but quite a way.

A distant part of him is relieved that he has not touched it.

 

[Basil_Bottletop]

Hektor Redgrove

 

With the volley coming in from behind, Hektor is less reluctant to engage too closely. He uses his staff as a warding weapon, prodding and poking at the creature and doing his best to keep it from hiding behind the tall trees that surround them.

"Draw it out, keep it contained!" He shouted. He planted his feet, but already they felt wobbly and unsure. His palms were clammy and he was afraid he'd drop his staff if he wasn't holding it with both hands.

 

 

Actions

Help Action: Allowing one of the archers ADV on their next attack.

 

 

 

 

[Peacemonger]

Bellamy misses the monster. Viktor steps forward, strongest man in the village. He brings down his axe in a larger cleaving motion and the abomination slips by. For a split second, everything seems grim, and all hold their breath as if to wait for this thing to claim its first victim.

And then another crossbow bolt lands into its chest. And the a sickle carves deep into its neck, and dagger sticks into its back, and a club crashes down on its crown. Whatever this thing is, whatever it was, it could not match the ferocity of so many of Hearth's finest, hunted down, cornered, and overwhelmed. The strange being collapses, more black ichor spilling onto the ground. Viktor may have missed a moving target, but now that it's down, he kneels over and with two swift chops severs the head from the body to make certain.

All is silent. A thing no one presente have ever witnessed... an unnatural being that simply should not be... now lays dead at their feet.

Edited February 22 by Peacemonger (see edit history)

[Basil_Bottletop]

Hektor Redgrove

 

The exertion had been brief, but sweat spilled out of Hektor's bare forehead. He tasted it on his lips, but he barely noticed. His attention wholly on the strange being lying dead at their collective feet. Hektor didn't even flinch when Viktor got to his hacking, instead just he stared with mortified curiosity at its form.

He didn't realize until the world went quiet that he was holding his staff so tight that it was hurting his hands. He had to concentrate to tell his hands to loosen their grip, and when he did that he was afraid the staff would fall out of them completely.

This wasn't the first time Hektor had been called upon to such extremes. He could count on two hands the amount of times he'd been a part of bloodshed. Twice was enough to desensitize a man. This was different. The thing laid out before him like a hunted deer was not man, not beast, nor like anything he'd seen before. He couldn't even quite grasp that this might be the thing that destroyed his aviary.

"What... what is it?" He finally asked after his breath and limbs steadied.

 

 

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[Peacemonger]

With the monster dead, it takes some time for people to collect themselves, and it's decided to bring the creature to the temple, where perhaps some of the divine can offer some sort of protection for the group. The thing upon close examination looks human at its base, but its head, its hands, its feet have blackened and twisted into something far stranger.

And a chill reaches the group as a few scars here, and birthmark there on the torso remind them of one Patrick Rispa, husband of Leanora, who went missing months ago with only his axe covered in blood. Clearly whatever this was, it was not Patrick, but something... something done to him.

For now though, the monster terrorizing them is dead. It begs the question... what did this to him, and is it still out there? A cold breeze slips into the temple as all know that Hearth has far from seen its last threat, its peace now shattered. And yet, the people are aware, they are armed, and ready to defend themselves against the unknown terrors that come from the darkness.

A gruff Dwarf has saved his sister, ensuring she has a chance at a good, long life...

A young love has been realized, bound together by friendship, attraction, and now the need to find a missing mother...

A priestess meant to leave her community after her time is ending now commits to staying for good or ill as she cannot leave them in their time of need...

And a scholar, a teacher, an unspoken leader of the community has taken the first important steps to rallying the good folk of Hearth, a leadership they will need in the days to come...