Shadow War campaign In-Game: Chapter 71- Fash and Tren

[Navarre]

Scimitars and a night cleaver the size of an ogre's machete slide from their sheathes at your warning. The giant at least understands this and he picks up a log in passing as Munir loads a bolt into his crossbow.

Serena moves to place herself in the middle of the group, using the bodies of her allies as her shields. Arcanum falls from her tongue and you remember just enough to know her Mage Armor spell has been invoked.

Vinnrog slows and you see him look for tracks. He takes a moment to search but then looks at you and shakes his head.

Whether there are no tracks to be found or your wilderness ally has missed them, you cannot say. But the hairs on the back of your neck tingle just the same.

[Strifeter]

Tren thinks for awhile.

"Serena any chance you could check if we are being scryed on or if there are any energy residuals around?"

[Navarre]

Serena nods and casts a couple of spells. She turns slowly in place, examining the area.

"No. I'm not detecting anything in the area nor any scrying effect."

"Something doesn't feel right though."

[Strifeter]

Tren only nods and keeps a keen eye on the treeline.

Listen and spot checks.

"Aphra do you smell anything odd nearby? How about you Vin does something seem odd about the forest to you right now."

At this point Tren pulls out Hartsong and draws an arrow.

[Navarre]

You hear nothing. The air is still yet charged with a sense of danger.

Vinnrog checks again for tracks but shakes his head. He looks through the trees.

"Everything gone," he whispers. "No birds. No squirrels. Nothing."

"Plants look okay. No blight."

"Something's scared off everything that can run, uh-huh."

Aphra sniffs the air and makes a face.

"No, something's out there. Something stinks. It's not rotten though but it's nasty."

Examining the trees closely, you notice that several of the limbs have been pushed back about eight feet off the ground. It looks as though something has made its way through the area, even though there are no tracks where the trees have been damaged.

[Strifeter]

Tren considers whats in front of him.

"What if it doesn't leave tracks on the ground. Look up there." Tren points to the broken branches. "Munir do you know of anything that could fly or at the very least float that lives around here?"

[Navarre]

Munir thinks, though not long. He nods.

"Fash."

Serena stares at him. Munir stares back.

Serena holds her hands out to her sides, palm up, and looks questioningly at the hobgoblin.

"What?" he says.

Seran sighs in exasperation.

"What the hell's a Fash?!"

Munir blinks.

"Fash is not thing. Fash is name."

"Fash is a beholder."

[Strifeter]

Tren looks down at Munir.

"Give me one good reason why you didn't tell me that before and why I shouldn't kill you for this."

[Navarre]

Munir looks at you and seems to think about running for it. But a look at the overwhelming numbers and drawn blades gives him pause.

"Fash rules edge of Gallia and south. Even Illumian's humans can't run him out."

"He protects hobgoblins because we fight for him. Me hoping he would save me from you."

[Strifeter]

Tren bears down on Munir.

"Munir if I meet this beholder and survive you will pay. We move out. As quickly as possible. NOW."

[Navarre]

You break into a near run, trying to make your way to the edge of Gallia Forest. Aphra has already told you that the end of the Gallia lies hours south and you know there is no way you will make it that far unchallenged.

But you run anyway.

Branches cut at your face, leaving streaks of blood on your cheeks, as the brambles tug at your boots. Aphra hacks feverishly with her cleaver, trying to cut any semblance of a path for you, as the half-orcs scour the trees ahead for danger.

But you know the danger is not ahead of you as you hear an alien voice behind you.

"Desecration of my temple. Enslavement of my servants. A death urge sings in your hearts and I answer."

Turning, you see a sight unlike any you've ever seen. You have heard of beholders, also known as eye tyrants, but have never come face to face with one. The face before you now is hideous beyond any devil who walked with you in Hell.

A floating orb of putrescent flesh, a full six feet in diameter, floats around a nearby tree. The "face", if it can truly be called that, is comprised of nothing more than a huge singular eye over a maw of needle-sharp teeth as long as your arm.

Rising above the sphere of slimy red flesh are the stalks for which the beholder is named. Ten stalks, each topped with a gleaming red eye, undulate in horrific fashion about the head. They twist this way and that, staring at each of you in turn.


{Tren, you are the only one with initiative over Fash. Make it count.}

[Strifeter]

Tren looks to the allies trusted in his care.

"Everyone keep going. I will buy you all time. I will meet you tonight. Serena if you could convince your hill giant to stay in the way of Fash you will have a better chance."

Tren bolts towards the monstrocity praying this isn't his end.

There is no death of my own which sings in my heart. Perhaps you should check again.

Hold my standard action until Fash speaks.

[Navarre]

{Are you wanting to move first? If so, please post your move.}

[Strifeter]

Tren moves E, E, E (15ft) to X21

[Navarre]

Fash delivers what may be construed as a smile. Dozens of needle-like teeth greet you as you approach.

"What compels you to commit suicide this day, little Elf? Have you come to entertain me?"

You see three of the waving eye stalks tilt toward you as the singular great eye fixes on your approach.

{Taking your standard action? You also still have 15 more feet you can move and take a standard action, as long as you take the move before the standard.}