DF Novices, Team-A, Session 74 - Diary of Merrill Tangled Tail

     Here is a summary for last week's session by the player of Merrill. As always, I am giving out an Impulse Point to any player who writes a summary for the blog.

Session Date:    Tuesday 23 April 2024

Party roster:

Ben, half-ogre barbarian, 176 points (PC)
Doran Longbeard
, dwarf warrior (knight), 202 points (PC)
Eleanor Bayley, human thief, 233 points (PC)
Dagne Timar, human priestess of Metallys (cleric), 147 points (NPC Hireling)
Erizax Ofaris, human wizard, 232 points (PC)
Randall, human veteran (knight), 157 points (NPC)
Maximilian "Stout" Grupher III, goblin cleric of Ishtanna, 121 points (PC)
Merrill Tangled Tail, cat-folk martial artist, 139 points (PC)
Fenn, human scout, unknown points (NPC)

Campaign Date:    10 December, Year 645 of the Vycenaean Empire.

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Diary of Merrill Tangled Tail:

When Merrill small kitten in temple, he was taught ways of Two Moons Dancing. Not words of Two Moons Dancing... Merrill knows words as well as other novice, that also important, but he always more happy learning practical art of Two Moons. And when Merrill younger than now, and even more foolish than now, he say that he only fight with claw and paw, knee and elbow, tooth and tail. Masters explain to Merrill, often by means of practical art, that there great wisdom in learning not only forms of Little Moon Waxing which is gentle way, and Big Moon Rising which is hard way, but also way of Bright Scholar, which is also hard way but from distance. Masters say, until Merrill big and strong, it safer for all if he learn how to fight with big stick. Walk softly, and carry big stick. That is way of Two Moons.

There many times in months not long ago that Merrill grateful to Master Lashki for convincing him to learn ways of Bright Scholar. Friends also realise this, and when fight become like raging water of mountain stream, Merrill told to find big rock that is Ben or small rock that is Doran, and become like sting of scorpion tail. And this Merrill do... until, one day, Merrill big and strong. Today not that day.

Today fight is not like raging water of mountain stream, but like fall of snow from mountainside. And when snow come roaring down side of mountain, it always best to get out of way, to not be where snow wants to go. Where snow go, there nothing left but solid trees. Bowed and bent, yes, but not broken.

Today there no chance for Merrill to be sting of scorpion tail. Friend Doran and friend Ben on other side of line that thin, with only ridge behind backs. Today, Merrill must be like tree against snow from mountainside.

Like snow that angry, zombies they come first for Merrill and Erizax, and seconds later slam into Ben and Doran and Randall and Eleanor. It good that little Stout, brave Dagne and Fenn who shoot bow like lightning bolt, they all behind line. Ben and Doran, they big trees with deep roots. Eleanor she tree that sway and bend but never break. Merrill must be like tree now, and stand line, and this Merrill can do. But Merrill more worried for Erizax the wise, who not at all like tree but stand like bush of thorns. Erizax also know way of staff... it not way of Bright Scholar, but it effective.

It good thing about staff that it possible to stay away from enemy. It also good thing that it not matter if enemy close enough to swing sword, staff still persuasive argument. And since Merrill learn secrets of Art of Ten Tigers, he also quick as quick.

Quicker, and this surprise Merrill, than Eleanor the swift. Quicker than Doran, who use axe as if it part of arm. Merrill strike with speed of two scholars, rapid as moonlight, and more time than not they strikes that land. But zombies, they carrying sword and shield, and it shield that get in way of attack many time. Still, it good to see that when Merrill thump shield of zombie coming for him, it leave dents in wood. Merrill also make dents in zombie when shield not get in way, but it seem zombie does not care. That... that not good sign.

Soon line take step back, together, jumping down off ridge. Now zombies they higher, and there ridge that run along right flank of Merrill. There small mountain of zombies dead again in front of Doran and Ben and when they step back off ridge, mountain so big it getting in way of other zombies. One day Merrill will be strong as Doran. Not strong as Ben, Merrill certain that not possible, but stronger than Merrill is now. And then zombie will care when Merrill thump it. Again and again! By Lomarr's mighty beard, why zombie not fall down already?!

There flash of steel and Erizax reel away with blood on robes. Now there gap in line and zombies coming across ledge to right of Merrill. Dagne step in, and Merrill can feel odd sensation of magic cast on him. Then sword come for Merrill and he suddenly find it easier to push sword away with staff, although sword coming from above because zombies now on ledge where Merrill and Erizax stand few seconds ago.

From things Merrill hearing, Ben and Doran running out of zombies, and now defending against bandits who care more about axes than zombies and fall down much quicker. Doran suddenly excited... perhaps he seen old friend? There glimpse of armour in back of group of bandits, perhaps it bandit who get away from desperate fight few days ago?

One bandit shout "We kill you all!". Merrill shout back that, yes "You will try.". Because now Merrill confident. It true, zombies at Merrill's end of line they still standing, but they standing and not going anywhere, but thumped again and again by Merrill and Erizax, and unable to get past Dagne, who now very tall tree that not move even slightest.

But there one lesson Merrill always learn hard way, and that lesson that it never good idea to tempt Fates. Especially not when gods have shown displeasure with Merrill many times in few days. So just as Merrill feeling confident, it seem as if sword of zombie suddenly not where sword should be, and it get past staff. It hurt. There no reason to pretend Merrill not badly hurt, and Merrill stagger back to open distance with zombie.

While taking stance of Defiant Truth, which intended to fend off attack of unenlightened, Merrill can see Eleanor pull scroll from scroll case, quick as quick. Then Doran run over and stand where Merrill stood. It leave gap in line, yes, but it also close gap in line that Merrill made by getting away from zombie.

Eleanor chant words on scroll, and Merrill suddenly feel much much better. Then Dagne also chant words, asking God Metallis to heal wounds of Merrill.

Merrill will be honest. He expecting Metallis to say 'No' like Ishtanna few days ago, and strike down Merrill. But it not happen. No, Merrill suddenly feel better than better, as good as Merrill feel when entering cave! So Merrill return to fight, hitting bandit that escape fight of few days ago from behind boulder that is Doran. Hitting only shield, yes, but denting shield, and bandit suddenly step back in surprise. There many people who underestimate range of Bright Scholar, and Merrill thinking it first time bandit ever been struck by Bright Scholar with speed of Raging Tiger!

From corner of eyes, Merrill see Ben struck in face, but stand ground. Then Dagne call on Metallis to heal Ben, and... 

... So, Merrill not know what Ben do that offend gods. It seem impossible to Merrill for man who gentle like Ben to ever offend gods, but Merrill also know that sometimes gods in bad mood. That why temple never take sides in matters that divine, and worship all gods and none at same time. But this time Metallis say 'no' and strike down Ben.

Then tide of zombies and bandits flow over Ben. Merrill can hear Stout chanting words of spell and he not certain what little Stout do, but feeling more... solid. Merrill now feel like solid oak.

So as Ben stand up again, Merrill stand behind until Doran pursue bandit. Quick as quick, Merrill turn to bandit that now on ledge on right flank and strike swiftly.

Shield get in way, yes, but shield also shatter. Merrill can tell, bandit very surprised about that.

Fight now again like raging water in mountain stream, but Merrill now stand like tall tree.

Bowed, yes, but not broken.

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