DF Novices, Team-A, Session 75 - 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.
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:
There time when Merrill young kitten in Temple, he walking to nearest town with Master Lirram who very old. On way there is stream from mountains that cut across path, and place where it safe to cross stream marked with old stones that put there long long time ago, in time of Master Lomarr. It bright day, and it time when Big Moon chase Little Moon, and Merrill not find question yet to ask. But at moment when Master Lirram guide Merrill through stream to other bank, question came sudden and simple. So Merrill ask of Lirram, who old and know everything, why stones in river round? All around there other stones and rocks, they all in many many shapes, and Merrill certain stones placed in river same stones that nearby. So why stones in river are round? Lirram smile and nod head, meaning it good question to ask, and explain to Merrill that stones placed in rapid stream, they eventually all round, because that is best shape for rock in river to remain in place. He say it because it water, that soft and light, it shape rock through years. It not only things that hard that shape other things say Master Lirram, things that soft shape other things too but it take longer. He say to Merrill it better to be as water when possible, and like rock when necessary.
Merrill nodded but did not understand lesson.
Merrill understand now.
Fight in cave now rage like mountain stream, and Merrill strike where he can to keep flank of line. Bandit that lost shield to Merrill's strike try to defend himself from Erizax and Merrill, but staff of Erizax the wise and Merrill hit bandit hard and bandit collapse. That good thing, yes yes, but now there zombie coming where bandit stood. Merrill thinking Erizax and Dagne they can take care of zombie, and turn to follow Ben who taking fight to bandits that rapidly falling back.
On other side of cave, so close that Merrill can hear ring of axe on shields and swish of arrows through air, Doran breaking through line of bandits with effort that effortless. It at that moment words of Master Lirram come back to Merrill... rocks in water they round because that is best shape for rock in raging stream. Ben and Doran, they strong, and they stand like rock in stream, and so when water flow around them they shape that is best to stand in raging stream. Ben usually so gentle, but Merrill see him crack shields with terrifying blows and fell bandits with ease. Doran always friendly and happy, but when fighting Doran snarl like thing that always angry and cut through enemies with ease that easy. But Merrill notice that Ben always strike hardest when hitting shield... when hitting people, Ben never strike so hard. Beneath all, Ben still gentle. Of that Merrill is certain, yes yes.
Then come moment when zombie attack Ben and Ben send sword of zombie flying. That normally good thing. But zombie keep coming, and Ben step back. Further and further, because zombie keep coming, and Ben never strike too hard when hitting things that alive or look alive or have shape of thing that alive. So Ben suddenly pushed back. Far, far back.
It Merrill who step in place and attack bandits. Bandits retreating quick as quick after Eleanor the swift shoot leader of bandit in face with crossbow from across cave, and Fenn shooting zombies and bandits quick as quick can. But when Merrill step forward to become rock in raging stream, it seem gods still not forgotten that Merrill strayed from path. Merrill strike with strike of Bright Scholar and speed of Raging Tiger, but bandit stumble out of way at last moment and staff hits wall of cave. For horrible moment, Merrill feel staff bend and know that soon staff break so he let go of staff. It fly out of Merrill's hands and land on floor of cave next to bandit. Water it soft, but it shape rock. Merrill still have rough edges that not smooth yet, and water still smoothing Merrill.
For moment Merrill angry like... like rock that angry. But from corner of eye, Merrill also see Dagne and Erizax struggling with zombie that on flank which was responsibility of Merrill. So Merrill run back, into back of zombie, and for first time combine technique of Big Moon Rising with speed of Raging Tiger. Merrill so angry, he using claws. If zombie notice that Merrill shredded back, it not show on what left of face. But moment later zombie fall over and stop moving. And Merrill calm again.
Calmer.
Less like rock that angry.
Across cave, Ben finish zombie. Fenn shoot again and bandit that near Merrill's staff fall down. Doran run forward and challenge four bandits, and few moments later, Doran's shield look like it falling apart. Somewhere in fight, little shield of Eleanor it also fall apart and it in pieces on floor of cave. Merrill retrieve staff and see that there bandit giving healing potion to leader. On way to help Doran, Merrill strike bandit that helping leader and bandit stagger away, then falls.
In moment it seem fight over. There only two bandits left and they being surrounded by friends. Doran stood as boulder in stream, and it seem water not shape Doran more... there nothing to shape. But then Fenn shout 'Behind!' and shoot bandit. Now there only one. It moment that confusing, and Merrill used to students and Masters that sneaky and attack in back when sparring, so he put back against wall quick as quick. Bandit do same, but Doran step forward and cut down bandit. It is then that Merrill see thing moving on other side of cave. Behind Ben.
It Erizax who shout to Ben that there thing behind, but Eleanor and Merrill already running. It seem Merrill not quick enough to strike down bandit who giving healing potion to leader, because leader standing up and leader angry. But leader now last bandit remaining, and quickly surrounded.
Eleanor the swift finish fight. With crossbow! One moment leader of bandits fighting Ben, next moment there arrow of crossbow hitting him directly in place where Merrill think is human heart. Leader of bandits fall at last, and there no bandits remaining. No zombies.
What fight!
It normal after fight for Merrill to lay down and have nap. It sensible! But Merrill thinking in this case, since Gods already angry with Merrill, it better to make extra effort. So Merrill and Ben scout rest of cave, while rest of friends look after friends. In one cave we find boxes and barrels, and much coin loose on ground. Much much coin. So Merrill and Ben tell Eleanor about coins. She best with coins, yes yes, and know what do with many many coins. Then Ben and Merrill go into other corridor, where there no light except for magic light that with Ben. It strange corridor that end in chamber that big but empty. It cold and it damp, so Merrill say to Ben we leave quick quick, yes yes.
When Ben and Merrill return to main room of cave, there discussion about what do with coin, where stay for night, what do with backpacks... It go in one of Merrill's ears and out of other. Merrill go to get backpacks with Ben and Eleanor, but then there more discussion about swords and shields and other things. So Merrill decide it now time for nap.
Luckily there bedrolls around warm fire in cave. First Merrill check which bedroll look softest and warmest. Then Merrill check that in bedroll there no vermin or fleas... it inconvenient for humans and others who have no fur, but for Merrill fleas much bigger problem! But there no vermin in bedroll, so Merrill go to sleep. Mrrr, warm...
Merrill does not know how long he sleep or how long he dream. But suddenly there feeling that very very familiar and for moment Merrill think he back in Temple and not hear morning bell. There shouting, and Merrill suddenly awake as there boot of Randall in side to encourage Merrill to get up. It not take long, Merrill used to getting up in hurry and preparing for things when not awake completely. So staff in hands, Merrill run to entrance of cave. There movement there!
Whatever out there, it coming to cave, and it big. Big as Ben, and much much wider. And it not alone...
Ugh, why Merrill must wake up from pleasant dream into nightmare?
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