Chapter 3 - Into the Wild

The small caravan has been on the road for one day now. It left Seyda Neen yesterday morning bound for Balmora, trading hub and home of the House Hlaalu, one of Morrowind's five Great Houses. The caravan's cargo includes textiles for Balmora's clothiers and an assortment of alcohol for various Balmora pubs.

The caravan itself is composed of a train of five guars, bipedal, reptilian creatures native to Vvardenfell that are often used as mounts or beasts of burden. Leading the caravan is a stocky Imperial named Miles Catraso, who seems to be perpetually sweating and wiping his forehead with a handkerchief. Accompanying Miles is his Dunmer wife, Favani, and the couple's two children. Six-year-old Emelia is bouncy and bubbly, in appearance nearly as dark grey as her mother but with pale blue eyes like her father. Ten-year-old Jerian is more serious. Tall and lanky for his age, with the red eyes of his mother but the sandy brown hair of his father, Jerian spends his time sketching his surroundings with the eye of a budding artist. While Miles, Favani, and Jerian walk, Emelia rides, perched on a guar she has named Pokey.

Hired on for the caravan as guards are Angharad, a young Bosmer woman; and Mokir'ra, an enormous Khajiit. Outlaws often waylay unsuspecting merchants as they travel along trade routes, and Angharad and Mokir'ra have been hired on to make sure the caravan reaches Balmora.

At noon, the caravan stops for lunch along the road. The path here winds among the gently sloping hills of the Ascadian Isles, a verdant, fertile region of agriculture. Trees provide shelter from the hot sun. Favani sees to the guars as Miles takes out a ledger and sweats over his accounts, pausing to jot down some notes. At length he looks up from his work. "Emelia!" he calls. "Emelia, where are you?" Not seeing his daughter, he shuts the ledger and clambers to his feet. "Favani. Have you seen Emelia? She was just here a second ago."

Favani looks over, concern in her eyes. "What do you mean, have I seen her? Jerian was supposed to be watching her. Jerian, where is your sister?"

"I dunno, Mom. She was just here." The lad is sitting, cross-legged, sketching Pokey.

His mother sighs. "Where did she run off to? That girl. Turn your head one minute, and she's climbing a tree or swimming in a pond." In a business-like manner, Favani says, "All right, Jerian. Come with me. We'll find your sister." She looks over at the two hired guards. "Angharad? Mokir'ra? Could you help us look for Emelia?"



OOC: Example of a guar caravan. Full image here.

This thread is for Angharad and Mokir'ra. The two of you have been hired by Miles Catraso to serve as caravan guards.

Roll vs. HT or Hiking. On a failure, you are down FP equal to how much you missed the roll by.

There is room on the guars to carry your equipment if you so desire. In your post, indicate what gear you currently have with you.

"Of course this one would help." Mokir'ra replied, trying to keep his voice more quiet than he might have with his fellow soldiers of Elsweyr, but that is "long" ago and far away now. He didn't want to scare people with his stature or volume. Soldiers liked big people at their sides. They make for larger targets than everybody else, and they can carry your gear for you. Mokir'ra stood over seven feet tall, and even more if you count the tall black tufts on his eartips, but his build betrayed a lack of sheer muscle power. He was stronger than the average Imperial, but not by much. He was dressed in padded linen armor, double thick and quilted, it covered his full form except his face. Atop it all he wore a standard issue light pot helm, with perforations over the ears.

Mokir'ra would wait to hear the answer of the other person requested to help, before he would leave and go searching for the lost girl, Emilia. There was safety in numbers. "Let us seek her back the way we came. They lost her somewhere back there, back there is where she will be."

---

OOC:
I only now remembered that Khajit in Morrowind couldn't wear boots. If that's the case, I'll remove them and with the Host's permission, refund the cost.

13:51, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 9 using 3d6 ((3,4,2)).vs HT 10
This message was last edited by the player at 17:40, Thu 01 Dec 2022.

Angharad has had a busy day. She's finally out of the town and able to see all of the land around. The caravan moves slowly, so Angharad has been jumping out of the carts to run and see whatever new thing strikes her fancy. The little birds ran off. She was able to look at some animal tracks after the little furry things darted back in their holes in the ground.

Fairly exhausted, she was riding in the cart looking over a couple of leaves she had found. Six lobes are not common in Valenwood. When the hue-and-cry goes up, she jerks her attention to the caravan.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll help." Angharad hops off the wagon, leaving her find tucked out of the way. She grabs her bow from beside her and looks around the area where the caravan had stopped getting her bearings and trying to memorize landmarks so she can find the caravan again. The Khajit also offered to help. She turns to him and asks, "Can you track?"



14:31, Today: Angharad rolled 15 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,6,3.  Hiking vs 9.

"In the army, we had scouts for such things, but when the scouts were not available, we had to make do. Today we are making do. This one will use his mind and not his eyes." He pointed back the way they had come, "Let us look for where Emilia might be hiding, or might have fallen out of sight of the trail. Favani, Jerian, where did you last see her?"

Mokir'ra strode away from the Caravan, back along the trail, where he expected the others to follow. The Khajit momentarily turned his attention backward toward the Caravan, so he could see the way he would be returning.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:47, Sun 20 Nov 2022.

"Ah, well. I can track so we are in luck.", smiled Angharad. "I'll take a look around."

While Mokira asks around, Angharad moves to a wide circle around where the caravan stopped for lunch. She looks down at the ground, occasionally squatting down to look at something on the ground closer.


OOC 22:30, Today: Angharad rolled 7 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,1,1.  Tracking vs 13.

"She was here when we stopped for lunch," Miles offers. "She couldn't have gone far." The Imperial merchant looks more worried than usual, and he wipes his brow with a large red kerchief.

"I'm surprised she didn't stay here with Pokey," Jerian says. The lad packs up his sketchbook, slings his pack over his shoulder, and clambers to his feet. "She loves that guar to pieces. She really takes after Mom."

"If you think she might have gone back the way we came, I'll take Jerian and head that way," Favani says. The Dunmer woman's face is concerned as well, and her mouth is set in a thin line. taking up a stout walking stick, she strides off back along the path to the southeast, Jerian hurrying along after her.

Meanwhile, Angharad walks around the perimeter of the campsite, looking for anything that might provide a clue. Just off the road is a stand of giant mushrooms and trees, with a small path running through the grove. The air is cooler here and provides some shade from the heat of the day. Something catches the Bosmer's eye, and she bends down to look more carefully. In a patch of mud are several guar footprints, leading away from camp. Could Emelia have spotted a wild guar and tried to follow it?



OOC: The road curves from the southeast to the north. Southeast is the direction you came from back in Seyda Neen. The road to the north leads in the direction of Balmora, your destination. The guar tracks are to the west along a small path that runs up into the hills.

Angharad heads back to the cart and puts some bread and dried fruit into her satchel. She catches Mokira's eye and walks past him, muttering as she goes by. "Let's look up there. I don't see any of her tracks, but there's a....guar, is that right? Anyway, it went that way. I don't see anything else heading outward. Maybe we'll get lucky."

"If she likes the Guar, she may have followed one. This is a better lead than this one's guess." Mokir'ra veered from his originally chosen path to follow the path to the West. His thick padded armor slowed the large Khajit down quite enough that he left his supplies behind, carrying only his weapons and his wits. He shaded his eyes from the sun as he went. While he was all business according to most outward appearances, those familiar with his people would notice his heightened nerves by how puffed out his exposed pelt was.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:47, Tue 22 Nov 2022.

Angharad nods as she heads to the west with Mokir'ra. She keeps looking up and around regularly even as she keeps following the guar tracks. No need to get snuck up on. This area is so different. I'm not sure what a threat would be.

Mokir'ra took off his pot helm and slid off his padded coif in order to scratch at the bugs that had found him. Angharad might be able to hear him mumble;

"This one is not food. This one curses these oblivion damned biting… Things… and this moist, sticky air."

One could see his discipline return in the manner that he snapped the coif back into place, and solidly set the spectacled helm atop his head. He had seen Angharad paying better attention than he, thus the retired soldier lept into swift action, tying his chin strap under his wide boxed jaw. He scanned the ground, seeking signs of passage of little Human feet, or big Guar Feet.

---

OOC: Perception 12. Tracking defaults to Perception.

Move: 3

12:38, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 6 using 3d6 ((2,3,1)).
This message was last edited by the player at 18:17, Thu 01 Dec 2022.

The giant Suthay-Raht and the smaller Bosmer continue their search for the missing Dunmer girl. Heading off in the direction of the wild guar tracks Angharad found, the pair walks for about ten minutes, continuing to look for further spoor. Here and there they see more guar tracks, along with other kinds of animal tracks crisscrossing the trail. At length, Mokir'ra's sharp eyes spot the indentation of a small child-sized foot.

As they follow the trail further, gradually hills rise on either side as the path leads down into a small ravine. The trail wends its way onward, ending at a small structure built into the hillside. The small edifice has a curved roof that juts out from the hillside with a smaller arch sheltering a door, and what seems to be a small stoop. The door itself is slightly ajar, and above the door hangs a small banner with a word in an unfamiliar language.

Angharad follows the trail marveling at the land around her. It's much more empty than the Valenwood. In spite of the aridness, there is life, scuttling lizards and small prickly plants. It's all a wonder.

She slows as she crests the hill wary of her field of view. She takes in the scene below and stops completely to look carefully. Her steps resume, but slower.

Looking to her larger companion, she asks, "Should we call out friendly-like?"

Mokir'ra studied the structure, then the ground around him, and then the structure once more. "Our quarry, Little Emelia, seems to have come this way. This one would be foolish not to look inside." He steeled himself with a deep breath, held for a long moment, "Any kind of people could be inside, We should announce ourselves and learn."

He projected his deep, rumbling voice as only an officer of an army could: "Hail inside! We mean no harm! We seek a lost girl that came this way!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:00, Sun 04 Dec 2022.

Mokir'ra calls out to whoever might be beyond the door, but no answer comes to the Khajiit's hails. The small ravine is quiet, without even the sound of insects or birds. A small breeze stirs, bringing with it the faint smell of death and decay.

Angharad wrinkles her nose at the smell. She whispers some nonsense syllables and gestures up from the ground causing the sand to shift slightly three feet under her hand. Her face yellows slightly for a second or two before fading back to it usual color.

She briefly raises her index finger to her lips before reaching for the nock of the arrow she has on the string. She quietly creeps down the hill toward the entrance.

OOC 21:42, Today: Angharad rolled 6 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,1,2.  Stealth vs 13.  21:41, Today: Angharad rolled 15 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,6,6.  Cast Armor vs 13.
Looks like I didn't get the armor. I'm down 4 points of Energy Reserve. I am quiet going down the hill though.
Recasting Armor for 2 DR.   07:31, Today: Angharad rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,1,6.  Cast Armor for 2 DR vs 13.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:34, Tue 06 Dec 2022.

Mokir'ra followed Angharad slowly and silently on rawhide soled boots. The smell had him on edge. It smelled like a tomb and the tracks lead this very way. On the way he slowly slid his sword from its wooden scabbard, making no sound. Watching the large feline frame gliding over the ground without any noise could be intimidating to one not of his acquaintance.

---

15:45, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 8 using 3d6.  Stealth: DX-5 +1 Catburglary: DX 12 - 4 = Target 8.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:46, Sat 10 Dec 2022.

The Khajiit and the Bosmer cautiously make their way down the ravine until they stand at the door of the small structure. The door is cracked open slightly, and Mokir'ra and Angharad can see a hallway sloping down slightly into the hillside, ending at another door. Torches flicker periodically down the hall, illuminating the stone wall and floors. The smell of decay is stronger here, not enough to make the two gag, but lingering in the air.



OOC: Image for effect only. The passageway slopes downward, and you cannot see another door.

Roll vs. Hearing, please.

The girl's tracks seem to lead to this place. You can enter in search of her, return to the caravan to get help, or anything else you can think of. The hallway is wide enough for the two of you to advance side by side. If you do intend to enter, let me know if one of you is going first or if you're entering shoulder to shoulder.

Angharad slowly steps down the hall not sure what is causing the unsettling smell. The shadows jump as the flame dances causing her more tension. Still there's a little girl down here. Just a few paces down to the door. The whole place is quiet like a.....tomb.

OOC : 11:44, Today: Angharad rolled 14 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,5,4.  Hearing - Perception vs 12.
Angaharad is not hanging back. I would expect us to walk in shoulder to shoulder.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:49, Thu 19 Jan 2023.

Mokir'ra crept cautiously down the sloped hallway, following the footprints in the dust on the path. Emelia had gone this way, and may still be going! Possibly toward danger so the tall Khajit lead the way in. "It will be darker inside. I carry a sword and shield, you will need to carry the torch." The fact that Angharad had just used magic and could probably summon a light did not register to the Khajit. He had readied himself for action due to the scent of death in the air, and was too focused to think past his own experience.

Holding a bow in her hands, Angharad looks at Mokir'ra quizzically. After a long moment, she shrugs and puts her arrow and bow away. She then draws one of her javelins. Then she frees one of the torches from it's hanging ring.

Holding the torch up, she starts moving down the hallway wary.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:28, Tue 24 Jan 2023.

A bow, Mokir'ra shrugged, and tried on a grin that showed less teeth than a human might. "Drop it when we need to fight." kept pace with Angharad, shielding her and himself with the buckler in his right hand. In a careful pace, he felt safer with a bared broadsword in his good hand.

Bosmer and Khajiit advance slowly down the downward sloping tunnel. Torches flicker as they pass. The floor is relatively free of dust, as if this area were recently cleaned, though the faint odor of death still lingers.

After about twenty yards down the hallway, the two eventually see what looks like a large pit taking up the width of the corridor and stretching perhaps six yards further down the corridor. To the left is a door, and to the right, another passageway extends, sloping further downward about ten yards.

OOC: And we're back! Sorry for the extended absence. I'll do my best to be more consistent in my posting.

You have several options here. You can try the door to the left, attempt to leap over the pit, or try the righthand hallway.

If you want to try jumping over the pit, give me a DX or Jumping roll. Standing jump distance is (2 x Basic Move) - 3 feet (note, this is in feet, not yards), and if you take a running start, twice your standing jump distance.

Angharad very carefully peers down into the pit, then backs away. She whispers to Mokir'ra pointing to the right, "The hallway would be the quieter and safer. I'd rather be cautious until we know what's down here. Besides, that little girl probably couldn't have opened it."

Mokira was obviously on edge, holding his shoulders high, and his helmet in hand, which let him hear all of those little things that Mer and Men tend to miss. "I hear whispers, and crying further in. We should hurry" He put his helmet back on, then lead the way down the hall.

Angharad turns to follow, torch upraised and javelin at the ready.

Angharad and Mokir'ra turn to take the passage on the right. Here, too, the walls are lined intermittently with flickering torches. The corridor continues to descend. After about ten yards, the passageway makes a sharp turn to the left. After another ten yards or so, another sharp turn to the left, and then one more, the air more stale the farther down into the earth they go. Now the passageway runs level for about ten yards before doubling back on itself. In the ceiling above, the pair can see an opening, perhaps the pit that they had seen on the upper floor.

Now, about ten yards down at the end of the hall are a pair of skeletons, one armed with a dull iron shield and an iron sword, the other wielding a heavy-looking two-handed sword. An unholy light flickering in their eye sockets, the two skeletons turn toward Bosmer and Khajiit. Then, as one, the skeletons charge!

OOC: The skeletons are ten yards away and running toward you. Skeleton 1 is armed with a heavy shield and a longsword. Skeleton 2 is armed with a two-handed claymore. Give me three seconds of actions, please, and declare your defenses.



Image for effect. These two skeletons are armed but have no armor.

Mokira unslung his buckler from his belt, holding it forward. He then unsheatheathed his sword and put it into a ready posture. Special attention was paid to the two hand wielder, as he was the most dangerous.

---

OOC:
Turn 1: Ready Medium Spiked Buckler
Turn 2: Ready Thrusting Broadsword
Turn 3: Evaluate Skeleton 2.

---

Defense 1: Block
Defense 2: Parry

Walking Bones Angharad drops the torch and shifts to a reverse stance grasping the javelin with both hands. She steps slightly away from Mokir'ra moving to engage the shield bearing skeleton. Not wanting to attract more attention, she keep quiet as she moves.

---

OOC:
Turn 1: Ready Maneuver to shift to Defensive Grip MA 109 gaining +1 parry from the front -1 from the side.
Turn 2: Look for vegetation in the path of skeleton 1 for tangle growth
Turn 3: Tangle Growth or Attack
FP: 10 ER: 0    Armor spell active giving me 2 DR

---

Defense: Parry vs 11

As Mokir'ra and Angharad ready their attacks, the skeletons charge! As the undead race forward, Angharad quickly scans the stone floor for any sign of plant life, but the floor is clean, with no cracks or growing weeds she might use to entangle their foes.

The skeletons move with vicious speed, perhaps quicker than either Khajiit or Bosmer, but Mokir'ra and Angharad are able to ready themselves defensively to meet the oncoming charge. Both skeletons swing at the large Khajiit. The claymore just misses Mokir'ra. The broadsword aims true, but Mokir'ra expertly meets the attack with his sturdy buckler.

Angharad steps in and jabs at the broadsword-wielding skeleton, but her javelin just misses.

OOC: Mokir'ra has +1 from his one-second Evaluate on the claymore wielder.

Let's do 3 more seconds of combat.

Mokira's physical armor might weigh him down more than Angharad's magical protection, but it didn't slow his arms. Mokira's sword and shield reacted to the incoming blows as if they were magnetized by lodestones. He moved quickly and efficiently. Like any soldier.

---

Turn 1: Cutting strike with Thrusting Broad Sword on the two hander: +1 from Evaluate
• 16:06, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 13 using 3d6.  3d6 vs 17: Broadsword skill. (Is it 17+1=18 with the Evaluate?)
• 16:11, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 4 using 1d6.  1d+3 Sword Cut or 1d Buckler Crush.
• Defenses: Parry then Block

Turn 2: If the Cut was not effective; Switch to a Buckler Punch: Otherwise Sword Cut.
• 16:07, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 12 using 3d6.  3d6 vs 17: Broadsword skill or vs 16: Buckler Skill.
• 16:12, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 3 using 1d6.  1d+3 Sword Cut or 1d Buckler Crush.
• Defenses: Parry then Block

Turn 3: Cutting strike or Bashing Strike: Whichever was better.
• 16:08, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 9 using 3d6.  3d6 vs 17 (Broadsword) or 16 (Buckler).
• 16:12, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 3 using 1d6.  1d+3 Sword Cut or 1d Buckler Crush.
• Defenses: Parry then Block
This message was last edited by the player at 02:37, Fri 10 Mar 2023.

Crap, they both attacked him! Still working as silently as she can, Angharad steps to the left and jabs at the skeleton nearest to her with her javelin. Hopefully, with it's back to her and it's attention focused elsewhere, she can line her attack up juuuust right.

---

Turn 1: Defensive Grip& Telegraphic Attack (MA113) - Thrust with javelin
09:48, Today: Angharad rolled 6 using 3d6.  Spear skill vs 15.
09:50, Today: Angharad rolled 1 using 1d6-1.  Javelin damage. That was underwhelming

Turn 2: Repeat Telegraphic Attack if Skeleton doesn't turn around...Otherwise, Defensive Attack
Turn 3: Still Defensive Grip, but All-out-attack (Strong) if the skeleton still didn't turn around. Otherwise Defensive Attack

---

Defenses: All parry

The battle continues in the tight confines of the hallway.  The skeletons lash out with their blades, and Mokir’ra catches one attack with his own broadsword, then blocks the next with his beefy shield. The big Khajiit fights expertly, and he lands two blows on the claymore-wielder, slashing the skeleton twice with his broadsword. On the second strike, the skeleton attempts to parry with his claymore, but the sword breaks as Mokir’ra slashes right through it.

Angharad attacks as well, lightly scoring the shield-carrying skeleton on the back, but also attracting its attention, taking some of the focus away from Mokir’ra. The broadsword-wielding skeleton’s attacks prove clumsy, however, as it misses Angharad twice.

OOC: Okay, let’s do 3 more turns of combat.

Got 'im, Angharad celebrates as the skeleton tries to attack her. Maintaining her cautious stance, Angharad lashes out again, before fading to the right along the wall. Her thrust goes wide missing the skeleton.


Turn 1: Defensive Grip - Thrust with javelin
22:09, Today: Angharad rolled 15 using 3d6.  Spear vs 13.

Turn 2: Hopefully the skeleton will follow. I'll attack again.
22:12, Today: Angharad rolled 9 using 3d6.  Spear vs 13 again.
22:12, Today: Angharad rolled 4 using 1d6-1.  Damage.
She'll step back again to widen the gap.

Turn 3: Rinse repeat
22:14, Today: Angharad rolled 9 using 3d6.  Spear vs 13.
22:14, Today: Angharad rolled 1 using 1d6-1.  Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Thu 18 May 2023.

Mokir'ra made good use of footwork to keep within measure of his weapon while he attacked, and stepping out of reach of the Skeleton's larger sword with the aid of his sturdy shield. The big Khajit had long legs and thus long strides, with his natural grace making the combat look like he was dancing. "Thank you… This one would not become cocky."

---

Turn 1: Cutting with the broadsword: Skill 17 on the two-hander user.
11:59, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 7 using 3d6.  Sword Cut #1.
13:24, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 8 using 1d6+3.  Cutting Damage #1.
Defending: Block (11+2) First: Then Parry (11), Lastly: Dodge (8) if needed.

Turn 2: Another Slice like J. Nielson: Skill 17 On the two-hander or the one hander if the first target is down.
12:02, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 14 using 3d6.  Sword Cut #2.
13:25, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 5 using 1d6+3.  Cutting Damage 2.
Defending: Block (11+2) First: Then Parry (11) Lastly: Dodge (8)

Turn 3: Chopping the bones in the importants. On the two-hander or the one hander if the first target is down.
12:03, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 11 using 3d6.  Sword Cut #3.
13:26, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 6 using 1d6+3.  Cutting Damage 3.
Defending: Block (11+2) First: Then Parry (11) Lastly: Dodge (8)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Thu 18 May 2023.

On the Bosmer and Khajiit fight against their skeletal opponents. The claymore wielder, his blade broken, swings anyway, but Mokir'ra parries expertly. Angaharad and her opponent trade blows, missing each other. Now Mokir'ra swings. But though his opponent is now moving sluggishly, the undead surprises Mokir'ra by not being where the Khajiit expects him to be, and the big Khajiit's sword flies out of his hand!

OOC: Stopping there after 1 round. The claymore skeleton has had some weird luck. He rolled a critical miss earlier on his parry, shattering his sword, but he just rolled a critical success on his dodge! Mokir'ra, your broadsword is lying at your feet.

Let's do 3 more rounds.

All right. They're going to wear us down. Let's try something else. Angharad tries to fake him out. It's not very effective, but she thrusts at the skeleton a couple of times anyway.

---

Maintaining defensive grip (+1 to parry)
Turn 1 : Feint 22:07, Today: Angharad rolled 13 using 3d6.  Feint vs 11. Failed
Defense : Parry 11

Turn 2 : Heroic Charge +2 damage if I hit
22:13, Today: Angharad rolled 8 using 3d6.  Spear vs 11.
22:14, Today: Angharad rolled 7 using 1d6+1.  Javelin damage.

Turn 3 : Standard melee attack
22:15, Today: Angharad rolled 8 using 3d6.  Spear vs 11.
22:15, Today: Angharad rolled 3 using 1d6-1.  Javelin damage.


Defense all parry at 11
FP: 9 ER: 0    Armor spell active giving me 2 DR

Mokir'ra grunted acknowledgement of Angharad's observation. He picked up the blade he had fumbled, and amid the swipes of a broken blade at his body, the Khajit made probative attacks of his own, finally scoring two strikes that barely scratched the ossified remains.

---

Turn 1: Readying Broadsword
Defenses: Assuming the skeletons go first and the sword will not be ready: Blocking (11+2), then Dodging at 6 (Plus shield? Then 8)

Turn 2: Attacking the Skeleton with the Two-Hander. He has foiled me for the last time!
12:57, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 10 using 3d6.  Broadsword Roll 1.
Damage roll:
12:58, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 4 using 1d6+3.  Cutting Damage #1.
Parry (11), then Block 11+2, then Dodge 6.

Turn 3:
"Committed Attack (Determined)" vs the Skeleton with the broken weapon:
• +2 to hit (19)
Can not Parry with the Attacking Weapon!
13:00, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 17 using 3d6.  Sword Attack 2.
13:05, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 6 using 1d6+3.  Cutting Damage 2.
Defenses: First Block (11+2) then Dodge: (6 Perhaps with +2 from the Shield?)

Forgot a turn's defense.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Sun 21 May 2023.

With a gleam in his eye, Mokir'ra squats down to retrieve his dropped sword, bringing it up just in time to meet the broken blade of his adversary. The skeleton swings the shattered claymore again but meets nothing but air. The Khajiit expertly slices through the skeleton's ribcage, shattering the skeleton into pieces, the glowing red fading from the skeleton's skull.

Meanwhile, Angharad trades blows with the remaining skeleton. The undead creature swings at Angharad, missing her, as she attempts a feint with her javelin, though the skeleton is not fooled. In response, its broadsword slashes down, slicing through the tendons of Angharad's foot! She stumbles and falls, blood seeping through her right shoe!

OOC: Two eventful rounds! The claymore wielder has been destroyed, but Angharad has suffered a crippling wound and is currently supine.

Let's do 2 more rounds.

"Angharad; Retreat! This one will take this one. Go."
Mokir'ra hustled his bulk over to the Skeleton that had possibly crippled Angharad. Her best chance was for him to destroy it quickly or at least distract it and put its focus on himself. It was with Steely determination shining beneath the brim of his helmet that he expertly slices for the undead abomination's neck, possibly its most fragile joints. He did not throw himself off balance with the blow, instead he leveled the draw cut with the utmost of a trained warrior's control, and backs it up with his great mass.

---

Turn 1: Move 3, interpose between the Skeleton and Angharad if possible. (Probably not with such a low Move.)
Turn 2: Attack.
• Attack to Hit Location: Neck: -5 to skill = Broadsword 12.
21:54, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 10 using 3d6.  Broadsword 17 @ Neck -5 = 12.
Lucky me.
21:55, Today: Mokir'ra rolled 7 using 1d6+3.  Damage 1d+3 Cutting.
Defenses: Block: 11+2, Parry: 11 and Buckler's Defense Bonus: +2

This message was last edited by the player at 19:46, Fri 26 May 2023.

Shocked by the pain in her foot, Angharad barely remembers not to drop her guard. Crawling back, she focuses on keeping the skeleton from killing her out of hand. Working to get away, she stays down and defensive until she's really out of range.

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Turn 1: Move maneuver Crawl back 1 yard. I still intend to parry and am maintaining Defensive Grip. It may not matter.
Turn 2: Move maneuver Crawl back again. I'm still assuming I'm too close
Turn 3: Change Posture I assume I'm out of reach or Mokir'ra has managed to engage. I will change posture to get up leaning on my javelin for support.

This message was last edited by the player at 16:39, Sun 28 May 2023.

Its eyes gleaming a baleful red, the remaining skeleton towers over Angharad as the Wood Elf crawls backward, her javelin at the ready. Her enemy swings down at its downed foe, but Angharad skillfully parries the attack. And then from behind, Mokir'ra swings with all his might and cleaves the skeleton's skull from the rest of its body. The undead creature collapses as its now unattached skull rolls away, at last coming to a stop against a tunnel wall.

Now that the two skeletons have been destroyed, both Angharad and Mokir'ra can hear a soft whispering, as if in the air around them, and from farther down the tunnel, an intermittent sobbing.

OOC: Nice parry, Angharad, and great move, Mokir'ra! We're out of combat now. The two skeletons have the now-broken claymore, an iron broadsword, and an iron shield.

Angharad's right foot is temporarily crippled. Until it heals, she will need a crutch or something else to lean on in order to walk.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:20, Fri 09 June 2023.

Leaning heavily on her javelin, Angharad slowly lowers herself to the floor. At least the skeletons don't make much of a mess to accidentally sit in. Once situated on the floor, she holds up a finger to Mokir'ra, "Give me just a moment and I'll be able to walk again."

Laying her javelin across her lap, she takes three good deep breaths and concentrates her healing magic on on her foot. For a moment, there is a light yellow glow around her leg, but it dissipates almost as quickly. A little more wane, Angharad breathes deep and tries again. This time the light yellow glow lasts longer. There's no obvious effect on the outside of her now slashed boot, but she rolls her ankle now with lots less pain.

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Attempted Minor Healing for 2 points of damage..twice
Fatigue: 4/12
Health: 8/10
That should get me out of the crippled state.

17:35, Today: Angharad rolled 6 using 3d6.  Angharad Healing vs 13.
17:35, Today: Angharad rolled 16 using 3d6.  Angharad Healing vs 13.

The large Khajit fusses mightily over Angharad once the final skeleton fell inanimate. Once he sees her in less obvious pain, Mokir'ra seems mostly content. His only comment is to state the obvious, "That is a lot of blood." Then ask as an afterthought; "Are you dizzy? Do you need a shoulder?" His gestures are on the frantic side of calm. This place is obviously dangerous and he is quite sure that he can hear Emelia crying further in. He was sure Angharad could hear her, too.

Many expeditions to the deepest, darkest parts of Nirn have failed due to a lack of preparation, and having someone who knows a bit of healing magic has often meant the difference between success and failure. As Angharad attempts her spell a second time, healing energy washes through her foot, relieving some of the pain. Still, it aches somewhat, and she is not certain whether it can yet bear her weight.

The crying that Mokir'ra and Angharad had heard previously has stopped now, though the whispering continues. The air here is mustier, smelling more strongly of the dead.

: Angharad is still injured and will need help or a crutch to walk until she is fully healed.
You two can rest here, try another healing spell, press on further into this tomb, or try whatever else you can think of.

Angharad levels herself to her feet bracing on her fairly flimsy javelin. She starts limping further down the hall, hoping to find the young girl they came in for. Tired, she looks around warily worried there are more skeleton in the tunnel with them.

Mokir'ra had no fancy walking sticks, but he did have an arm free with his sword back in its scabbard. He took up a position at Angharad's side to help support her. A bulk like his would break the javelin she was using as a crutch. Indeed if he wasn't seeing the woman manage to do it, he would have thought the thin shaft would have snapped under her weight as well. "Lean on this one." He said, helping the Mer Woman down the corridor.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:54, Thu 29 June 2023.

Slowly, Angharad leaning on Mokir'ra, the two continue down the hallway, their footsteps echoing against the stone walls. At length, the hallway ends at a wooden door set into the wall. The musty smell of the dead lingers here, along with the whispering of voices, seemingly all around.

Given the reputation of Khajit, Mokira wouldn't have blamed Angharad if she had done anything to ensure he doesn't rob her blind in his quest to help her keep her feet. She would find nothing missing from her person once Mokir'ra had become distracted whilst gripping the door's knob to open it.

Pickpocketing wasn't Mokir'ra's racket.