PrP: Team Heart Face the Hydra

PCs

Drakha– Sith-Makar Sorceror– Lvl 5

Alteri– Human Fighter – Lvl 4

Sharna – Half-Elf Rogue– Lvl 3

Bagrat– Human Barbarian– Lvl 2

Encounters

CR 6 – 2,400 budget (2,400 spent)

1 x 7 Headed Hydra

The Jolly Heart merchant caravan has posted advertisements seeking brave adventurers to guard their wares on a trip into The Vast. Those who feel fit to answer the call are expected to meet at the city gates at noon this day. As a result, despite the advancing season, it is relatively warm. The weather is boding well, and the caravan is difficult to miss - painted as it is with a large stylized heart on the side.

Jolly Heart isn't just the name of the caravan company, it is also the name of the Halfling running the caravan. A cheery fellow, he's sat atop a set of crates as his human helpers load them into the back. Idly waiting to see who, if any, will turn up to help him keep his journey a safe one.

Drakha has had some experience with caravan guarding duties before too, and frankly, after all the various extremely weird assignments he has dealt with in the last few weeks it sounds like a paid vacation in comparison, so he has answered the call, walking to the gates wrapped to his usual cloak, with the spear in hand, held much like a walking stick. While he isn't wearing any armor, unless you count his natural thick scales, he still looks quite big and menacing enough for a guard job.

Clad in her usual martial garb and cloak, but with an addition of a finely crafted guisarme looming over the shoulder not bearing her sword's weight, Alteri takes stock a moment. Nodding to herself, she wends her way past busy movers and shouting teamsters. She is on foot, but is leading her ever-faithful blue roan after her. Scanning the area, she spies the Halfing atop the crates and, ducking around one particularly bulky crate being hefted by two huffing men, she heads over to where he is. "Master Heart, I presume?" she calls up politely to the cheery fellow.

Sharna approaches the caravan with a big, wide smile on her lips and her gloved palms rubbing against one another expectantly. Cloaked and hooded - both to somewhat conseal the color of her skin and to keep away the occasional chill breeze of fall, she approaches. Eyes linger on the workers for a moment before the woman lifts her gaze to the halfling.

"Ahoy there." she greets, all cheer and politeness. "Word is, you're looking for folks to keep you safe. I'm one of those folks." she offers, a flick of a wrist causing the rolled up recruitment poster to appear in her hand seemingly out of nowhere. The half-elf unfurls it, the smile flaring. The upwards tilt of her gaze all too readily reveals her dark skin and light hair. "And so is she, I think." she adds, indicating Alteri, despite the woman being there before her. The smile is passed to the Eldanar, briefly.

Bagrat mkes his way up to the caravan on the back of his own horse, taking a casual pace. He's not really dressed for the weather, but then, the weather doesn't seem to bother him much. The huge Veyshanti peers over theassembled group as he passes, vicious curved khopesh hanging from his belt, and shortbow slung over his back. He doesn't offer any greeting, except for a nod towards the caravan leader.

Jolly looks at the assembled group, and claps his hands together. "Absolutely, yes!" He declares, standing up and hopping off the crate so his assistants can pack that away, too. "Terribly unfortunate bit of luck, if rumors are true. My usual trail to Hoppine Village has been cut off by a storm of wild magic. Swallowed a good six miles of the thing in some blasted swamp. Gods only knows what is in there, but I've got supplies to shift, and I'm sure the lot of you will have no trouble with it, eh?" He beams at the half-elf. If he's put off at all by her, he does a very good job of hiding it.

Drakha is not terribly chatty it would seem, he mostly listens for the others speaking. "Swamp, eh?" he inquires, thinking about it some then shrugs, figuring it can't be worse than the blasted sewers. He does take a look over the others assembled too, giving a nod to Alteri who is the only one he recognizes of them.

Not the smiley sort, Alteri merely nods to the familiar faces gathered around. Sharna, however, gets a beady-eyed stare. "We're not sharing horses," she states firmly. From her silence with regards to the rest of what Sharna says, about their being folks here to keep the caravans safe, she signals her agreement with the half-elf's words. A blink meets Bagrat's arrival, but it appears neither of them are the most social of sorts; not something that worries her.

Drakha's nod draws her attention and he gets a direct look, "Master Drakha," a slight chill is in her voice, "The last I saw you, you were using prestigitation upon yourself, ignoring Mistress Mako who was screaming in pain from that same alchemical concoction that was ailing you, ailing all of us. This bothers me greatly, that one would ignore a colleague so selfishly. I hope it was merely pain that caused your... lapse."

"Wild magic? Sounds exciting." Sharna opines. Magic... really isn't her forte. At all. "Well, we can get you there safe and sound, I reckon, whatever it is. That's the kind of thing we do." There's a companionable clap on Alteri's shoulder, there, and a second flare of the smile for the halfling caravan master. The Eldanar's words earn themselves a giggle, and then the woman turns, moving to have a proper look the caravan itself. Ducking and weaving around the workers inobtrusively, she glances inside the wagons, taps on the crates gently. Learning the layout, so to speak

Bagrat snorts at Alteri, "You talk like a slave, woman." hesays to her then. "Does he own you? Does this 'Mako'? Then why call them master, mistress?" he grunts then, the first words out of his mouth. He spots Sharna, and glares at her long and hard. Even down in Veyshan, shadow elves are not well liked- though well respected, as the best poisoners and slavers outside the golden coast.

Even Jolly's smile falters a little bit as the party argues amongst itself. His eyes dart back and forth between them, and he clears his throat. "I trust this is all just playful banter, that most of you know one another." He says, "We certainly won't need any additional danger when we're in The Vast, you'll all need to work as a team, you know!"

Drakha lifts an eyeridge slightly at the words from Alteri towards him. "I do not recall her asking help in the matter, besides... it didn't really help any with the effects of that stuff." he offers in reply to the Eldanar, before glancing over towards the angry scarred man, though not getting in to the argument as it doesn't really concern him anyway, instead looking to the halfling. "I am sure it will all settle down once we get going." he assures to their employer.

Alteri casts a dismissive glance at Bagrat. She was not addressing him and her look says as much. Not responding otherwise to the snorting man, for she is not here to give a lesson on titles and names, she stolidly absorbs Sharna's clap on the shoulder. At the halfling's faltering smile, the Highborn dips her head, "Of course, Master Heart. We are but merely clarifying some things." To Drakha, she gives a smile that is mostly teeth, "Certainly. Screaming in pain isn't asking for help at all. One hopes you are able to speak and ask for healing if ever you are to lose consciousness, too. In that, I wish you all the luck, neighbour."

A twitch of a pointed ear beneath the hood and Sharna turns on Bagrat almost immediatelly upon him speaking. It seems the legendary hearing of the elves isn't as mythical as one might have thought - and the elf blood is strong with this one. Hands rest lightly on the pommels of her sheathed swords - not threatening, but perhaps inching towards it. "Watch your mouth, dusk-skin." she says to the Veyshanti, matter-of-factly. Her voice may be quiet, but it carries a sharp edge despite. "Show some respect for those you work with. Your life may depend on them. Even you should understand that."

A quick turn and the half-elf faces the halfling once more, providing a pleasant smile and nod readily. "I believe we are ready to proceed as soon as you are, caravan master." she offers, pleasantly.

Bagrat smirks at the half elf, but says no more. He moves up towards the front of the caravan on his horse. He does turn back to the others, "I will ride a ways ahead of the group. I find most city-folk ille equipped for long stretches in the wilds." he states then. The sandy courser he rides seems to bear his weight easily, considering his size- it probably helps that he is lightly armored and armed.

The caravan master does not look entirely convinced. However, with the group insisting that they are ready to leave, he can really do nothing but assent. Nodding his head slowly, he moves to hop up onto his caravan, and take the reins of the two horses waiting there. It isn't very large, but the packages inside jingle pleasingly as he spurs the horses into action.

Drakha doesn't have a horse himself, so he just gets into one of the wagons the caravan consists of and rides along that way, he isn't really much of a horseman anyway.

Mounting up, Alteri assigns herself to the lousiest place in any train, the rearguard position. A loud whinney of protest is heard as she directs Stupid to the back, even her horse knows what a crap spot this is. Unhappy with the prospect of eating travel dirt for the foreseeable further, the mare stamps and tosses her head, lashing the Highborn's wrists with its mane. A firm hand sees the animal brought back under control and with a nudge, Stupid sidesteps to where Sharna is. Alteri speaks quietly a moment with the colleague she is most familiar with, "I feel it best if you were in the caravan with Master Heart, a hostage situation would be the worst to deal with." she seems to be speaking from experience here.

Sharna hops onto the leading wagon of the caravan herself, having no mount of her own - swinging easily into the back of it to sit beside - or on top of - the hopefully tied-down and secured crates. Apparently, for once, she is consenting to not stealing Alteri's horse. How kind of her! "I would not wish to intrude upon our employer uninvited." she tells Alteri, loudly enough for the caravan master to hear, simply settling down for the journey ahead - though she is happy to move further to the front and chat with the halfling, should he indicate he wishes to. After all, with the rest of the group not being talkative sorts, the poor fellow might find himself yearning company, even if it is that of a mul'niessa-blooded half-elf.

Bagrat waits until everyone is underway, and then he sets out at a steady pace. He guides the mount with his knees for a moment while he takes his bow from his back and strings it, keeping it at the ready as they set off.

After a few days of travel, the road becomes pretty much as the caravan owner had described; marshy and unpleasant. He has been amiable enough company, sharing good quality rations (though no alcohol, you are working), and telling tall tales about the scrapes he has been through. The chances of one halfling having seen half the things he describes is rather slim.

As the marsh swallows the threadbare trail, however, the atmosphere becomes more serious. The sky is the color of an ugly bruise, and an ever-present mist surrounds the group. The horses are unnerved, but do continue to press in, the water barely up their ankles, though the ground is spongy and gives unpleasantly...

Drakha is not terribly chatty, though not completely silent either, through the trip. He offers some words here and there, mostly of things related to Am'shere which is where he has lived most of his life after all, not speaking much of the recent adventures he has been in as most of them weren't really what one would call glorious. As they get to the swampy part he gets more alert and serious though, starting to keep more careful watch of the surroundings, and also preparing himself for any possible dangers with a few protective spells.

GAME: Drakha casts Magic Missile. (Proxy for Mage Armor)

GAME: Drakha casts False Life.

GAME: Drakha rolls 1d10+5: (5)+5: 10

<OOC> Drakha says, "Both last for 5 hours"

<OOC> Drakha says, "The mage armor doesn't stack with my bracers of armor so it only increases my ac by further 3, and false life gives me 10 temporary hit points worth of ablative armor. :)"

Shortly into the journey, Alteri had found a kerchief to tie about her nose and mouth, cutting down on some of the dust. This serves to give her a rather bandit-like appearance herself. At regular intervals, she reaches forth to give her mount a comforting pat. "Remember," she mutters in a voice muffled by the kerchief, "This will pay for your winter's grain, Greedy." Resigned, Stupid plods along at the wagon's pace, hooves squelching in the marshy terrain.

Not the social butterfly sort, the Eldanar has said no more to the sith'makar and simply keeps a professional distance from the two males in the party. She does partake of the halfer's amiable hospitality, however, bringing forth some of her own spiced venison jerky to share at meals. The prickly warrior seems to only get along somewhat easily with the half-elf, likely the result of their many scraps and adventures together prior to now.

"... Twenty gnoll raiders? Amazing." Sharna answers the jolly halfling's latest incredible tale, smiling pleasantly all the while. She's not buying it, no, but she looks amused by it regardless and is decent at keeping her expression fairly unreadable.

Still, the new surroundings put the half-elf on edge, turning her expression more solemn. She checks the straps of the sheet of spiked metal upon one wrist. Further, the latch that holds the crossbow upon her belt is undone casually, the weapon lightly rested in her lap where she sits, one hand around it - ready for quick use, should need arise. Azure eyes narrow, squinting into the mist. She falls silent - perhaps not wishing speech to interfere with her hearing.

Bagrat climbs down off his horse as they move onto the spongy ground, and he moves back to the caravan for a moment, to set his horse walking along with the main group. Then he heads up front again, eyes peeled and bow at the ready.

<OOC> Bagrat says, "shall I roll anything to scout out the safest path?"

<OOC> Mab says, "Roll survival, but I am going to be out of it for a few so people may wish to pose around me"

GAME: Bagrat rolls survival: (13)+5: 18

Drakha holds his spear in hand while scanning the surroundings with his gaze. "Keep alert, if anything is going to happen, then this is the most likely place for it." he warns the others. Staying in the wagon for the moment as well nothing has happened yet.

GAME: Alteri rolls Survival: (19)+6: 25

Situated as she is to the rear, Alteri tunes her human senses to reach as far they will do. Her pale gaze flits hawkishly from shape to shape, watching for anything their passage may have disturbed. Every so often, she casts a look back, noting their tracks and the few, brave animals that peer forth once the wagon has passed. "Time to give you a break," she murmurs to Stupid. The surroundings seem to be getting to her as well. Sliding off Stupid's back, she loops the animal's reins loosely about its pommel and continues on foot. Acting contrary to her name, the mare clops after her mistress, much like a dog at heel.

"Well. Twenty gnolls or not, I think it's best you take cover if anything out of the ordinary should happen." Sharna asides quietly to the halfling. Leaning back in the seat, her eyes inconspicuously scan the surroundings. Weird, unnatural swamp in the middle of a stretch of land where the planes themselves spill into the world - what could possibly happen?! She can think of several things, and she doesn't like the thought of any of them.

You paged (Bagrat, Alteri) with 'You both notice right away; there's none of the usual noises of the swamp. There's no bugs, no fish, no croaking frogs. But you do find the remains of a swamp tree that has been crushed by something huge...'

Bagrat peers around s he heads along, and frowns a bit. "Something big came through here." he tells the group then, placing a hand on the damaged tree. "The waterlogged soil makes it hard to find any tracks. Be alert." he adds.

Up ahead, there is a terrifying, cacophonous ROAR, which shakes the water. It sounds like seven animals crying out in fury at once.

The Halfling nods, to Sharna, "I think I'll head in the back, whilst you fine people, go and see what in the name of the Gods that thing was." He says, deciding that valor can be left to those he's paying for it. He didn't survive gnoll raiders by sticking his neck out.

<OOC> Mab says, "Knowledge/Nature and Knowledge/Arcana can be rolled to figure out where that sounds familiar."

GAME: Drakha rolls knowledge/arcana: (15)+9: 24

You paged Drakha with 'You'd recognize that anywhere. The fell cry of a HYDRA! Ferocious beast, heads grow back if you slice them off. Fire and acid can be used to seal the stumps, and that's the quickest way to kill it, probably.'

Drakha blinks a few times as he listens to that, shaking his head some and muttering something in draconic that doesn't sound terribly flattering. Then he jumps down from the wagon. "Well, there is something out there allright... prepare for a tough fight. That is a hydra... multi-headed beast, easiest way to kill one is to cut off its heads... but you must burn the stumps with fire or acid or they grow back... I can take care of that last part though." he explains to the others, some of those live in the jungles of Am'shere also, which is how he recognized that roar so well.

Alteri gives a small grunt as she notes something. Bagrat's assessment bolstering her own confidence at what she thought she saw, she quickens her steps to catch up to the wagon. Passing the heart decal painted on the wagon's canvass, her dark head pokes around the front to speak to Jolly Heart and her colleagues.

Then a bone-chilling roar breaks the too silent quiet of the journey and her mouth snaps closed. Without preamble, she draws her bastard sword with an ominous susurration, lips thinning into a grim line. "Try not to breathe loudly, Master Heart." Oh, such comforting words from the Highborn. It's a good thing Alteri's day job is slicing things open and not say, bolstering the spirits of those in the sickbeds. Nodding curtly to Drakha, the Eldanar mutters a soft prayer to the Holy Order and begins making her way to the front of their little travelling party. "Heard that?" she asks Bagrat, meaning to ask if he heard the makar's warning.

Sharna's teeth grit, grind at the roar. Sensitive elven ears do have their disadvantages. "Stay low and scream if anything comes this way." she instructs the halfling - even if he does sound sensible enough to do so on his own. A forlorn look is given to her polished leather boots before she hops off the wagon, landing in the muck below with an unsavory little squelching noise.

The little half-elf listens to Drakha's recounting, but looks uncertain. "Not sure I can do that - but if it has heads, it probably has brains... and if it has brains, it likely has other organs. Things with organs... I can deal with." A small, wicked smile there, and then she goes to move with the others... albeit allowing them to go first.

Bagrat snarls at the sound, and stows his bow again. He draws his viciously curved khopesh, "Beheading is a specialty." he growls, and then trudges towards the sound.

<OOC> Mab says, "Okay, Drakha is up first. Lots of mist and fog etc."

<OOC> Drakha says, "Can I see the thing yet?"

<OOC> Drakha says, "Assuming not, will cast shield and move 30 feet closer."

<OOC> Mab says, "Not yet, and this isn't going to be possible to maintain strict feet by feet definitions. Are you breaking the current order (Alteri + Bagrat, then you and Sharna)?"

<OOC> Drakha says, "Well I don't mind letting the others go first if they want, just like keeping up with them"

<OOC> Mab says, "Pretend there's four slots - in front, with, directly behind, far behind. I think that's the best way to go about this."

<OOC> Drakha says, "I will go in the 'with' slot. :)"

<OOC> Mab says, "Okay."

GAME: Drakha casts Shield.

Drakha pages: That bumps my AC up to 26 total

Drakha starts trudging through the swampy terrain keeping up pace with Alteri and Bagrat, but not really having any interest to charge ahead of them, his eyes still not able to spot the hydra, he anticipates the impending combat by further enhancing his own defenses, lifting his free hand up in a blocking motion while speaking up a few words in draconic, causing a transcluent energy shield to come to existence around him, soon fading from view. Then he grips his spear again and holds it at the ready.

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+10: (1)+10: 11

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+10: (19)+10: 29

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+10: (4)+10: 14

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+10: (19)+10: 29

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+10: (19)+10: 29

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+10: (19)+10: 29

GAME: Mab rolls 1d10+4: (7)+4: 11

GAME: Mab rolls 1d10+4: (8)+4: 12

GAME: Mab rolls 1d10+4: (10)+4: 14

GAME: Mab rolls 1d10+4: (2)+4: 6 GAME: Mab rolls 1d10+4: (3)+4: 7

GAME: Mab damaged Drakha for 1 points. 43 remaining.

GAME: Mab damaged Alteri for 26 points. 10 remaining.

GAME: Mab damaged Bagrat for 13 points. 10 remaining.

The mist erupts in a fury of gnashing jaws and slobbering teeth. The Hydra is not a quiet predator by any means, and the noise of its crashing approach is heard, but it is on the party so suddenly they barely have time to realize it. The noise is horrendous, and the seven heads rip into the trio of adventurers in the front line without anything other than animal hunger; obviously, having eaten everything else in the fetid swamp, the creature is ravenous for another meal.

Thankfully, Drakha's magical protections save him from the worst of it, but even he is bitten hard upon the shoulder by one of the monstrous heads, the barrier of force giving way under the determination of its furious assault.

<OOC> Sharna says, "I assume there is little to the side of it or behind it to make a stealthy approach to its back?"

<OOC> Mab says, "It is a marsh, so it is fairly gross going. On the other hand, it doesn't seem to be paying attention to you, or to have noticed you at all. There's these three delicious things in front of it, you see."

<OOC> Sharna says, "Then I will do so. No time to attack while at it, or is there time to jab a sword drawn during the movement in its tail?"

<OOC> Mab says, "I'll allow it."

<OOC> Sharna says, "A flanksy swordjab for you (attacking the body, no other option):"

GAME: Sharna rolls 1d20+2+5+1+2: (7)+2+5+1+2: 17

<OOC> Mab says, "Hits."

GAME: Sharna rolls 1d6+2+2d6: (5)+2+(5): 12

<OOC> Mab says, "Okay, pose it up."

Sharna's eyes widen as the enormous shadow of the hydra suddenly looms over her. She swallows, hard - but at least her hiding is impeccable, and the creature doesn't seem to have noticed her. Yet. Abandoning her crossbow for her twin blades, she sneaks forward. Every step has her boots sink deep into the marshy terrain. That's going to be hard to clean.

Hopping over the flailing tail, the lithe woman locates a vulnerable spot just under it as it thrashes about. The blade slides there, cutting deep - opening a gash that quickly fills with swampwater with the creature's movements. One of the head turns in her direction, letting out a savage hiss. NOW it noticed her.

<OOC> Sharna says, "Do hydras have legs? Or rather, does this one? XD"

<OOC> Drakha says, "I think hydras are like snakes with multiple heads"

<OOC> Mab says, "Yeah, no real legs. The heads are really your primary concern. >_>"

<OOC> Bagrat says, "I'll move up, rage, and power attack a head."

<OOC> Sharna says, "Just for the pose, not for mechanics. :P"

<OOC> Mab says, "Okay, roll Bagrat."

<OOC> Mab says, "So you are aware, a head attack is a sunder attempt."

<OOC> Bagrat says, "I'm wielding the khopesh two handed."

GAME: Bagrat rolls weapon1+2-1: (15)+7+2+-1: 23 <OOC> Mab says, "That hits."

GAME: Bagrat rolls 1d8+3+6: (1)+3+6: 10

<OOC> Mab says, "You take off a head!"

GAME: Mab rolls 1d4: (1): 1

One of the creature's heads bites deep into bagrat's shoulder, spilling blood copiously into the boggy water. The muscles in his arms and neck flex, and the veins on his temple and thoat well as he flies into a berserk rage. He grips the weapon with both hands, and swings the curved blade up, slicing through the creature's neck. He shrugs its still-biting head off, and drops into a combative stance."

<OOC> Alteri says, "Is there a head I can get flanksies on?"

<OOC> Mab says, "They don't work like that."

<OOC> Mab says, "You are flanking the thing with Sharna, but it isn't a specific head by head accounting."

<OOC> Alteri says, "Ah I see. Are two heads close enough that I can Cleave?"

<OOC> Mab says, "It is one creature for statistical purposes."

<OOC> Bagrat says, "Oh I forgot flank bonus in my attack before anyhow."

<OOC> Mab says, "You can attack the creature, or you can sunder a head. You can't cleave into sunder attempts."

<OOC> Alteri says, "I'll step up and attempt to PA one of the heads!"

<OOC> Mab says, "Okay."

GAME: Alteri rolls 1d20+12: (8)+12: 20

<OOC> Mab says, "Miss."

<OOC> Drakha says, "Yeah hitting it with burning hands, which I believe hits both the body and the severed head"

GAME: Drakha rolls 1d20+13: (17)+13: 30

GAME: Drakha casts Burning Hands.

GAME: Drakha rolls 5d4+5: (12)+5: 17

<OOC> Drakha says, "ref save dc 15 for half"

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+6: (1)+6: 7

The swift appearance of the hydra, and the subsequent huge chomps its heads take out of Bagrat and Alteri, almost has the Eldanar dropping to one knee. Her attempt to return the favour to the closest head goes wild as hands slip on a grip made slick with blood steaming down one arm. Spitting out a curse, the Highborn resets herself, head lowered as she tries to keep all the myriad jaws in view.

Drakha blinks in surprise at the speed which the massive beast lunges at them, quite quite happy that he decided to enhance his defenses earlier so that he survives the initial onslaught almost unscathed, though his companions are not so lucky. "Quickly, cut it down!" he yells at the others, watching the two warriors swords cutting to the hydra with varying success, and then he taps into his draconic heritage to manifest one of the most famous abilities of his forebears, taking in a deep breath and then exhaling it in a one of fire that engulfs the monster, burning it badly, and most importantly, searing the neck stump shut to prevent it from regrowing

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+10: (12)+10: 22

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+10: (4)+10: 14

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+10: (6)+10: 16

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+10: (11)+10: 21

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25

GAME: Mab rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25

GAME: Mab rolls 1d10+4: (3)+4: 7

GAME: Mab rolls 1d10+4: (1)+4: 5

GAME: Mab damaged Bagrat for 3 points. 7 remaining.

Needless to say, the majority of the creature's attacks are focused on the being spraying it with fire. The wound across its belly begins to close up, horribly, and five of the monstrous, serpentine heads work in concert to try and get through Drakha's defenses. But there is also the raging man wielding the large sword, which has managed to cleave through one of its necks. It can't reach Sharna, the other threat, but Bagrat's thigh takes another nasty chomp. Whether he notices is another question entirely.

GAME: Sharna rolls 1d20+2+5+1+2-2: (14)+2+5+1+2+-2: 22

GAME: Sharna rolls 1d20+2+5+1+2-2: (17)+2+5+1+2+-2: 25

<OOC> Mab says, "Two hits."

GAME: Sharna rolls 1d6+2+2d6: (4)+2+(4): 10

GAME: Sharna rolls 1d6+1+2d6: (2)+1+(2): 5

<OOC> Bagrat says, "PA the body."

GAME: Bagrat rolls 1d20+weapon1+2+2-1: (13)+7+2+2+-1: 23

<OOC> Mab says, "That's a hit."

GAME: Bagrat rolls 1d8+3+6: (8)+3+6: 17

<OOC> Bagrat says, "I forgot to include rage strength in my damage roll."

<OOC> Mab says, "So that's 20?"

<OOC> Bagrat says, "So that shoulda been a 20 all together."

<OOC> Mab says, "Okay. It is still there.

Ducking beneath the angry, hissing head of the creature, Sharna spins her blades in her hands. The girl leaps onto the creature's thick tail, using its own thrashing to gain elevation. The swords are jabbed into its hide, there, in unison... and then she swings off the tail, using the momentum and her weight, however insignificant, to pull the weapons downwards. They rend into the thing's flesh, causing it to give a cacophonous shriek.

Bagrat barely flnches as the vicious fangs sink deep into his leg. He wrenches himself free, pouring more blood into the water, and then he stomps on the creature's head, pinning it to the ground. He then proceeds to bring the blade in an upwards sweep to the creature's thrashing body, tearing through muscle and sinew and causing the creature's own blod to help turn the bogwater red

GAME: Alteri rolls 1d20+12: (14)+12: 26

<OOC> Mab says, "Hit"

GAME: Alteri rolls 1d10+15: (10)+15: 25

<OOC> Mab says, "Okay, it isn't dead, it is at -12 HP. I suspect Drakha can polish it off."

<OOC> Drakha says, "Yeah I will do one more burning hands"

GAME: Drakha casts Burning Hands.

GAME: Drakha rolls 5d4+5: (14)+5: 19

<OOC> Drakha says, "That should do it"

The searing work Drakha's cone of fire creates is a work of art Alteri has to admire later. For now, the many, threatening heads continue to menace the group and the Highborn frowns, making a few quick decisions in her mind. Noting how the hydra writhes and screams at the attacks to its body, she makes a choice to forget the flailing heads and add her efforts to that of her colleagues upon the serpentine body as well. Setting her teeth, she dodges the closest head that almost whacks her off her feet, and with her mutely glowing blade held high over one shoulder, brings the full strength of her body down in a mighty diagonal slash. The hit is true, and Melyndra bites deep into the scaled body.

Drakha sees the hydra collapsing under the focused attacks of the rest of the group, he will see it it that it wont get back up, taking in a deep breath and then engulfing the still writhing body in another gout of fire, turning it to blackened smoking heap that doesn't move anymore. "That should do it... how is everyone?" he inquires, looking between the others.

"Hey, HEY!" Sharna complains, leaning away from the gout of fire that engulfs the fallen hydra. "Watch the eyebrows!" The now crispy creature is given a forlorn look and a hand waves in front of her - vain attempts to disperse the resulting black smoke. "I was thinking of skinning it. I'm going to need new boots after this." she says, sadly - and in emphasis, lifts one of the old boots from the ground, her foot still in it. It is covered almost completely in the swamp's muck. A blob of runny mud sloughs off it lazily. That... definitely isn't good for the leather, no.

The mighty creature roars it's fury as the adventurers focus on it's guts. Innards are spilled in copious amounts, and it gnashes back where it can, though in the death throes, it is pitifully easy to avoid such desperate spasms. The pain is just too great to focus through, and the burning flame is the final end of the monster, roasting it and finishing what the steel started.

When the caravan is moving again, it isn't long until it emerges from the swamp. And, after that, it is just a few short hours before the trail reappears, and the village comes into view. A small settlement that ekes out a tenuous existence, and is soon being sold all manner of strange and exotic goods from far and mysterious Alexandria.