The Hordes of the Blight - The Adventure

Initiative Order:

Another of the Blightwings dive-bombs the party, screeching as it lashes out with its talons.

Spoiler:

((It most likely is, I misread, I realized I was holding up and tried to remedy that faster than I should have. My mistake, sorry. ...There was a hurricane, a tornado, a flood, I had a flat, car ran out of gas IT WASN'T MY FAULT!))

Bella was hit and stumbled a bit, but he quickly regained his balance, swinging his axe wildly over his head and laughing as it began to crackle with electricity...! "Oh, come then, if you think cowering in the air will help you! I'll use your wings to fly after your entire nest, ah, ha, ha!!" For all his bluster, he was leaving himself open...!

Combat Data:

One of the Blightwings, seeming to notice Bellator's banter, dives straight for him, pecking at him with its beak.

Data:

Aparix raised his weapon to the skies as he ducked under the monster's strike, figuring if he could take out the one furthest away, it wouldn't get the chance to attack. A small piece of metal flew through a leathery wing.

Spoiler:

The Blightwing seems little fazed by the shot, continuing to fly about. Another one, meanwhile, darts back and forth around the party, talons flashing.

Spoiler:

Ghost Tracker, caught unprepared before, regains her balance and begins to duck and dive and interfere with the blightwings' attacks.

Combat:

Zakhar simply begins slamming away at the nearest beast. He's done with words for now.

Spoiler:

The Blightwings shriek at Ghost Tracker's interference. One attempts to dive-bomb Paladin, but is thwarted by Ghost Tracker, dodging out of her way.

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

Two of the Blightwings circle back around for another attack. One dive-bombs Bellator, the other swoops by Paladin and attempts to rake him with its claws.

Spoiler:

Well, THAT hadn't been pleasant...Bellator reeled from the blows, slashing at one of the ones who had just struck with his axe, but as he was still regaining his balance, it wasn't a very effective strike...Still, he recovered, taking a stance, ready to counterattack with lightning speed should they press the assault again..."Come on, ha, ha! I can't wait to see what'd happen if you really put your backs into it! Stop trying to hit me and hit me, if you think you got the guts!!" he taunted, hoping the beasts would be stupid enough to fall for it.

Combat Data:

One of the Blightwings screeches and dives for Bellator, dealing a strike which is parried by his counterattack, with thanks to Ghost Tracker's interference.

Spoiler:

Another piece of metal went singing past the Wing's ear. And through its wing. "Come on, hold still..."

Spoiler:

A Blightwing goes on yet another attack run, this time going for Aparix, its claws flashing out, but it only succeeds in dealing minor damage thanks to Ghost Tracker, who swats it out of its path before it can effectively strike the Lokira.

Speaking of the Blightscorned, she zooms in to deliver a series of minor blows to a few of the Blightwings before zooming off to the sky once more.

Spoiler:

Zakhar continues to hammer away.

Spoiler:

The Blightwing is swatted out of the sky by Zakhar's hammer, but another lets out a sharp cry and swoops in to avenge its comrade, pecking and slashing at the Nightchild.

Spoiler:

[Round 3!]

As the battle continues, another Blightwing swoops down, slashing at Bellator.

[5 damage before resist, 2 after, I think? Bellator's turn either way.]

"Heh, heh, heh...It's too little, too late, freaks!" Bella raised his axe dramatically over his head as the lightning arcing around it intensified, cracking dangerously...The Lokira's manner changed, going from his usual berserk antics to an intense focus. "It's too late for running, or regrets. Your fate is sealed..." He leapt into the air, slashing several times, lightning arcing wildly about, slamming against the Blightwings..."Now accept your punishment! It ends here!!" With a final, downward swing, lightning slammed down upon the beasts, slamming them against the ground and hopefully buying the others some time to finish them if they still needed it.

Combat Data:

A series of shrieks accompanies the crash of thunder as the Blightwings fall to the ground, stunned. One doesn't move again, and the other three are badly wounded, squawking pitifully as they try to rise to their talons again.

Spoiler:

A moment passes, and then a beam is fired from behind the party, from the hand of the Lokira lieutenant. He traces a path weaving around the Blightwings, leaving a glowing trail in the ground. He then clenches his fist, and the ground erupts in an explosion, scattering the Blightwings to the winds.

"Well," the caravan leader says. "Now that that's done with, we should probably get moving.

"Those were scouts," Ghost Tracker adds. "We should probably hurry and get to Outreach..."

...

The caravan redoubles their pace, but they thankfully incur no further attacks on the way to Outreach. On the second evening, they finally reach the town of Outreach.

The town is a far cry from the town the group left. It's surrounded by a cyclopean wall of stones piled onto another. A small ring of farms surrounds the town - patrolled not only by farmers but by armed guards as well. A group of guards take notice of the caravan and approach, and search the members for signs of Blight. They linger slightly on Ghost Tracker, but thankfully for her they are not unfamiliar with her kind. The party is allowed to enter the walls of the town past the gates.

Inside, all the buildings are made of wood, as though all available stone has been directed to the walls. The buildings are simple and spartan, and the entire town has more of the look of a fort than a town. Various small farms can be seen jammed inside the walls - it appears as though the town is quite ready for a siege if they are ever surrounded.

The caravan is stopped by a group of guards and told to wait while their captain is summoned. While the group waits, the caravan leader says, "I suppose you all get a bonus for your outstanding performance out there." He passes several bags of gold to his lieutenant, who distributes them throughout the party.

Soon the captain of the guards arrives. "What news do you bring?" He says simply.

Spoiler:

"Monsters have gotten bold. They attacked several places along journey, including outpost between here and where we came from."

"They seem to either be cooperating or in pretty large amounts to create a very big coincidence, you get my meaning," Aparix shifted from one foot to the other. "Either way, you go out there and might end up between a rock, a hard place, and a mouth full of fangs." He shrugs a little. "Also, milk prices are up. You know how it is."