A Horse By Any Other Name (Part 24)

One Month after the Summer Solstice (Seventh Moon 1000 ALB)


Drax spits his borrowed sword out of his mouth and wipes the hot blood from his face, calm as an innocent man at temple. He gives a nod to his companions and wipes the blood from his face before retrieving and sheathing his blade. A smaller knife pierces the thick skin of the "bugbear" and slices upwards towards the abdomen. Finally, the venom sack is revealed. It is a yellow pouch, surrounded by layers of thick muscle. Having little option, Drax cuts some tendons and ligaments free and loops them around both ends of the sack before removing it completely. Once he has hands once more, he will harvest the venom properly.

“Well," Kysek quips, "haven’t been pummeled quite like that in some time. I would definitely like to have my nimble elven body back now," as he attempts to regain his composure. “Do those things live in hives with others? Or are they solitary beasts, Abacus?”

"They are quite often solitary, not even liking each other's company, which I find unusual given their apian components," Abacus replies, "in fact, I once hypothesized the existence of a bugbear queen, but have yet to discover any such creature."

Cedron looks to Raven and Kysek “Gentleponies…” He says a bit tongue-in-cheek. “Be careful with these forms. There’s only so much patching I can do before your hind quarters fall off.”  Cedron hums a tune and places hooves upon Kysek, mending his injuries but Raven backs away, asking that the healing magic be saved for those who really need it.

Cedron tells him, "No arguing. We don't know what's going to happen next and everyone needs to be as ready as possible." Raven nods, conceding the point and submits to the minstrel-priest's ministrations.

Grotto tasks a quick mental triage of the warriors and sees that Raven is the most injured. He walks to Raven, Kysek and Raz and says, "Hanseath is pleased with your skills! Let him now heal your wounds!"

With that, Grotto casts a round of healing spells on all three of the elves. Within moments, all are appearing to be much more hale and hearty than they had been.

“A bugbear huh?” Niklas asks as he moves close to the beast to examine it, making mental notes of its size, structure and how it fought.

Ra’ziir nods his thanks to Grotto but keeps his attention focused on the direction the came from, listening for any other sounds. All that comes to him beyond the party's breathing and shuffling footsteps, is the sound of dripping water in the distance.

Foil Hat moves ahead of the group a short distance, peering into the shadows. "I think I see something up ahead..." his voice trails off and then a soft radiance appears, outlining a door about 50' ahead on the left.
- - - - -
• Cedron: 95% health; Light (79 minutes, 7 rounds remaining)
• Drax: 100% health; Nondetection (lasts until about 10 pm), Undetectable Alignment (lasts until about noon tomorrow)
• Grotto: 94% health;
• Kysek: 70% health; Half of the Tome has been read
• Niklas: 100% health;
• Raven: 65% health;
• Ra’ziir: 80% health;
• Shadow: 97% health; Overland Flight (18 hours, 57 minutes, 6 rounds remaining)

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