"Not so strong, are you?" Alysha says, standing up.
Krissina continues to try and keep the beast from focussing too much
Shoun continues to support Rakish, and pour fire into the creature he is fighting.
Rakish continues to tear into the beast.
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As Draco swings wildly, the beast leaps aside!
Raeva's firebolt flies wide again!
Krissina thrusts into the beast's side, scoring a deep gouge in the creature as it recoils from Shoun's gout of flame!
Taking full advantage of the opening, Rakish slashes deep and then brings his Lightbringer down upon the beast's skull! He cannot help but let out a slight growl of satisfaction as the skull collapses under his blow!
Initiative:
Alysha: 19 <=
Displacer Beasts: 18
Shoun: 15
Draco: 14
Raeva: 5
Krissina: 4
Rakish: 4
"We'll rid the forest of you!" Alysha says. She targets all the ravens on the displacer beast.
Raeva tries to put the beast to
Shoun will switch his aid to Draco, then launch a firebolt on it.
Rakish moves close enough to throw an axe:
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Since he missed the second ray, I am going to apply all his damage rolls. Because of turn order, I am going to wait for Shoun to see if Raeva's sleep works!
EDIT: D'oh, there is Shoun's post! ;p
Shoun hurls another burst of flame, but the creature bounds out of the way!
Draco calls upon his god and three burning rays burst from his holy symbol! Though one misses, the other two slam into the beast, causing it to howl in pain!
Raeva chants in a droning tone and the beast bounds a few steps before it falls over, asleep!
"I'm reluctant to just kill it, but sadly I can't think of a better suggestion. Sleep magic rarely lasts long" she looks around hopefully for a better suggestion from someone.
"I agree with Krissina; I can not think of an alternative where we tie such a creature up that doesn't result in it's death or the death of someone else. We should at least be quick and merciful."
Alysha nods. "Do with it as you wish. Its fate is tied to the weave," she says.
"I haven't been hugged like that since Harold.." she says, cackling as she mends the tears in her clothes.
Seeing Draco miss, Rakish just slits the beasts throat.
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On the dead villager's body, there are 10 days worth of rations that are still good, a dagger, and 10 arrows in his quiver. In a pouch, you also find a ruby worth 40 gp. Tucked in his belt is a map that is a rough sketch of the area, showing that Greenhall should be another day away. His shortbow and longsword are a stone's throw away from the body.
Alysha says to the ranger guide and the pixies. "Well, you could have warned us about those two. Any other dangers in the forest we should be looking out for? More dark fey?"
Raeva agrees that it is best to just put an end to the creature so that it can't cause any more harm.
Raeva is gathering the villager's things when he notices the creatures' tracks which he follows to their lair. Once he sees the contents, Raeva lets out a disapointed sigh "That's two of the villagers accounted for, unfortunately. We should give them their last rites." He looks to Draco to lead them in this.
"Do you think the gem was to be a peace offering to the elves?"
Drawing on his Elven heritage, Shoun begins moving through the grass, looking from ground to the canopy above and back again, until he arrives at a small den.
Without hesitation, he enters, and returns several moments later dragging what is left of a body.
He removes his cloak and lays it on the ground, then makes several trips back into the cave, returning with handfuls of coins. Once he is finished, he will say "Not a bad haul there, even if the cost was steep."
If there are no easy identifying marks on the villagers, Krissina will make a quick sketch of their faces (if not too badly marked), if they don't find all of the missing villagers, it is better their families know their fates than be left wondering.
Assuming the others aren't in a rush to leave she slips out her Lute, and plays quietly so as not to attract more attention.
"We know not the detail of how you lived your lives,
but you died trying to make what you could right.
Stray not to temptation on the plane of the fugue,
may your gods or goddesses find you and make you anew."
The last tones of the lute linger in the air for a while, and she slides it back away.
"We should keep moving, there are still more unaccounted for, I will not give up hope yet."
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A proper burial would mean getting them out of the cave and back into the city to bury them there. Maybe we can bargain with Jenny to have someone come in and remove the bodies. We give them last rites at a proper funeral. Draco helps gather the things of the villagers but leaves the bodies there, coins, weapons, and whatever else there is and helps carry them.
"Can't we inter them here and you say a few words? If that is too much, can you at least say a few words? These are not our enemies. We can't take their money and possessions and leave them out for the animals to eat while they rot. I don't want that to happen to me and I won't let that happen to them. If you're done looting the corpses, I'm going to try and allow them some dignity in death." Raeva turns his back on the cleric and begins to try and care for the bodies. He will bury them if he can, otherwise cover them with leaves and branches. Once that is done, Raeva will say a short prayer asking the gods to see to them in the afterlife. Only then will he leave, even if the others have already gone.
"There's a noble soul behind those horns," Alysha says. "Reminds me of someone who tried to charm me.. or rather seduce.. I'll stay and help, even if it's to keep watch and ensure we're not attacked by strange beasties!"
She'll keep watch and use her mage hand to help with the digging.
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Draco finishes looting the bodies of gold, weapons, armor and whatnot, he makes sure he has everything, except the very clothing on their bodies.
We can say a word or two, but we will need a shovel and lots of time to give them burial, we can't just dig a shallow grave it has to be at least four feet deep. I don't plan to leave them here, which is why we need to get these bodies out of here after we find Jenny, we drag the bodies out of here on our way out of the forest, or bargain with Jenny to allow the town to send lots of Strong people to remove the bodies from the forest.
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Draco, blesses some water from his waterskin, not with D&D magic, but in the same way a priest blesses regular water to turn it into holy water, sprinkles the bodies with holy water, not really D&D holy water, but well, you all know what I mean. Then says the Holy Mary, but replaces holy Mary with Selune.
He will come back for the bodies.
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Draco says blessing and performs last rites on the bodies, then you put the bodies out of the way, where you can find them again on your way out of the forest.
There is only an hour or less of light before it gets too dark to travel, and you put some distance from the bodies before bedding down for the night.
The night is full of giggling, wailing, and moaning as what the pixies tell you are the spirits of the departed emerge from the forest. For the most part, though, you all are able to get a restful night's sleep.
You travel well through the next day, as the ranger tells you that you are getting close. Soon, a wide glade of unsurpassed beauty, surrounded by a ring of trees, opens before you. Small shelters built halfway up the trees, accessed by spiraling staircases that circle the thick trunks, are pointed out by Serelis.
A handful of elves meander about daily life here, and upon seeing you retreat into shelters, calling out in alarm! A few of them snatch up weapons and move to meet you! They stop at a distance of 30 feet from you and spread out, before one calls out...
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The rites do not take that long, if you take the short rest, it will be dark before you move on, and thus will camp near the corpses. I do not mind either, just let me know which you'd prefer to do... It will just determine whether you have the bodies with you and you arrive at Greehall an hour later...
"Sneaking up on elves... that be impressive," Alysha says.
"We mean no harm! We are here to ask for safe passage and to rescue a bunch of fools who dared to wander into your domain, including a foul cultist who led them into a danger. We recognise that we have trespassed and we only ask for permission," Alysha says.
As he mentioned, Shoun says nothing to the Elves, but will translate for the group.
"We are here in peace, to try our best to right a wrong. Can you please hear us out?"
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As you respond to the elves, they stay stern, but after Krissina speaks, the leader relaxes almost imperceptibly... Things look like they may go your way until Pipyap makes a raspberry, Thpbpbpbth! What are you treating with these fools for? They are not the power here! You heard the pixies, didn't ya? They couldn't even beat Halvie! You guys got this!
The elves suddenly tense again and draw back on their bowstrings!
"Come now. We slew two foul beasts of the forest that moved like flickering shadows. We come with no ill intent and bear no dark intent," Alyssa says.
"An outsider in the village ignored your deal with the villagers, the villagers in turn tried to retrieve him and have paid dearly for thier efforts. Damage has been done but not irrevocably, we would seek to forge a deal anew so that no more blood needs be shed." Krissina keeps her arms raised away from her weapons in a show of peace.
Rakish remains quiet as the others speak.
Raeva tries to stay small and in the back.
He admires and wonders at Krissina. How she was so bold and almost dared anyone to mistreat her for her heritage. Then Pipyap jumps out and the elves' reaction reinforces his fears.
Raeva tries to stay small and in the back.
sighing, Shoun will step forward and say in Elven
"What my delightful young friend has said is true. This I swear by my father's name, who is a citizen in good standing of Myth Drannor. I give you my word that we do not seek to cause hostilities, and will leave your lands in good standing once we have completed our task. We will offer none violence save that which offers us violence first."
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Draco will bless Krissina, Shoun and himself, as Krissina speaks. Let Selune guide us on knowing what to say and do.
[dice=d4 added to Krissina's check]1d4
Bless is only for attack rolls and saving throws, and will not work in this situation. Your character would know this and you do not have to expend the spell slot.
The leader nods to one of the other archers, who leaves and shortly returns with some waybread and water, offering it to Shoun and Krissina while gesturing to them to pass it around to the others.
Alysha takes what's been offered and chews on it slowly.
Shoun will indeed pass it around to the group.
" Thank you for your hospitality. Do you happen to know which way they were headed? I'd like to get them out of here as fast as possible."