Euron nods with a toothy grin. "Aye, I like your thinkin' Hiram. This stag ain't gonna just sit around at his water hole with all the damage we been doin' At least, I wouldn't."
The druid glances worriedly at their make-shift caravan as they continue to trod along to Oleg's. "Best we get our cargo dropped off at Oleg's and back on the hunt as quickly as we can..."
Starday, Pharast 30 - Evening
The companions set up camp in the sheltered valley nestled in the hills. With a little scouting, Euron finds a freshwater spring and Ol' Nell Hardesty sets to making a hearty stew for dinner. Hiram and Jamison see to all of the animals, while Tyr and Cinders secure the prisoners. Karthas and the Hardesty girls work at setting up tents. To anyone paying attention, it is obvious that the eldest Hardesty girl, Vianne, is making an effort to remain near Karthas.
Eseldra sits upon a rock studying the remains of the spellbook recovered from the bandits. The elf wizard mutters angrily to herself as she becomes more and more agitated, finally flinging the book away in a huff.
During the meal the companions begin to discuss their options for tackling the Stag Lord, although no definite plan is formed. Once the meal is completed, watches are set and those not sitting up turn in for the evening. Thankfully the evening passes uneventfully.
4En: ;
3Fe: ;
3Fn: ;
2Ee: ;
1Ee: ;
1En: ;
The day dawns cool but clear, with a scattering of clouds to the west. The companions break camp and continue moving northward through the hills of the Kamelands. At one point during the journey, a pack of six wolves bound up to the group, baying and yipping happily as they greet Niko and Euron, and giving Ol' Nell Hardesty a fright. The old woman takes several swigs from one of her jugs of 'med'cine' to settle her nerves, and is soon dozing (and snoring) for the rest of the afternoon. As the day draws to a close, the companions find a suitable campsite within a small grove of trees in a sheltered valley, approximately half a day's ride south of the gold cave.
Tyr uses the journey time to quietly talk to the prisoners. Subtly trying to gauge their personalities, to learn what events transpired to make the men behave the way they have.
Looking at the map he notes,
"There are almost five areas yet unexplored North of and 'around' the Stag Lords lair." He also adds.
"There are almost five areas yet unexplored North of and 'around' the Stag Lords lair." He also adds.
"I'm sure that we will get to them when we return south, my friend." Karthas looks at the map over Tyr and Euron's shoulders "Still looks like our best bet is to continue north as directly as we can. Hopefully we won't have to go too far out of the way to avoid the forest." he says, pointing to a route through uncharted portions of the map.
The Kellid has begun to become more comfortable around Vianne, but still keeping a wary eye towards Old Nell and any disapproving looks that might be shot his direction.
Sense Motive:
Tyr looks up at Karthas,
"Oh, I didn't mean now." He offers a grin, "I was more talking to myself and thinking about the direction to head when we head back at the Son of a.." Tyr catches his tongue, grins and offers Karthas the map for the other man's perusal.
Eseldra peers intently at the spellbook, her twitching tail freezing mid-thrash. She hops down off her rock and goes over to the spell book, staring at it. She casts detect magic.
Feather:
Other:
Eseldra pulls a swan feather and another small object from the binding of the book and hunches over the pair of items, studying them carefully. Any questions are met with a curt shush.
Seeing Karthas working closely with Vianne, and giving a weary eye to Old Nell, Hiram moves in.
He sidles up next to Old Nell, and points to a spot across the fire
"Be mindin' if I join ya? I have some questions and would like to sit and visit, if it ain't no bother?"
<>
Hiram moves to sit down, then stops, "While I'm up, you need a refill or some food or somethin'? I didn't cook, so it should be pretty good."
<>
"That stew you made last night was some good vittles! I am much obliged.
He settles across the fire from Ol' Nell, poking at the fire with a stick, and speaking with her in soft tones.
<>
"So what's yer plans? Care to stay on at Oleg's for a bit? Or is y'all goin' to move on?"
Listening, Hiram nods when appropriate and tries to make sure she pays attention to him
<>
"Hmm, also, I know'd it may seem rude, but for my own wonderin', do y'all subscribe to any of the gods as particular, or just look at the whole bunch of 'em? I find my self in service to Old Deadeye, and my interest turns more and more to such matters...the common folk and all."
The weathered druid rides along with the rest of the caravan, occasionally departing to scout ahead of the group. With his one good eye, Euron would look back towards Karthas, an unspoken look inquiring if he would be riding ahead in the company of the Kellid. Sometimes the druid would see the barbarian's attention focused at Vianne, at which point he'd smile to himself and scout ahead on his own.
Tyr's attitude slowly becomes quieter and more stoic as the group continue towards Oleg's
He does raise an eyebrow and has a soft smile for Eseldra's antics though,
Hidden also in the bindings is a folded piece of parchment which just happens to have the identify spell. Eseldra is much happier now with this book and sets about learning this new spell.
Spellcraft:
Then, once she identifies the feather tokens, she's back to being surly and grumpy.
Holding them up for others to see, she announces, "These are great items to have...if you're out in the middle of the ocean or a big lake. Same for the spells in the book. I'm guessing whoever owned it before us liked water magic. Unfortunately, we're not really in a position to use magic items meant for ocean vessels, although this one will instantly make a very nice boat out of nothing that will last all day."
Eseldra's news brings a small smile to Tyr's features and her jubilant mood goes some way to lightening his dour countenance.
"Good-o!" He replies, "It's good to hear that there was something salvageable from those pages."
As the day draws to a close, the companions find a suitable campsite within a small grove of trees in a sheltered valley, approximately half a day's ride south of the gold cave. The companions go about their regular tasks of establishing camp: setting up tents, seeing to the animals, securing the prisoners, and hunting for game to supplement the trail rations. Ol’ Nell Hardesty finds a comfortable spot on a fallen log to direct her granddaughters’ preparations of the evening meal for the party while taking nips from one of her jugs of ‘med’cine.’ Euron and Niko disappear into the trees, returning a while later with a small deer and a brace of rabbits. Hiram and Jamison see to the care and feeding of all of the horses and secure the wagons. Karthas and Cinders swiftly set up all of the tents, while throughout Tyr maintains a guard on the prisoners.
Eseldra continues to study the remains of the spellbook discovered in the bandit loot. Her growing frustration momentarily turns to joy as she finds items hidden in the binding, only to have her enthusiasm quashed as she realizes the items are of little use in the forested hills. Her resulting tantrum does elicit a slight smile from Tyr, whose mood has turned darker over the course of the day as he has spent time around the prisoners.
The group shares a companionable meal around the campfire as darkness falls. The Hardesty twins Vala and Vanna are particularly interested in talking with Cinders, asking the Varisian to describe the various lands through which she had traveled. Vianne Hardesty spends the meal talking with Karthas, asking the Kellid questions about his past and his life in Numeria. Seeing the interaction between his friend and the eldest Hardesty granddaughter, Hiram seeks to distract Old Nell.
"Be mindin' if I join ya? I have some questions and would like to sit and visit, if it ain't no bother?"
”By all means, sit right down, young Hiram. Ain’t no bother t’ answer yer questions. Vala! Vanna! Fetch us another jug of th’ med’cine,” Nell calls to the twins. ”Get one fer th’ elf lass too! She looks ‘bout cross ‘nough t’ spit snakes,” the old woman adds. The two girls go to the wagon and fetch the requested jugs and bring one to Eseldra and the other back to their grandmother, sitting down on either side of Hiram.
"While I'm up, you need a refill or some food or somethin'? I didn't cook, so it should be pretty good."
”Maybe a bit more o’ that ven'son, thankee kindly!” Nell responds to Hiram’s offer. ”If’n yer interested in learnin’ t’ cook, I’m sure the girls an’ me could teach ye a bit.”
"That stew you made last night was some good vittles! I am much obliged.
”Why thankee!” Nell responds with a smile. ”Kind of ye t’ say. Now the girls’ mother Maura... SHE was quite the cook... Ph’rasma rest her soul.” The old woman’s expression turns wistfully sad for a few moments.
"So what's yer plans? Care to stay on at Oleg's for a bit? Or is y'all goin' to move on?"
”Well, not much place fer us t’ move onta. Th’ farmstead’s gone. Th’ girls an’ me are all we’ve got left. Mayhaps we’ll stay on at Oleg’ fer a bit. Might send word to Nivakta’s Crossing an’ see if any of our kin there could take us in...”
"Hmm, also, I know'd it may seem rude, but for my own wonderin', do y'all subscribe to any of the gods as particular, or just look at the whole bunch of 'em? I find myself in service to Old Deadeye, and my interest turns more and more to such matters...the common folk and all."
”Hardesty’s ‘ve always been followers of Ol’ Deadeye. Through th’ good an’ th’ bad, He always provides. Says a lot ‘bout yer character that He’s accepted ye t’ His service. Stay true t’ His will, young Hiram, an’ ye’ll turn out alright.”
The rest of the meal passes uneventfully, and everyone turns in for the evening as Euron and Hiram take the first watch.
H:
Ms:
Ks:
Ps:
The first watch passes uneventfully and Euron and Hiram awaken Karthas and Tyr for the second watch.
T:
Ms:
Ks:
Ps:
The second watch also passes uneventfully and the watchers awaken Eseldra, Jamison, and Cinders for the third watch.
Ks:
Ps:
E:
J:
C:
Eseldra goes over to the others on watch and whispers, "Giant-kin in the bushes planning on eating us. Ogres I'd guess by the grammar."
"Let the others know what's going on," she whispers to Jameison and Cinders. She steps forward towards the whispers form the bushes, casts a prestidigitation, and shouts out in a loud voice in Giant.
"We hear your pathetic ramblings, and you should be grateful we have, or you would have just made a most serious error in judgement. We are not just 'puny little humans'; we merely adopt this disguise when travelling through these lands." She raises her hands above her head and causes colourful illusory sparks to start swirling about her with the cantrip. "I am Vash-Ti, queen of the Valknori, and these are our prisoners." She casts a silent image through her ring and creates some sort of fantastical form of a 60-foot tall humanoid with thick muscles, skin of magenta scales which glint in the fire light, and eyes of vibrant red which mirror her earlier sparks. The image rises up from her position to its full height, and holds a massive 4-pronged trident in one hand, and a flanged mace in the other. Eseldra hides herself within one of the thick legs of the image. Will DC 15 if interacted with
"Your one chance at salvation - come out from those bushes you cower in, kneel at my feet and worship me! Give me your allegiance here and now or my minions will feast upon your flesh while I fill you with unholy fires so hot your meat will sere and your bones crack!"
Bluff:
Not too bad, I guess.
”If’n yer interested in learnin’ t’ cook, I’m sure the girls an’ me could teach ye a bit.”
Suddenly eying the two girls on either side of him, Hiram gulps and shrugs.
Ain't no different that sittin' with my sisters at home, I 'spose. Not in a position to marry, Ol' Deadeye ain't done with me fightin' arm just yet.
He turns his eyes back to Granny with a relaxed grin, "Ain't fit nor right for a man to not know how to cook, the basics anyhow. I 'spose I'll have to take lessons from y'all. And I'll pay a fair price for't too. No arguments. You can take your price in trade or coin...up to you."
"...Mayhaps we’ll stay on at Oleg’ fer a bit. Might send word to Nivakta’s Crossing an’ see if any of our kin there could take us in...”
"Choose as you will, but please let me know which way you end up. I like yer company, but I've no right to keep you from kin."
"Hardesty’s ‘ve always been followers of Ol’ Deadeye. Through th’ good an’ th’ bad, He always provides. Says a lot ‘bout yer character that He’s accepted ye t’ His service. Stay true t’ His will, young Hiram, an’ ye’ll turn out alright."
Hiram nods, makes the usual sign of a follower of Old Deadeye, "I ain't zackly one of his priests or anthin', more on the fightin' and protectin' side of things, but if I can help...why Granny and girls, you just let me know."
Hiram spends the rest of the evening fetching things for the girls and for Granny, food, water, and so on. He maintains a humble nature, though he does his best to hide a grin when looking at Karthas and Vianne.
Nice to help this family out...makes me miss my sisters and Granny.
Ksm:
Psm:
Jamison and Cinders move to awaken their companions as Eseldra boldly moves to confront the voices in the woods.
"Vi hör din patetiska ramblings, och du bör vara tacksam att vi har, eller skulle du ha just gjort ett mycket allvarligt fel i domen. Vi är inte bara "ynkliga lilla människan", vi bara anta denna förklädnad när man reser genom dessa länder. Jag vash-Ti, drottning av Valknori, och dessa är våra fångar." Karthas, Tyr, Hiram, and Euron awaken to hear Eseldra's voice boom in an unknown language. As they look to the northern end of the camp, they see her appear to transform into a 60-foot tall humanoid with thick muscles, skin of magenta scales, and eyes of vibrant red holding a massive four-pronged trident in one hand and a flanged mace in the other. "Din enda chans på frälsning - kom ut från dem buskar du krypa ihop i, knäböja vid mina fötter och tillber mig! Ge mig din lojalitet här och nu eller min hantlangare kommer att festa på din kropp medan jag fylla dig med oheliga bränder så varmt ditt kött kommer sere och dina ben spricka!" the massive form booms again in stentorian tones.
The Hardesty girls awaken with screams of fright. The prisoners awaken with cries of panic. The horses whinny and neigh in alarm and begin to struggle against their hobbles. Ol' Nell continues to snore peacefully.
"Åh waily waily waily! Det är Drottningen av Valknori! Hon kommer att bränna upp oss och äta oss!" a voice from the trees cries. "Åh nej! Vad skall vi göra?" a second voice wails.
"Oh no! What'll we do?" another voice wails.
"Now jes hold on here a minute," a third voice says a bit calmer in a loud whisper. "Ain't heard o' no 'Valknori' afore. Tartuk ain't said nuthin' 'bout no Valknori. If she's so big an' bad, why ain't she rulin' these here parts?"
"What're you, crazy! She's gonna eat us alive!" the first one loudly whispers in protest.
"Yeah! We're goners fer sure if'n we don' do what she says!" adds the second one.
"Oh yeah? They's jes one o' her. Let's see what she can really do," the calmer voice says. "Padunk, you go that a'way. Kachunk, you go that a'way. 'Member, like Tartuk said..."
Cinders moves to calm the Hardesty girls. "There is nothing to worry about," she whispers to them. "It is merely Eseldra when she is angry."
Tyr rises and lifts his sword. Simply letting its scabbard fall away as he does his best to limber up and prepare for a fight.
Karthas wakes and reaches for his blade while looking around to see where the Hardestys are at in comparison to the unfriendly voices.
As Jamison moves in response to Eseldra's requests, his mind comes out of a fog he has been in all day.
Alright, 's true, ah was hopin' Mary'd be with these folk, an' she wasn't. But Ol' Deadeye don't reward folk who lean on their pitchforks whilst others are bearin' the load o' the work. Get yer ass in gear, Jamison!
Deadeye, yer light if yuh please, beggin' yer pardon, the priest mutters under his breath, surprised as ever when his enormous axe begins to emit a soft radience.
Ah don't know as ah'll ever get used t' this, the burly farmer wonders as he quietly calms the civilians.
Ksm:
Psm:
Msm:
"Padunk! Kachunk! Heed inte din vän, för han ledande dig i fördärvet Jag utesluter inte dessa delar helt enkelt eftersom jag inte vill jag är nådig, men det finns bara en hoppas på att slippa er undergång!.. offra din vilseledande kamrat till mig, och jag kommer att bespara dig. Döda honom, eller dö själva!" the massive figure that was Eseldra booms.
"Hörde du det! Hon vet våra namn! a voice from the trees cries.
The cry is followed by a loud fleshy SMACK and a cry of pain.
The wail is followed by a loud fleshy smack and a cry of pain. "Shaddap ya fool! Manunk's right! Ain't no such thing as Valknori! Tartuk woulda told us!" a second voice loudly whispers.
"S'right!" the third voice - presumably Manunk - adds in a lower whisper. [/b]"Now stick t' th' plan. Most of 'em's skeered an' don' know where we're at yet..."[/b]
Ps:
Ks:
Cinders:
Eseldra:
Euron:
Hiram:
Jamison:
Karthas:
Tyr:
Euron stir from a restful slumber, where he had been imagining himself standing atop a large hillside overlooking a torrential downpour flooding a river valley full of bandit squatters.
His large ranseur never far - even in sleep - he grabs it swiftly while jumping to his feet and surveying the campground. He takes up a defensive position with the other warriors, who seem to be unusually relaxed despite a large tentacled creature arguing with a handful of ogres on the horizon.
With a nod, he issues his first spoken word of the morning - his vocal chords crackling with lack of use - "Niko, guard.". The wolf obeys immediately, heading to protect the Hardesty girls from any possible harm.
"There's a group to the north, plus more trying to flank us from the east and west. Be ready!"
He takes up a defensive position with the other warriors, who seem to be unusually relaxed despite a large tentacled creature arguing with a handful of ogres on the horizon.
Hiram scrambles out of his tent, barechested with his leather breeches on, with his chain shirt slung over his shoulder. His shield, bow and quiver, and shortsword stuffed into one hand.
Placing the bow and quiver within easy reach, he unsheathes the sword, and stabs it into the earth to make it easy to grab.
He drops the heap and starts to put on his new chain shirt.
"Granny! Girls! Quick, one of you come help me get this on!"
He drops the heap and starts to put on his new chain shirt.
As he begins to shrug into the cold metal links Tyr calls,
"A little help here?" To any one who is not getting ready to get into the fight.
Initiative:
Round 1 Perception: