Milon:
"The Knifetongues are not Bandits, but Hobgoblin Hunters.
They use traps and are cruel hunters."
"Can't say I've heard of them, though Ludwig's warned me about some of the more disreputable folks lurking about the woods."
In a much lower voice, speaking largely to himself, he adds, "I assumed he just meant the Consortium boys."
The talk of hobgoblins leaves Corindus suspiciously scanning the treeline, as though expecting to see them on the forest's edge.
Despite the lack of apparent danger, he slides his off hand to the hatchet on his belt and unbuckles the hood over its axehead.
Milon:
Milon sees Corindus eying the treeline
"The Knifetongues prefer being a 20ft into the wood so as not to be spotted,
though the exception to that is when they raid a local farm for food."
"They go raid the farm as a last resort since they have no cover or hiding spots between the farm and the forest.
This means they will likely be spotted and a they won't get all what they want.
Heck I heard they tried to raid the Joshua farm this past week, and that Joanne threw a pitchfork at one as they fled back and nailed him in the ass.
And I only know this since Eli her father was here selling some fresh vegetables and fruits."
Jarlben Trookshavits:
"It's good to hear that those Knifetongues got a some pain for the trouble they cause.
Though I would prefer them dead, since they cause so much trouble for the workers and loss in man hours of work."
Kinshara nods at the new information. "We'll keep our eyes out, then. If we hope to make it to that campsite tonight, we better get going. Thank you again for your advice."
Once the party enters the forest and leaves behind the familiar sight of loggers, Corindus draws his cutlass.
He uses the blade to brush aside obstructing branches and shrubs, while also signalling to the Knifetongues or any other forest squatters that theirs was not a group to take lightly.
While leading the party northwards, Corindus keeps a sharp eye out for beasts, snares, pits, or any other dangers along the trail.
You enter the forest with no problems
Darion keeps a sharp eye as he handles his club
Kinshara will draw her longsword and take up a position at the rear of the group.
Ahhh!! So that is why some of the other Satyrs were laughing about some hobb being "Forked Over." Summers then reaches behind him and makes a jerking gesture.
I never did get that joke...
As they walk away from the pair, Summers pulls out a flask of whisky, takes a drought then pulls out his flute and begins playing a cheery traveling tune as they head into the forest.
While leading the party northwards, Corindus keeps a sharp eye out for beasts, snares, pits, or any other dangers along the trail.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Thick beads of sweat roll down Corindus' forehead, collecting on his eyebrows. With his free forearm, he wipes away the stinging drops that fall into his eyes.
Marching along the rough trail while shouldering his burgeoning pack is a different chore than normal for the sailor, but it evokes no complaints.
A lifetime of hard labor has trained Corindus.
He pauses, turning a quick eye over his shoulder to his new allies following behind him, then returns his watchful gaze to the winding game trails ahead.
Corindus and Darion notice something as they get very near the first location; Ulizmila's Hut Human traffic along the path decreased to zero for over a km and now there are 3 human tracks along the path
Darion nonchalantly gets Corindus’s attention and then whispers when he comes close
”What do you make of these tracks. You think they are the Knife-tongues we were warned about or something else maybe the witch and her minions perhaps. Regardless how should we continue”
Corindus squats down to examine the tracks. He lightly, idly taps the edge of his cutlass against the ground as he thinks.
He's spent time in the wild while trekking from Augustana to Oregent and the Vale, but most of Corindus' experience is on the sea or city streets.
Nevertheless, he struggles to glean whatever insight he may about these tracks: their age, their direction, the weight carried.
"I'm not sure. Listening to Ludwig's stories, I would've guessed this witch to be a hermit. If she kept company, I wouldn't reckon them to take human form. My wager would be on those Knifetongues, and if so, we should be wary of snares or pitfalls like they said back in the lumber camp."
Corindus feels a shudder course down his shoulders and spine that he can't explain.
"You know these woods better than any of us, Mr. Summers. Do any humans other than Ulizmila live this deep?"
Summers stops playing his flute, frowns for a bit and then squats down to look at the tracks, his reversed legs becoming glaringly obvious while he does so.
Nope. No clue. I just live here...
The Satyr shrugs apathetically a bit, a bored tone on his voice.
Wait, gimme a sec. If I remember right...
He starts thinking of something past...
Darion tries to remember anything about this area as he thinks on what to do and how they should proceed
you can't recall if a hag was ever mentioned with the rumors
"They were heading to the witch's hut, all right," Corindus muses with a shallow nod. He traces a finger along the footprints, gauging their depth. "Traveling light, too. One of them was actually barefoot. It's a damn fool hunter that goes out without boots or gear, so I'm beginning to doubt this was those hobgoblins. Whoever's waiting for us at that hut, I hope they're keen on helping the Hollow."
Darion consults with the others
”Does anyone else think that this may be a trap. If so what are some tactics that you think we should employ. My suspicions lead me to believe that we may be dealing with a coven of witches and not just the one”
"This could be a trap, Darion, but I don't think we have any reason to think so. If the creatures of the forest are stalking us, they have had ample time to ambush us during our discussion. The footsteps that Corindus found were travelling in the same direction, and it would be a poor hunter that would inform us of his presence before he attacks. I believe that valor would serve us better here. We should press onward and be vigilant."
"I've heard rumors of a hag or hags in the area both from the Fey side and the local human side,
though some of the rumors are decades old."
"When I was still a boy, the other sailors tried to scare me with stories about sea hags and drowned witches. It worked, too."
"Still, we need to move onward, for the sake of the Hollow, and hope that this coven will have some of that rat's tail root to spare."
"I just hope the rumor of a hag is not true,
and that it's a coven of some enchanting witches..."
Although trepidation remains high, Corindus steels his own courage and leads the party on, towards Ulizmila's hut.
With the daylight burning quickly, he hopes to secure the first part of the cure and reach the ruins Milon spoke of before nightfall.
Nevertheless, he is not foolhardy and keeps a sharp eye open for fey, witches, and other dangers.
Kinshara follow the party toward Ulizmila's hut with her sword drawn.
you spot a small scrap of cloth on the ground as you pass it.
Kinshara picks up the piece of cloth and examines it briefly.
Darion reluctantly follows with the thought in mind that a trap awaits them. He does however cast detect magic and scans the area as he maintains concentration on the spell
Darion you find things are getting quiet, a bit too quiet...
you spot a pair of shoes in a bush as you pass it.
Corindus scans the forest canopy, looking for birds, squirrels, or any sign of life. The silence unnerves him.
With the pulse at his temples growing loud in his ears, he draws his hatchet in his left hand to complement the cutlass in his right.
you all now feel as though your being watched
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Darion readies his club and also will ready a spell for potential conflict. He quickly tells the others
”Looks like something is watching us everyone prepare yourselves and let’s move to where we have better visibility if someone or something comes at us”
The forest is thick you.ll need to get to the hut or the ruins to get space and better visibility.
”let’s keep a sharp eye and move toward the hut or the ruins I don’t care which, just as long as we can see what approaches better if it decides to do so. I’d rather see what kills me if it’s my time to go”
Summers has been playing his flute this entire time, letting out a low, melodous tune as they walked, only now he has stopped playing it and looks at the rest of the group, slightly unnerved.
Umm. g-guys? Whats wrong? d-did you guys see something?
His voice shakes a bit and he stows his flute. Trying to put on a strong appearance, he says W-we are going to the hut, right? Well, l-lets get going!
Clouds are beginning to move in and darkening the forest and a light fog rises ever more..
”let’s move to the hut then and stay leary”
Darion cautiously continues forward towards the hut Spell at the ready and club ready too
The forest is growing ever more quiet...and ever more dim.....
a fog now covers an inch of the ground...
you can feel a chill in the air....
and something is watching you.....
Kinshara follows along as the rest of the party moves toward the hut.
Not one to be left behind, Summers scampers off after Darion towards the hut.
You all can now feel something is stalking you from where you came from and it's gaining...
a little sweet and seductive voice whispers in your heads....
"Run..."
Darion has learned to listen to premonitions and the voices in his head and he begins to run towards the hut with all haste
Hurry! Get to the hut! Kinshara says as she begins to run toward the hut.
Corindus suddenly feels like a child again, the frightful stories from the older sailors clutching at his brain.
He imagines a host of terrors behind him - harpies, hags, and other howling horribles - all urging him to run yet faster.
Mr Summers runs like a scared little forest elf
"Oh what the F*** is chasing us."
You all definitely hear a monstrous vocal sound behind you as you run.
The forest parts a head as you enter an open meadow with a small hut within a small fenced yard and all around is filled with a light fog and a rising moon.
2nd
wisdom checks and perception checks .....