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"A most astute observation, Alluriel. I would say that we should hope these foul critters end up in the Abyss so they can be tormented for eternity. Oh Mr. Skunk where are you going?"
Still on the ground Jurgan pulls out his hammer and whips in the direction of the extra foul skunk. Unfortunately the hammer hits ground nowhere near the skunk and returns to Jurgan's hand.
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"I doubt you'd kiss me, beardy, but i'll still say - missed me, missed me- "
Belegar
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Beavery (-5, blinded)
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Alluriel
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Foxy
Belegar charges the beaver.
Beavery gets it, as Belegar's sword strikes true.
Vaunu
Alluriel
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Foxy
Vaunu hustles over to the devil bird and slashes at it with his mitheral blade.
Alluriel waits for Shadow to give her flanking, before she starts clobbering the skunk.
Shadow flanks with her mistress and takes a bite out of the skunk.
With Belegar suddenly rushing off, both birds fire off a beam of fire.
Zapping for 4 in total.
Skunky gets a beating, but stays upright.
The scare is in the critters.
Foxy: "Guys, i think it best we skedaddle.", and makes a hasty withdraw at full speed from combat.
In the new round, all critters before the party make a run for it, knowing themselves outmatched as is.
Alluriel and Shadow make quick work of skunky.
Combat over!
"This place needs to be blessed in holy water! Where did those accursed critters come from?! It is amazing that anyone even lives in this town. Evil elementals? Vampires? Asmodeus worshipping animals? I wonder if The Five ended up being lost one of these crazed groups?" Jurgan gets up and starts dusting off his robes.
"I am NO priest," Alluriel answers, as she begins to tap everyone with her wand. "I am worried that they do try this trick on some one else less capable of defending themselves.
Vaunu searches the bodies for anything of value, he then turns to the others, "Shall we continue on our way or wait for our guide to return?"
"I'd say we burn the bodies to make sure they don't come back as something nasty.Again, I'm not sure how flammable the bodies are..."Alluriel then settles for decapictating the bodies then taking the heads somewhere else, like a river, to dump the heads in.
"We'll wait about 15 min for Lillaine since we aren't very good at getting along in the woods, if she doesn't show up, we'll find our way ourselves."
”When many creatures in a place are strange, perhaps the place is strange? Perhaps the problem lies deep-rooted?”
The skald muses.
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'Probably could skin them and eat them, but I doubt anyone would want to.' Shrugging his shoulders, Vaunu begins to gather wood for a fire. "No harm in getting rid of the bodies while we wait for the ranger."
smiling at Belegar's comment, as he attempts to light the fire with his flint and steel. "Yeah, between the vampires, headless horsemen and devil worshiping woodland creatures, I won't be moving here soon."
"Deep-rooted? I would daresay that it is the foundation of the whole town! We remove one brick and more will likely fall on us considering what we have already seen. Still let us hope this woman has some answers...likely it will just be more questions. As for the bodies I am no clergy but they need be bathed in holy water and buried deep deep out of sight."
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"I don't have any holy water, the best we can do is to take their heads to someplace there's holy water I suppose."
Vaunu searches the bodies of the fallen critters for...anything..but none of them are wearing anything besides their fur.
Decapitating Beary proves more of a bother than the others, but it happens.
Some of the nearby growth rustles, and Lillianne, atop of her wolf, leaps into the clearing.
Amusingly, a dead (familiar looking) fox in its jaws.
"I just met the weirdest fox i've ever seen.
Well, it's dead now."
She pats her wolf on the tap.
"Drop it."
(drops it)
"I couldn't find whatever flew overhead. It approached canopees too thick to follow. Anything happen here?"
”How weird are Asmodeus-worshipping awakened animals? I mean, they’re strange where I’m from but maybe not round here? We just met some.”
He points at the pile of heads, ”Got any holy water?”
"Yeah some Asmodeus worshiping animals nearly killed me." Alluriel grumbles. "I really hope they didn't get to the witch else they may have already sacrificed her."
Vaunu nods his head in agreement, "Quite the odd collection of creatures in these woods. Can we continue heading to the witches domain now?"
Lillianne nods.
"Alright, let's go."
Without any further problems, you arrive at a scene of trees having intertwined in growth, big enough for a natural grown abode.
Crude shaped windows, door and chimney sprouting in the scene.You notice that within a 50ft radius of the abode, effigies stand scattered.
Alluriel whispers to Lillaine, "Sorry, I don't want to be impolite, but what's the witch's name? So I can call out to her before entering."
"Funny you ask. She never gave me hers.
When i met her, she dismissed the topic, saying -that is of no importance-."
She shrugs.
"Maybe some superstition or a witches thing, or preferring mystery, i don't know for sure."
"It's a bit impolite to call people witch of the woods, since in many places witch has a deregatory meaning. Again among some spellcasters, secrecy is very important to them." Alluriel whispers back.
"Oh well, here goes."
"Hello, witch of the woods!Lillaine brought us here. We would wish to speak to you, if you could spare a few moments."Alluriel calls out to the house, waiting for a reply.
Lillianne waits by a tree, petting her wolf.
"You've got to do this on your own. I'll be waiting."
You notice that some of the effigies seem to have turned their tiny heads towards the group, as if observing you.
When Alluriel calls out, some of the younger trees nearby creak and bend.
"State your reason, and i -might- consider speaking with you."
"The town of Serenity Hollow has been beset by a vile creature that has been kidnapping townsfolk. Lillaine said you might be able to help us."Alluriel appeals to the voice. "I know you won't help for nothing, but we've cleared the route here of some Asmodeus worshipping animals that were trying to sacrifice innocent travelers. State your price and we'll do our best to fulfill it."
Keeping his thoughts to himself he can barely stomach the absurdity of making deals with this fraud. She was likely to ask for clippings from his well groomed beard. Yes that was definitely not happening.
'interesting, I wonder if these effigies are some sort of spirit guardians.' Looking around carefully, Vaunu finally chimes in, "Yes, we have seen many odd things and would desire to speak to you about them. We have heard that your wisdom is invaluable, though it may be bought with a price."
With some reasoning from Belegar, and some fancy educated words from Jurgan, the face seems to slightly frown.
"The township is of little concern to me. They leave me alone, and vice versa. The animals you speak of posed no threat to me, but good riddance anyway."
(slight pause)
"If you are so determined to do me a favor in exchange for meeting, do for me this.
There is an area to the north, a grove, which has fallen to unnatural decay. I went to retrieve an item of personal value, a gem, but the ground itself held me back. A bird flew by without a problem, but i was repelled. Maybe you are not. Bring me the gem, and we'll talk about what i could do for you."
Belegar raises an eyebrow and mutters to the group, "The effigies are watching us."
"Yes, we come seeking only the great wisdom of the forest."
"How does the gem look like? Does it have any properties we need to look out for? How far is the Grove from here, and which way do we travel to it? And how did the ground repel you? If it repelled you, would it repel us as well?" Alluriel asks the witch.
"Questions questions....
The gem is a green oval. The grove lies north from here.
The ground rose up, and where it did not, decayed vines sprew up. I do not know if it will repel you, that is for you to find out."
The face disappears, as the trees take their normal postures again.
"Did the bird manage to see the gem? Is the whole Grove covered with trees such that one might be able to grappling hook their way from one tree to another?"
After the witch has answered the questions, Alluriel chivies the party along to the Grove.
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Moving over to Lillianne, Vaunu asks quietly; "Which way is north? I really don't want to follow Alluriel around in the woods, lost again."
"Also, how close were you before the ground rose up?" Alluriel asks the witch. "Can the gem be seen from air?"
Did the bird manage to see the gem? Is the whole Grove covered with trees such that one might be able to grappling hook their way from one tree to another?"
The face in the trees is gone when Alluriel fires off more questions.
Lillianne to Vaunu:
"North's that way.", she points west of the field of effigies.
She then heads over with him to the others.
"I didn't hear it, but it's usually when the face in the trees disappears, when she doesn't bother anymore. She's a real hard nut when it comes to talking."
Assuming you tell her of the grove, Lillianne nods.
"I know of it, it's a good hour in that direction."
Alluriel tells Lillaine about the Grove and asks her to lead the way, having brought the group for an extended tromp in the woods to no avail the day before. She makes sure that ball of twine is still going around so they can find their way back to Serenity Hollow.
Lillianne takes you through the Woods, and it takes a good hour getting to the destination.
The woods ahead are in a state of decay. Grass has withered, and the bushes' leaves are a dark brown. The trees themselves have darkened.
The tranquility now more of an omen than a relief....until several cracking sounds eminate from the Woods.
There is a slight vibration in the ground.
A ripple is in the earth, heading towards you!
Belegar points to the ground ahead of the group, indicating a swelling and rippling in the earth. "Something coming this way, under the earth, get out of the way!"
"That ripple in the earth, over there!"
Trudging along following the others Jurgan is unaware of what is going on until Belegar shouts out his warning.
"Eh? What? The ground is moving?"
'A ripple? what ripple?' Vaunu looks around trying to figure out what the half-elf is talking about.