Glad it is over, now how do we thaw these people out of the ice? I can't just break the ice, I might shatter the people inside.
"A torch can thaw them out, given enough time I suppose..."
I don't have any torches, say, you're a fire sorcerer, do you have any unlimited fire cantrips that can melt the ice?
I don't have any torches, say, you're a fire sorcerer, do you have any unlimited fire cantrips that can melt the ice?
"Nothing that can do it which will guarantee those inside are not slain by fire instead of ice".
"You mean a torch like this one?" Opo says proudly waving his favored weapon around. "I'll Thaw them out!" Opo begins to use his torch to thaw out the people in ice.
Jan shakes its branches in worry. "I have met some funny creatures in my day - little humanoids, people who looked like rock, monkeys that talked. I have never seen anything like that before. I'm not sure I like going to human "carnivals"
Well, OP, that would work but it will take a while, and do it for every block would take days, there has to be a faster and better way. Maybe if we find that magic flower, that will dispel the ice block, as it is made from magic probably.
Jan rustles its branches. "Now now... illusion magic doesn't work that way. These folks are well and truly frozen. We might find a way to free them, but maybe not." It pets a spider as it crawls over a branch. "We must stop this evil, but we must be practical too. We should focus on the living."
"Yeah, let's just leave them. They look comfortable anyways. Being frozen isn't so bad I was frozen once, and I turned out fine. " Opo says and goes back to enjoying the fireworks.
|
Determined to find the fey queen for her help against the flower's magic...or perhaps find out if she is CAUSING the trouble, you head west away from the carnival and into the woods. Night has fallen, and under the dense trees things get very dark. Azalia glows faintly in the night as she leads you on. At first you hear the sounds of hoot owls and other night creatures. But the further you go the stranger the sounds get.
Blissfully unaware of anything Opo happily hums while skipping through the forest, occasionally giving the wolf a pat on its head.
Koddast follows the faerie gladly and tries to make note of the trails and means by which she leads, so that, if necessary, he can lead the company back out, or, a little more selfishly, if he wants to find his way back here in the future.
Lead on m'lady. The night approaches, and the dark powers will soon be at their zenith. Let's see if we can't get at the heart of the matter, and save all those hapless townsfolk from death by illusion.
"Do you hear those trees? How chatty! They're talking about secrets of fey magic - as if the know anything! Pay them no mind, you hear? I have a few cousins that shake their branches a lot in gossip but even they don't tell such bold faced lies!"
"Oh Jan, you are the only tree I hear talking. " Opo says jokingly. "I told you fairies were liars."
Tamar is noticeably uncomfortable entering the woods, "No ceilings above, Asmodeus knows what could fall right upon us..." he mutters.
Perception
|
|
You pass safely through the Whispering Trees until you come to a foggy grove. ()
The dew on the grass makes your boots (or roots?) wet. You can see your breath in the chill of the night, and the fresh smell of the fog fills your noses.
Up ahead you see a largish boulder, mabe 3 ft high. Not unusual at all, but suddenly Vsyla runs on ahead. She stops next to the boulder and sniffs. The she begins barking at it...
"Hey wolf, where are you going? Did you find that fairy?" Opo skips to his friend
What'd you find girl? Koddast draws his bow and nocks an arrow. Moving slowly toward the boulder.
What is it girl? Koddast says as he looks for clues.
"Oh no!" The ghoran bends down dabs some onto its fingers, sniffing the slime. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Oh Cool slime! I collect slime!"
|
|
As Koddast and Jan move forward and Opo collects the goo, the 3 foot high "rock" begins to sway back and forth. Then out from underneath, a slimey gooey slug-like body comes forth. It's a snail. A GIANT one!
"I know that slime, its like the Giant Snails I eat. We should find the snail and I will cook some for you all. " Opo says smiling.
"Oh... uh, like that one?" Jan points to the creature in front of them. "I wouldn't use magic on that thing. It might go poorly, very poorly, yes yes."
It readies its longspear in case the creature turns hostile.
Its a snail, so it is slow, thus distance
With that Aleon stands back 75 feet, which is where his longbow reaches and shoots at it.
so at that scene he whispers Got it, thanks. and he covers his ears when he hears them. He then continues on whispering. What is the price anyway, maybe that is a price I'm willing to pay.
|
|
Also, did you just flail snail us? Whoah...
As it's head fully emerges and it's feelers extend out, it speaks! Hi-dy Ho there! Who approaches the realm of the Fey Queen of the North, the Lady Syntari?
Then Aleon's looses an arrow at the slimey magical beast, but it bounces harmlessly off the snail's shell. It appears to be completely unconcerned with the attack. Now hold on just a second there Mr. Ogre! Yer gonna find yourself in a world of hurt if you keep that up!
Koddast takes several steps back, as the snail emerges from the shell, and calls Vysla off the scent. Come Vysla. He first whispers to Tamar. If this comes to a fight, save your magic friend. If my memory serves, this snail's shell would only reflect any magic back at you.
He then sizes up this giant snail. Realizing that, even after an ogre's arrow hit it, it still isn't aggressive, Koddast lowers his weapon to his side. Good morrow, uh, sir... Are you indeed the guardian of Queen Syntira? We have urgent need of her counsel. For we fear that a terrible curse is being laid upon the townsfolk of Falcon's Hollow. It's come to our attention that one of the famed Crystal Flowers is nearby, and may be corrupting all good thoughts.
"See I told you it was a giant snail, I know my slime. Now look here mister snail, just because I have ate some of you before doesn't mean we can't be friends, I have ate tree bark before and me and Jan are friends. I found this metal thingy on a lady I helped, and I will give it to you to be our friend."
"Sorry about that, Sir Snail. Aleon's a good sort - ummm, he's the ogre - he's just a bit on edge after all the dead bodies we have seen today. Not very normal 'tall. And Mr. Opo here is very nice too; we're all just friendly creatures. Yep! Although... Opo does play with fire a bit too much, that does make me a wee bit nervous. And he is a little rambunctious, especially, when he gets around his friends, or is lighting fireworks. Errr.. what was I talking about? Oh yes, we would love to see Lady Syntari. There are some sort of nasty unseelie called frost chiselers loose, and a magical flower besides. It's all very complicated and confusing."
Tamar stands in silence as the snail speaks to the group, This entire visit is getting odder as the minutes pass...
"See we can be friends! Did I mention I love slime? I collect it. Here I will share with you some since you shared with me." Opo offers the Giant Snail some slime he collected over the years from places better left unmentioned.
Tamar calls upon the gifts of the Drow to Levitate over the sloth before t can spread anything on him, I'll not allow such a filthy creature to place its funk over my fine boots and cloak.
He considers frying the thing with fire but hesitates, interested in what the fey has to say next.
"What mission is this Azalia has been sent upon? Have you brought us here under false pretenses creature?" the Drow's eyes narrow. "You'll find I am am not as forgiving as the surface dwellers you have dealt with in the past if you have..."
A talking snail? And here I mistaken you for a monstrosity or beast of some sort. I didn't know you were an intelligent creature, I was just trying to protect nature.
Koddast holds Vysla still so Gwern can pass his slimy feelers on them both. The she-wolf is none too happy with the situation, but does not ignore her master's hand of control. We've come for your aid Gwern, Azalia has not told us of any other reason to be here. I hope you'll start explaining and soon, or you'll find us quick and ready enough to turn from friendly to hostile.
|
Thats when Arael, who had been standing quietly all along suddenly speaks from behind you. Azalia was only following my commands...
As you turn you see she has changed. Although she remains attractive in feminine form, her waste has is now unnaturally skinny and her arm just slightly too long. Her fingers also, elongated and her ears grown pointier even than Tamars! Where she once wore the heavy clothing of a traveler she now wears a green luminous gown that flows strangely like the surface of an algea laden forest pond.
I am Syntira, Mistress of the Fey Forests of the North. I sent Azalia to find warriors who could save your town from the horror they face this night, even as we speak.
"Terror eh? Our definitions may diverge widely, tell me what you believe will befall the locals which is so terrible to behold fey?" Tamar asks flatly.
"I am pretty strong, I once wrestled a pig and won! But I already helped two ladies today and I am kind of tired. Can we it tomorrow?"
Opo says yawning.
Koddast stands aghast for a full minute one hand gripping his bow, the other the scruff of Vysla's neck. Staring at the queen of the wood, the head of the proverbial snake that has been his nemesis for so many years in his fight to protect the lumber consortium, Koddast is frozen in shock unable to act. Vysla growls and pulls against his grip but he still just stares at the transformed fey queen.
Syntira... Is all he can get past his dumbfounded lips.
Now, just a second. If Azalia was meant to be caught in the jar, how did she know she wasn't going to be sold or anything? That was a brave but risky move.
Anyway, how do we unfreeze the people in the ice blocks out quickly without risking them to die?