"He should have let some kind of warning. It was a very dangerous thing to do to set up so many traps, without thinking in other persons. We should find this hunter, and make him change his ways."
Gavriil nodded along with Naralesh and Talia. He sure as anything didn't know anything about hunting either, so he kept his mouth shut. It wasn't until Magna spoke that he chimed in. "I don't think he would have even thought about other people. Besides Oleg and Svetlana and the crazy hermit, the bandits are the only people we've seen out here. He probably didn't know any better."
"When Dregan has recovered, perhaps he can follow the hunter's trail." He looks about. "Innocent intentions or not, these are too dangerous to lie in the open. Any traveler or hunter out here could lose a leg."
Naralesh bends down to inspect one of the sprung traps. "These are impressive devices. I suspect Oleg would be happy to purchase any of them we recovered from this area. Or we can return them to this trapper, if he can be located."
"Let's find and disable as many of this traps as we are able to find."
Magna will take 20 to make sure no trap remains a danger to anyone else.
"Agreed, Gavriil. When we find this trapper, we educate him, but we don't blame him. Or her."
Talia frowns, her brow furrowing as the talk to turns to taking the traps. "Naralesh, I don't know that we should be taking this trapper's livelyhood. Surely he or she has a lot of money invested in these traps. We could take them back to Oleg and Svetlana's for safe keeping, with the condition that the trapper get them back once he or she understands that what was done is dangerous, and that in the future the trapped areas are marked so that people coming through will be aware of the danger."
Her argument said, the playwright goes to assist Magna in searching for traps.
Dregan screams and goes done in the water, even after the the trap is removed and Magna heals the surface damage and splints the leg is it obvious that Dregan is in a lot of pain. After a while the pain seems like the pain lessens and Dregan starts to pay attention to the conversation again. "I'd say tha trapper was after somethin' in particular what 'e knows what comes 'ere. I'd say our fey friends since we know they are near by but they fly so deese traps won't work. Happen Asha's Bear. Might well be an vende'a. Maybe 'e was after tha bandits tha killed 'is family or some uther in'elligen' prey so 'e couldn't mark tha area. In a momen' I'll 'ry an' stand, if yew lot 'aven't destroyed all tha tracks I'll see if there is signs ov any creatures 'ere what 'e might 'ave been after"
Dregan gets up carefully with some help and hobbles around look for tracks for a bit.
A quick search shows that this area has at least a dozen more traps hidden about the ford. Notably, all of these traps are cunningly hidden, even from two-legged prey.
AS they continue exploring Magna will remain at Dregan's side, helping him as much as she able.
Gavriil saddled back up once they were sure that the traps had been cleared. The easy smile had faded from his face, but he still whistled a tune. This little incident opened his eyes a little of how dangerous a job they were undertaking really was.
When Dregan explains that trappers usually mark their traps so that people can avoid them, Talia's jaw sets in a firm line. "Well then, I suppose I owe Naralesh an apology. We should absolutely take these traps - and the let trapper know in no uncertain terms that such reckless behavior will not be tolerated."
"Yes lets keep moving, I could look fer tracks a little further away but there would be more ground t' cover. I fnk i' is very likely 'e was after in'elligen' prey. Be'er t' continue exploring, now we 'ave 'is traps 'e'll 'ave ter go ter buy mawer, 'opefully from Oleg." Dregan nods thanks to Magna, "I might be alright once I'm on Bargriv, but i' gon'a be 'ard ge'in' up on 'is back."
Gavriil rode along easily with the others. As the landscape rolled by, he kept an easy smile on his face, sometimes he whistled, sometimes he sang bawdy tavern songs.
Dregan rides only a little ahead of the other, while he tries to hold back his groans occasionally the others can hear his pain.
Smiling at Gavriil Dregan joins in a few of the songs half hoping the remaining bandits will be lulled into ambushing them.
As the group rides deeper into the woods, Talia admires the old growth forest, a mixture of towering pine and deciduous trees. The farther the charter-bearers go into the heart of the forest, the more the forest floor is clear of heavy overgrowth, as the trees overhead have crowded out the sunlight, even this early in the spring. The lack of sunlight adds an additional chill to the air, but Talia doesn't mind. She wraps her travelling cloak tightly around herself, and admirs the off-key singing of the scout and the cad, while keeping her eyes on the forest and pointing out the possibility of threats to Dregan as the day passes by.
The woods here hold no secrets, nor do you find any more bandits. The camp remains much as you left it, without any sign of disturbance.
The next morning, Talia wakes early, a crick in her neck. Getting some coffee going over the coals of last night's fire, she waits for the others to rise, sipping her coffee and chewing on some jerky from her rations.
"I think Asha's bear is to the west. We should head there next, and then perhaps loop home?"
The crick in her neck proves painful and distracting. Despite the beauty of the forest around her, Talia barely pays attention to the landscape, lost in thoughts of the comforts of Restov.
"How are you Dregan? Do you feel like hunting bears?"
She takes care cleaning Dregan wound and remaking his splint.
"Much be'er vanks, a wound like what should take weeks t' 'eal. I feel much be'er. I certainly could shoot me bow, but I doubt I could do much runnin' if what was required. I'll be fine fer a bear. And I agree wiv Talia, look fer dis bear then circle back fruff unexplawerd area on tha way 'ome. "
Magna keeps near Dregan, ready to assist him if needed.
Dregan seems to making more and more use of his leg as the days go past, he is however very careful of it particularly when getting on and off his horse.
"I am certainly grateful you're with us, Magna. We'd be in a very tight spot without Dregan up and about." The elf seems in better spirits today, having mostly shaken off his earlier malaise.
The hex is covered in more old-growth forest, and patches of thick brambles make exploration difficult. One such patch, catches Dregan's eye as you approach.
The thick tangle of brambles gives way into a large clearing in the woods, its border partially defined by ruined stone pillars. The western face of the clearing is dominated by a looming, upthrust ridge of rock, nearly 300 feet across and rising to a moss-topped height of 100 feet at the center. The side of this towering boulder facing the clearing has been carved in the likeness of an immense elk, its antlers drooping down from its weathered face to frame a 50-foot wide cave entrance.
A flight of stone steps leads up to this cave entrance from the forest clearing—both the steps and elk face look quite old and are thickly encrusted with layers of moss. A 50-foot-long oval pool sits in the middle of the clearing, its waters thick with algae.
Magna looks around warily while retrieving her lance and shield...
"The bear lair... keep your eyes open..."
She readies a charge against any creature attacking.
Talia dismounts and ties her horse to a tree at the far end of the clearing. Drawing her longsword from her scabbard, in case she needs to quickly cut the rope tying Noleski, the playwright moves forward slowly, towards the pool.
Crouching at the pool, Talia moves some of the algae around with her sword, looking for signs of "the great evil" that Asha described from her vision, before moving forwards towards the shrine's entrance.
Dregan follows Talia and then blushes and speaks quietly to Talia "Can yew give me a 'and down?"
As the group approaches, Naralesh murmurs the words to a protective incantation. "Imbicatus sonorum ventas." He feels his clothes shift almost impercetably as unseen armor plating appears around his body. He draws his bow and dismounts Susan, tying the mare to a tree beside Noleski, and approaches closer, staying further back from the entrance than the others by a few paces. He can't help but stare at the massive structure above them. What culture built this titan? he wonders. If talk in Restov is to be believed, this land is an unexplored wilderness. Who's going around creating such massive art?
Talia extends her hand, palm up, for Dregan to grab. "Of course, Dregan. I know you'd do the same. Put your weight on my hand and swing your injured leg around. I'll catch you. If need be, I'll help you get back on that horse quickly as well!"
"Thank yew me lady." he says as he climbs down carefully. Having tied up his horse he readies his bow and joins Magna at the entrance to the area.
For a moment all is silent around the pool. Then the silence is shattered by a terrible roar! Out of the cave entrance charges a huge bear, 800 hundred pounds of teeth and muscle bearing down on you.
Magna's eyes widen, and a prayer leaves her lips.
"Torag grant me strength!"
She charges against the bear, her lance aiming to the middle of the great beast.
Magna's lance does a grievous hurt to the bear, tearing its hide along the great beast's side. The bear roars in wrath, shaking the shrine and its surrounds, as stands to its full height to strike at Magna. Claws and fangs, the the bear tears at paladin and her horse. One claw strikes her horse, great gouts of blood spewing from the animal's neck. Magna herself is caught by a savage bite, which tears flesh from her shoulder.
Naralesh cries out as the massive beast viciously attacks Magna and her horse. Concerned for the dwarf, he rushes through the complicated and strenuous channeling of energies of his summoning spell in half the usual time. "Inimitas valorum existanti! Celestum inimix existanti!" With a screech that echoes through the trees, a radiant eagle bursts into existence directly opposite Magna, slashing and biting into the bear in a flurry of razor-sharp talons.
The surge of magical energies takes a mighty toll on the elf's body, however. He winces in pain, the arcane energies leaving him drained and weak. He staggers to the side, gritting his teeth as his mind turns already to his next spell.
Dropping her longsword, Talia runs close to the bear, drawing her sling as she moves, along with a small pat of butter, wrapped in waxed paper. Rubbing the butter pat between her fingers, she whispers a couple of arcane syllables, the playwright's voice high and scratchy with panic, and then waves her hand at the ground by the back of the bear. The ground under the bear's hind legs bubbles and grows slick with rendered whale fat.
[dice=Ride Check]1d20+2
Gavriil was shocked from the reverie he had been bored into after finally reaching the shrine by the roar of the bear. He drew his rapier and launched himself towards the bear, chasing after Magna. "BEAR WITH ME, MAGNA!" he said, stifling a laugh at his own terrible pun, "I'll be right there!"
Dregan focuses on the bear steping slight to his left to get a better line and then releases two arrows at the bear.
The bear roars in fury as the golden eagle tears into the tough hide. Talia and Gavriil race forward to aid Magna, hoping to reach her in time.
Needless worry.
Dregan coolly steps to get a clear line of fire, and plants an arrow deep into the eye of the huge beast, killing it.
A strange thing happens. As the bear falls, it makes an almost human-sounding sigh of relief, then collapses in on itself, transforming first into an incredibly old human man with a look of peace in his eyes, and then a moment later crumbling into a skeleton and thence to dust. At this moment, the entire shrine seems to grow more vibrant and colorful. The water in the pool becomes crystal clear, smelling of green forests and verdant landscapes.
Magna painfully unmounts, and sights with relief.
"Thanks Dregan! I was not sure I could keep up with the beast for more time... Thanks everyone, your courage makes you valuable allies."
Magna uses her Lay on Hands ability to heal the horse and herself.
Naralesh stares in wonder at the bear as it undergoes its bewildering transformation. "What manner of magic..." he whispers. He approaches the body, looking down at the pile of dust that was, for a moment, a human form. "You all saw the same as I?" he asks, still in awe.
"Yes, poor cursed soul. I pray we have released it from an eternity of torment."
Talia, much like Naralesh, stares as the bear fades from bear to human, and then to nothing. I thought we were going to lose someone there. Shaking her head to bring herself out of her morbidity, Talia thinks for a second about what could have been going on with the bear, but is unable to come up with an explanation. "Magic, indeed. I've not seen anything stranger."
Coming back to the present, she notes with alarm Magna and her horse, both scaped and bloody. Removing the wand from her pack, Talia concentrates and utters the command word that Oleg told her ("Di melius!"), touching the wand to Magna's wounds, and then the horse's, amazed as they begin to fade. That Oleg has valuable connections back in Restov!
Placing the wand back in her pack, Talia begins searching the area poking at things with her longsword, before entering the cave...
Magna bows to Talia.
"Thank you, I feel much better now."
She ties his horse to a solid branch, and stores his lance and shield, getting his greataxe.
"Let's see what else is in the temple."