The group continues to discuss each other's plans and destinies as the fire burns low. Some sleep as others keep a vigilant watch, nothing comes near the group that can be easily seen. The howl of a wolf can be heard in the distance but nothing more comes of it.
Once morning comes Florian will begin his study of his spells as usual, also practicing his swordsmanship with various forms and maneuvers, after he is finished,
"So where are we off to today?"
"New adventures!"
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Blienka arrives back at the campsite and is silent contemplating what she saw that evening.
Perception:
With her mind on other things, she does not pay much attention to her surroundings during the evening.
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In the morning, as the group prepares, she speaks up.
We need to go farther south. I believe a terrible deed was done there and needs to be corrected. Last night, I spoke with one of the noblest denizens of the wild, a unicorn. He told me that his mate had been murdered and that some fell magic kept him from consecrating her corpse.
I must go there to see that this fallen creature is allowed to pass to the next life, and that whatever murdered her is not allowed to repeat is horrible act.
"A unicorn?! Wow!" Valisia ponders wide-eyed. "We should help definitely." She nods her head resolutely. After her morning preparations, she is ready to go.
Krazok raises his bloodied waraxe and nods in agreement, stating, "We need to keep balance and remove any major threats. I think this will be a well suited encounter for our group. Though I think we still need to explore on the way there."
The group secures their mounts and moves South. The group finds several thorn bushes that would be nasty to fall into with a family of skunks that live in them. Luckily the group got away fast enough no one got sprayed but the smell will still linger for the rest of the day.
You recall certain tales of how the acts of some powerful fey creatures from the First World can leave their victims “marked” in a way that even their bodies shed a strange aura of repulsion to natural life—as if animals and vermin could sense the anger of such powerful fey and knew better than to involve themselves with such a victim.
"Oh no!" Valisia dismounts her horse and cautiously approaches the corpse.
I wounder what happened here says arvanvail getting of his mount to examine the corps.
After a detect magic
Krazok looks around the site, looking for tracks or any other clues about beings being around also keeping an eye out for threats.
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Heal:
Knowledge(planes):
Blienka, despite having little knowledge of things like this, carefully makes her way to the fallen unicorn.
I wonder what caused this? Unnatural is an understatement. The beauty of the land here has been utterly desecrated and destroyed. Who, or what, would kill such a noble creature.
As she begins to examine the unicorn, she looks up at the others.
Its eyes are all clouded as though it was blind before it died. And, unicorn horns are valued for fell magics, but I do not know of what sort. It appears as though someone, or something truly murdered the unicorn. But, look at all this ground that has become corrupted, while some magic appears to continue to keep the unicorn from returning to the soil. I wonder whether something intends to come back to here to do something horrible with the body?
She looks up to her companions for any insight that they might have.
"Perhaps we should move the body at least, and bury or burn it, so that no nefarious purposes can make any further use of it. Wonder if a controlled burn of this area might not hurt as well."
Krazok looks around, then while looking at the ground from outside of the ring of trees he seems to follow tracks into the circle of decay. He quietly says, "It appears that the unicorn halted out there and walked in. Then something happened here. I believe a controlled burn would help."
Detect Magic
"Some necromancy magic that is faint but I have no idea what would cause this!"
"Well should we take care of the body? Krazok will you help me?"
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Blienka nods in agreement:
Yes. A burial for this noble creature. A burial in a place befitting one of such celestial demeanor. Perhaps atop that hill there. Blienka points to a hill about a half mile from the despoiled land. Then we will create a small monument so that the good creatures and fey of this land know that we come to help the land, not harm and destroy it.
Blienka looks over to Valisia: Perhaps your companion could aid us in carrying her?
"Yes, Kezelia will be able."
Krazok secures his axe to his back and moves in to secure the body with Kezelia. Then if nothing happens they carry the body to the indicated hill. He leaves the burning to the others. He looks around for any instructions once the body is at the top of the hill, he minds Valisia's and Blienka's instructions.
The heavy burden of the equine corpse is easily carried by the two. Nothing threatening happens.
"Does anyone want to say something? Is that a thing for unicorns?"
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After digging a pit, which takes some time for a creature the size of a unicorn, Blienka helps to move the deceased fey into the put and the buries it. She then carefully gathers a pile of stones and many wild flowers which she uses to create a memorial that while not a work of artistic perfection, is pleasant to look at and shows the beauty of the creature that is buried there.
Profession(artist):
Over the burial she speaks:
A noblest of creatures, a protector of the wild lies here.
Shelyn, I ask that you bless this place.
Make this hill a place of eternal peace and beauty.
Sanctify the flowers that grow here such that their blossom's may bloom in all seasons so that even in the middle of winter, their beauty shines through.
Make this place hallowed so that the evil that murdered this creature of peace shall never again be able to defile her form.
Eternal Rose, allow this protector of nature to be allowed to pass to her next place. Allow her to bring peace and beauty to any place that her soul may reach.
With that, Blienka plants a red rose, which she somehow found in the wood nearby, directly on the top of the mound of earth covering the grave and surrounded by a circle of perfectly white stones.
Valisia, choked up by the ceremony, tries to stifle a tear, and goes off to the side afterwards sniffling and working on some mundane task that has no real importance in needing to be done at the moment.
Then she has an idea, and she pulls forth one of the treant seeds from her protective pouch.
She plants one of the seeds here, calmly, serenely and without any ceremony.
Watch over this place.
She splashes some water on it with an orison and then stands.
She says nothing to anyone else.
Krazok follows Blienka's instructions and digs up the pit with anyone else's help. By the time the pit is ready the white stones and other items have been found for the ceremony and he stands to the side solemn during and after the ceremony. He stands watch until the group is ready to move out.
The burial now over.
"So what do we know about whoever did this? I would assume that is our next course of action is to find who is responsible?"
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Blienka looks to the others.
Lets go back and investigate that strange dead zone again. Something is seriously wrong. Not only was the unicorn killed, but someone, or something, cut off her horn. Unicorn horns are often used for fell magic. Perhaps there is some sign of who, or what, did it. Furthermore, the dead area where she was lying is more than just unusual, something also caused that. Likely the same fell power as killed her.
"Perhaps we can track or find some clues, a shred of cloth, or bootprint, or a remnant of food tossed aside."
Valisa and Kezelia join in looking for clues.
You search the area for any clues but nothing seems to give any obvious clues. The only few things that appear to be perhaps overlooked is the hoof tracks but Krazok pointed those out.
Flies fly around so much they are distracting to many of you.
"Well friends, are we at an impasse here? We have searched up and down for clues and nothing seems to be..ARGH, these flies are driving me crazy!!" she waves her hands about her head in windmill fashion, eventually resorting to using acid splash cantrips to extinguish a few, in a futile fashion. She pulls her cloak closer around her muttering, "I need a drink."
Krazok shrugs still unable to help to find any thing new. He waves his massive waraxe around gently watching the flies drop that are near its path. He smiles as what he sees. Eventually he walks back towards the mounts then stops, turning he says, "Impass yes, perhaps we will learn later what slew the unicorn. Shall we begin exploring again?"
Florian agrees reluctantly with Krazok.
"Yes I think we should move on, whatever slew the beast may be beyond our abilities regardless, which would leave us in a similar circumstance as the dead unicorn, unfortunately."
"Fine by me."
"Which direction Blienka?" He asks as he mounts up on his Axebeak after securing the axe to his back. The weapons on his person and the mount shift and make noise as they move until Krazok settles in his saddle.
Valisia mounts her pony and stretches, yawning a bit. "Time to explore and find out what lies around here, maybe there are some clues to discover. Anyone have a preference for direction?"
Agreeing with the monk,
"Sounds good Blienka, let us be off then!"
The group heads out eating plenty of frog on their way perhaps stopping along the way at seeing something to add to their present food. Early in the day before noon following the skunk river you come upon an interesting site before crossing to finish your exploring for the day.
Several sandy islets create a ford across this remote section of the skunk river the sandy island make for an actual chokepoint in the river but thick piles of rubble branches leaves and dead bodies that partially block the river's flow are anything but natural.
You see a medium sized dragon like creature sunning itself on the islet as it hears your group, it is at least 5 feet long with a dragon's head and two clawed arms, a cloud of greenish vapor wafts from its gaping mouth. You may act in the surprise round. Your group is at least 60 feet away from the creature.
Likely being in the front with Blienka he sees the ford and thinks to himself, 'probably a good spot to cross.'
Looking up, noticing the dragon, Florian whispers to his companions
"There appears to be a dragon over there..."
With Florian's keen eyes he tells the group of the danger before it notices the group.
Tatzlwyrm
This serpentine creature has the head of a ferocious dragon and two relatively small forearms that end in tiny claws.
TATZLWYRM CR 2
XP 600
N Medium dragon
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +8
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +3 natural)
hp 22 (3d12+3)
Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +5
Immune paralysis, sleep
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +5 (1d8+3 plus grab)
Special Attacks poison gasp, pounce, rake (2 claws +5, 1d4+2)
STATISTICS
Str 14, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 5, Wis 14, Cha 11
Base Atk +3; CMB +5 (+9 grapple); CMD 17 (can't be tripped)
Feats Nimble Moves, Stealthy
Skills Climb +14, Escape Artist +5, Intimidate +4, Perception +8, Stealth +10 (+16 in dense vegetation); Racial Modifiers +6 Stealth in dense vegetation
Languages Draconic
ECOLOGY
Environment any forests
Organization solitary or nest (2–5)
Treasure standard
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Poison Gasp (Ex) A tatzlwyrm's breath contains a poisonous vapor. While grappling, instead of making a bite or rake attack, a tatzlwyrm can breathe poison into its victim's face. A tatzlwyrm must begin its turn grappling to use this ability—it can't begin a grapple and use its poison gasp in the same turn.
Tatzlwyrm poison: Breath—inhaled; save Fort DC 12; frequency 1/round for 2 rounds; effect 1d2 Str damage; cure 1 save. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Tatzlwyrms are thought to be primeval relatives of true dragons, having branched off the line millennia ago and evolved in a way that sets them notably apart. Undersized compared to their larger cousins, tatzlwyrms are nonetheless ferocious in their own right. And while tatzlwyrms are hardly impressive specimens when put beside their notorious relatives, most other reptiles can't compare to them mentally. They understand Draconic, though other languages are beyond most tatzlwyrms' limited comprehension. Nevertheless, tatzlwyrms are deeply cunning, building complex lairs and rudimentary traps.
Tatzlwyrms are quite rare, and only a few particularly curious and lucky adventurers can claim to have seen a living specimen. Reports do agree on some basic features, however. About the size of a full-grown human, tatzlwyrms have only two limbs and no wings, and possess a weak poisonous breath similar to the breath weapons of their true dragon relatives. An adult tatzlwyrm is 6 to 8 feet long, including its winding, organless tail, and it weighs between 400 and 500 pounds. A tatzlwyrm's scales give the creature limited camouflage, ranging through various shades of green, brown, and gray.
Like true dragons, tatzlwyrms are strict carnivores. They spend most of their time hiding, waiting to attack any prey that ventures too near. They consume their food slowly in the dark security and seclusion of their lairs. Tatzlwyrms have a remarkable knack for ambush and camouflage.
Round 1
Krazok pulls his waraxe to be in one hand, a javelin in the other, and watches his fellow warriors to see what they do.
Humming to herself, taking in the surrounding Valisia prepares for the river as they approach it when Florian notes the dragon.
"Oh, well it looks like its fightin' time."
prep round #1: Dismount her pony and slap it on the butt so it runs into the bushes. Cast Bless on the group.
prep round #2: Cast enlarge person on Krazok if he wants it, if not, cast reduce person on Valisia. Then hide in the brush. (+6 more if Valisia is reduced)
Kezelia will move near Krazok for the fight.