Marlani, we founded this land without any bias towards race, I believe the intent was that all would be welcome if they chose to accept our law. In fact several of our population are outside the core races, and their presence is accepted without issue. If the nixie agrees to abide by the law of the land then she should be allowed to stay and claim an area as her home, and be protected by those same laws she lives under, just like any other law-abiding citizen. To my mind that is what bringing civilisation to these places means.
I choose to believe that we are peacekeeping here between two disagreeing factions of our populace. Of course if she declines to accept our rule, and also to return the ensorcelled men, then we can move forward on finding a more pointed solution to the issue at hand she indicates Lorald's crossbow.
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The nixie grows angry, the water around her becoming turbulent, she splashes the water near her with a fist. She rises out of the water a bit, her torso becoming visible.
"I did tell them, I did! I warned them they were my trees, and they started to kill them anyway! I tried to encourage them to go elsewhere and then they murdered my trees! Their your men, and you are just siding with them!"
The two enthralled loggers eye each other and become increasingly anxious, clenching their fists on their axe's hafts as their mistress gets more agitated.
Corax and his men also seem ready to attack. Corax has drawn his axe, surreptitiously, but he holds it openly.
Everyone seems to be eyeing you, waiting to see which side you will come down on.
Lorald simply shifts his aim towards the men. Yet still prepared to fire on the first hostile.
"Is this true? You would do well to be honest."
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"Beggin' your pardons Lords, but this hardly matters. So what if she said this or that? A honest man needs to make a living, the trees are ours now. If she don't back down right quick I'll have my lads restrain those two and put an end to her so we can go on about our business. You lot can either help or go about your business." His speech is laced with profanity, which I have excluded for propriety's sake.
He might come off as something of a villain, but the truth is he is simply trying to make a living as he says. As far as he's concerned these woods don't belong to anyone, including yourselves, and the lumber is wanted back in Freewater.
Lorald's expression grew more grim but otherwise was unchanged.
"An honest man heeds warnings of intruding on someone's home. Miles of forest and you can't just pick unclaimed trees. By your reasoning those men belong to her now as she took them as you took her trees. While you have every right to speak for yourself, you have no right to speak for others. So you may leave and be sure Freewater will not trade with you ever or those associated with you. After all we do not force our laws on anyone, but those who wish to trade with us will submit to our laws. Part of that is allowing those who's duty is to protect them to do their job."
He looks to the other men.
"If you wish to have any interactions with Freewater in the future you will do as we say. If not you are welcome to leave."
He looks to the nixie.
"While it seems like these men are in the wrong, they do not seem overly wicked to me. If stubborn and foolish, I will not defend them. If you wish for our group to mediate in order to avoid bloodshed, we are willing. If you ask. Otherwise I will not defend you ether. You can tear each other apart and let fate decide."
Giving them both an intense look.
"I will say this, regardless of who survives their will be repercussions beyond blood should that be your choice."
He gave them their options, they could choose and he would sort those who were left out. If they choose peace then all would get what they wanted in the end and more by his reckoning. If they choose hatred and war then death would follow as would his own judgment.
Gareth is uncertain about the fact that these particular trees were of any greater importance than any others. Despite his uncertainty over the matter and his predisposition to be hostile to the nixie, he could not fault Lorald's argument. In the end, he decides, it is better that these groups make up their own minds about what courses of action to take. All the same he thinks Would we really stand here idly while blood is shed?
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"Send them on their way, and promise to find me five trees and I'll release these men, that's all I ever wanted," says the Nixie with a pleased smile.
Corax grows upset. "Hear now you can't threaten me like that! I'm just doing my job. This isn't Freewater, it's not even Emermark. I'm not hurting anyone, so you can't just come in here and banish me on your say-so Marshal Orlovsky. I'll go to the council!"
Garuum is Marlani's constant companion, following after her making moon-eyes. The language spell has worn off but he is learning a few words of common here and there.
Corax I'm afraid you misunderstand your position, you are in the presence of the Marshall, the Warden AND a member of the ruling council, all of us here before you had a hand in taming these lands and writing the laws we are currently discussing. You'll find we carry Emermark wherever we walk, and if you seriously wish to contend Emermark's claim to the land your boots are currently touching then we can easily settle this here and now. We all agree with Founder Orlovsky's judgement on this matter, and if you want to be protected by the laws of Emermark out here, I suggest listening would be good for your health.
Stern words for a stern man, but there was room to soothe ruffled feathers
If you lived in a cabin along here and a group of fey came along and started pulling up your rosebushes to sell at market, you'd have something to say wouldn't you? Especially if there are large amounts of wild rosebushes aplenty just a bit of further away...
she sheathes her sword, sure that bloodshed can be avoided.
Now in exchange for the return of your men, you are going to find another place to log that doesn't infringe on the home of something already there. And for the inconvenience of moving you on, we in turn will deal with the Nixie's claim for the trees you have already felled, and you can take them away to sell. Everyone wins. I fervently hope you are a reasonable man Corax
with that she smiles, trying to seem friendly and hoping her pointy teeth weren't showing too badly.
The wolf was sat down next to her feet, just watching the proceedings closely with his big amber eyes.
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Corax plainly does not like being put in his place, but taking the trees he's already got and going seems to be his best offer, considering the amount of legislative and martial power arrayed against him.
He orders his men to begin loading up the felled trees.
Upon extracting a promise from you to replace her trees the nixie releases the two enchanted men, who shake their heads, rub their eyes and then return to working with their fellows.
"You know, I think there's a dryad somewhere northwest of here, if you need help getting me my trees," she add nonchalantly.
Lorald finally lowers his crossbow but keeps it in hand.
"We were heading west, if we come across her or any suitable tree's we will be sure to consider it."
It seemed wisdom won out this time.
Well met Melianse, you do yourself honour by holding to your words
Natalya nods in approval
Thank you for suggesting the dryad as a possible source of trees for you. If this team doesn't find anything suitable whilst we're out on our current mission then I promise to come back and replace those trees myself
she smiles briefly before mounting up to follow Lorald westwards again.
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That night you camp without incident.
The next day you proceed west, leaving the skunk river behind as it winds it's way north, back to it's source.
The next day dawns windy, but the weather is still fair. You explore the forest of the western Narlmarches. Towards mid afternoon you come upon a grove where the trees part to reveal a peaceful forest glade dappled with sunlight. A small pond lies placidly at the roots of an enormous oak tree with a scattering of leaves floating upon its surface. Birdsong twitters from the branches high above.
Lorald not taking anything for granted draws his crossbow but keeps it down for the most part. Still he remained alert for any trickery.
"Excuse me miss. Are you lost?"
Natalya watches the fey closely, alert to any attempt to magically compel any of the party.
Gareth waits for the woman to respond to Lorald's question. While he waits, he looks about the area to see if there any others around who are lurking.
Perception
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As Lorald draws her attention (and his crossbow) she looks up. Upon seeing her face both Lorald and Natalya are reasonably certain they are looking at a
Dryads are benign guardians of trees, and though they can do little in the way of direct violence, they can trap and disable threats to their homes or turn enemies into allies. Some keep one or more charmed humanoids in their territory to fend off or lead away attackers. Incapacitated foes are typically dragged to the edge of the forest by the dryad's allies and left there, but evil or overtly hostile ones are killed once combat is over.
She dries her eyes with her palms. "No brave warrior, I am not lost. This is my home," she motions to the large oak tree. "I weep for soon I shall die, and nevermore shall I gaze upon this pool nor the verdant wonders of this life."
Distracted by the dryad's... charms, Gareth sees none else.
"Why is it that you say you will die?"
Do you know of the Nixie to the east? She was having trouble with loggers in the area and we have asked them to move on, if that is what is troubling you
Natalya speaks nicely but keeps her guard up, she doesn't want any of her companions to be swayed magically to come to the dryad's aid.
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She stands to face you all, putting up a show of being unafraid.
"Loggers I do not fear. I am a creature of the woods. Nixies cannot harm me, water and wood are old allies. I fear not for my tree, rather I fear a tree. To the south a scythe tree has taken up residence. This evil creature will eventually deplete it's area and venture forth in search of more. There is nothing scythe trees love more than the flesh of elves and dryads. Save perhaps devising new ways to torture it's meals before it eats them."
She stifles a fit of sobs. "I have gone to battle with the creature many times, trying to destroy it, but it has bested me each time, but only hasard has preserved my life so far. Eventually it will find this grove, and consume me."
"You are holding something back."
This tree sounds like a monstrous thing, we'd be only too glad to rid the area of it.
she reassures the dryad.
We'll be hunting the treacherous tree anyway, so don't fear saying no, but out of interest might you be able to help us with finding 5 trees for the nixie to the east?
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The dryad looks shocked. She says to Lorald, "Sir, if i hold something back it is in defense of my life."
"If your hearts are cold to my fate then let me say this: I will repay your slaying of that evil creature with treasures. I have no few trinkets in my possession, not the least of which a half-a-dozen tree feather tokens. They will grow a full sized tree before your very eyes. Perhaps that will appeal to your mercenary aims." She seems a tad offended at being so openly challenged.
Sense Motive
Lorald's expression did not change.
"If you hold something back then you have a back up plan, in which case you have no need of us. Fey have a well earned reputation for trickery. If you ask for help, you do not hold back. Doing so makes you suspicious, no less then you would be of us I dare say if events were reversed."
His two colored stare as clear as his words.
"Regardless of reward, I would not suffer a blight upon these lands. Be that a wicked tree or other ill force. The moment you spoke of that foul tree I had every intention of destroying it. Not that I speak for my companions or would refuse any reward. I simply question the source of such ill tidings when they are suspect. Trust works both ways and if I am mistrusted when asked for a favor, I mistrust the request and the one who makes it."
He had said his peace, his senses spreading now that he had. Looking for details and tracks around them.
Looking at the fey once more in the eyes.
"So is your goat legged friend what you are hiding? Not a very trust building thing. Now my words ring true, perhaps you would like to explain."
While his crossbow was held normally he was prepared to fire at the fey at a moments need. Clearly she was up to something, seemed all fey had a hard time simply being direct. While he could care less for that, all would learn that he was not one to be crossed or tricked. As it was his duty and by his goddess it was his calling as well.
My blood may be cold, but never my heart, lady of the woods. Lorald speaks for us all when he says we would have hunted this 'scythe tree' now it had been brought to our attention. I do however thank you for your kind offer of those trees, that would be most helpful of you.
She then waits on the lady's response to Lorald, inquisitive about the cloven-footed being.
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"Falchos, come forth," says the dryad.
A satyr, holding pipes, steps forth from the cover of the glade's edge.
"What think you, Tiresia, of these mortals?"
"They are certainly aggressive, a trait you and I lack. Unpleasant as some of them are they will serve the purpose, by charity or greed they will do the task."
Turning to Lorald she says, "Does my companion worry you or calm you, mortal? His only care is for my safety, most of my lovers feel so."
Lorald looks at the new fey.
"Nether, deception concerns me. As it breeds nothing. If his only care is your safety, then by your side is exactly where he should be. He can protect you by your side, in the shadows he could only avenge your death or bring it about."
He did not apologize for exposing a sneak. After all they had hidden nothing from the fey when they approached. The fey on the other hand had clearly baited them from the beginning. He was not one to be manipulated.
"If their is nothing else we will continue our travels. We will return if or when the tree is destroyed."
He found it interesting that this fey did not show the charity she sought to her neighbor the nixie concerning her lose of tree's. It spoke much if they were uninterested in the troubles of their own kind after all.
"You say you battled this tree in the past. If so, you should be able to give us directions to its location. Also, how does it threaten its foes? Does it lash with its branches? Does it wield magic?"
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Falchos the Satyr steps forward to answer. "it resides within a dead glade and hides among the blighted trees. It can be perceived by the long gash along it's trunk that is actually it's closed mouth. It attacks with branches shaped like it's name. It is quite large and can reach quite far, making it hard to both attack and escape it. It's bark is hardened to the edge of weapons and it refuses many types of magics. I pray that this will aid you in slaying it." He turns his eyes adoringly to Tiressia.
Tiresia only smiles at Lorald. "Perhaps when you return I can teach you a few lessons about trust and danger, and how they migle with love."
The night you camp away from the grove of the dryad, heading south towards your quarry. That night as you rest not everyone rest easily.
Natalya please make me a Will save.
Once the dryad has furnished us with the location and capabilities of the scythe tree, Natalya suggests moving on it as a priority.
Having thankful and hopefully community-minded creatures around Emermark is definitely better than ignoring their plight I feel
Heading south in the direction pointed out by the dryad and satyr.
Natalya travels with her blade unsheathed, on the look out for danger.
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That's alright.
After just an hour of sleep Natalya wakes up, unable to remember her nightmares. All she is able to remember is a voice calling "You'll dream of me."
After that she's able to get back to sleep, but can't quite shake the unpleasant feeling.
The next morning you all set out southwest. You begin by exploring the area. At first it seems you won't find anything but then suddenly you see a ruined, circular keep looming out of the forest, surrounded by
towering, ancient trees draped with hanging moss. Four circular towers sprout from the cracked walls like the trunks of great trees, at least one crumbled into rubble. Twisting vines and thick moss cover the walls in a coat of verdant green, blending the ruins almost seamlessly into the surrounding woods. The overgrown remains of a path lead to an open, arched gateway gaping in the keep’s eastern wall, its doors long since rotted away.
In the morning Natalya looks a little pensive, unable to shake the feeling she's being watched by something. For a brief moment she thinks of the father she's never known, if it could really be called that.
Finding the keep proved to be a good distraction, something this old now faded in to obscurity was a good find surely.
Looks like we aren't the first to try taming these lands gentlemen
She'll move closer to the gate and check the area for signs of habitation
Lorald draws his crossbow and scans the area for tracks and anything else of interest. It could be a bandits nest or refuge for wild animals or worse. If he had learned anything was that these lands took pleasure in surprising people, or so it seemed.
Mardavig
Natalya and Wolf move down to the gate and ghost through the gap in the walls, watching their surroundings carefully for trouble. If all is clear they'll signal the others to come through.
Lorald readies an attack on anything hostile that should appear. He did not think that such an old place would simply have such a danger fall at the precise moment someone walked through. Or that an old trap would spring so perfectly if it was left long ago.
"Someone help Natalya, I will cover you."
Gareth lets his crossbow dangle from its strap and rushes to help Natalya. He grabs the portcullis and throws all his (over-estimated) strength into lifting it.
Strength Check
Natalya grimaces at the waves of discomfort from the gate's rusty metal points stabbing through her, marshalling her mental discipline and focusing on using the pain to aid her lifting the gate off and roll free.