"I ... see," she says, baring her teeth at Tsin. "What would you have of me, then?"
"Tsin, please. She has done us no harm and we have no need to do harm to her. We are not like the fey: we have choice in our manners and our ways. We don't always have to be what they fear us to be, what we fear us to be: monsters. Do not let them define you; you're a better person than that. If we allow the terrible things to make us into them, we are no better than they. Please. Let her stand and let her leave, in peace." Pems says all this with an imploring look on his face, concerned as much for his friend as for the wolf-woman.
"Information, if you would, for we've come a long way and we're strangers in this land. We won't pretend that our philosophies are similar, but perhaps our current goals are the same. We would kill these witches and end their threat, winter can stay where winter belongs and summer will not be bullied into hiding. My god embraces chaos, he'll smile upon our partnership, help us in this task to defeat the witches and keep your life. Now tell us, and tell us truthfully, what do you know of the hut, what do you know of the witch's plans, and what is your role in this game?" Quinn follows his questions with two cantrips, hoping the naturally suspicious creature will fear truth detecting magics.
Tsin listens to Pems next, and keeps her sword at the wolf's throat. "All well and good, master halfling, but I'm not convinced. She has yet to do us harm, and we'll have every need to harm her if she does. I've chosen to stay my blade. That should be enough to convince you that I am no monster. I could have escorted her into Pharasma's Halls, without her knowledge or any pain. Now that you've wakened her, it's her choice, not mine. When she's done answering the priest, and we're sure of her intent when she's let up, only then will I withdraw my blade."
Pems nods. "Thank you, Tsin." In Skald once more, "Please, answer their questions and you will be free to go, no worse off than now." He repeats the questions they've asked in Skald, in case she does not speak Common.
She snarls again at Tsin, but answers, in Skald.
"The witches captured the hut and placed it in the Market Square, to show their power. When the woods began, they sent us in to try to tame them, but the mewling little fey proved to be too much for us. We retreated here, where I thought I would die."
Pems translates. "It is no dishonor to fall to the fey; they are creatures from worlds older than ours and devilish tricky. Cold iron is their bane. Do not blame yourself: the witches sent you to die in their stead because they were too cowardly to face them themselves." He adds in Skald.
"The witches captured the hut and placed it in the Market Square, to show their power. When the woods began, they sent us in to try to tame them, but the mewling little fey proved to be too much for us. We retreated here, where I thought I would die."
"Well, that's becoming clearer then. The witches didn't command the forest's growth, only the fey. The fey acted against the wishes of the witches, whether they meant to or no." As Tsin talks, she retracts her blade.
"Bare your teeth all you like, just remember your injuries as you stand. And the ape that's looking in the front door at the moment. It just managed to rip apart three fey, and will do the same to you if you attack either of these men. As will I."
Tsin steps back, and nods to Pems, sheathing her falchion. She looks around one last time, making sure they're not overlooking resources, before she joins Malavarius outside.
Much of their equipment is of little value, but you can salvage a masterwork composite longbow (+2 Str), three potions, and a quiver holding 10 cold iron arrows and 30 normal arrows.
Continuing on, you follow the snowy rail to an enormous dead beech tree towering over a clearing, standing apart from the evergreen trees around it. Dead, dry leaves lift from piles around the tree to rustle and dance amid whorls of fine powdery snow.
A third dawn piper stands in the branches of the tree some 10 feet above the ground. She calls out as you approach: “Go now. This forest and the Dancing Hut are ours, and I will not yield.”
Hektir:
Malavarius:
Pemsworth:
Quinn:
Tsin:
Antagonist:
Quinn tends to the wolf one last time, scratching her behind the ears as he cleans her wounds, "Let me do good by you and perhaps you will return the favor one day, who is to say an individual never changes." His work completed, Quinn exits the hut with Tsin.
At the words of the fey, Quinn wastes no time, calling upon Cayden's blessing in that moment without hesitation.
Pems groans as the fey calls out its refusal. He gives the fey an evil eye, trying to lower its AC.
Tsin: 20*
Malavarius: 19*
Hektir: 11*
Quinn: 5*
Pemsworth: 28
Antagonist: 28
Pems' curse seems to have little effect on the fey, who gestures as she takes to the sky, soaring 30 feet into the air. Ape-tir feels himself filled with sadness, pain so great it threatens to overwhelm him.
Before anyone can do anything else, a tiny, vaguely humanoid creature seemingly made completely of bundles of sticks wound with thorny vines appears in the undergrowth 10 feet ahead of you. It launches a barrage of splinters and brambles from its body, which cut painfully into you.
DP: -2 AC, 1 round
TJ: spray 1; BJ 20
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Round 1, Init 10
Will save (+4 vs. fey)
Reflex save (+4 vs. fey)
Apetir lags on his knuckles and feet, seeming stunned by the appearance of the tiny fey...but remembers he's a man...
...and a man makes his own luck.
Reflex save (+4 vs. fey)
Apetir shrugs off the spell and most of the woody damage.
Apetir steps forward to tear the heck out of the small fey woodsprayer.
Full attack:
to hit; (bite)
damage.
to hit; (claw, grab)
damage.
to hit; (claw, grab)
damage.
He will try to grapple the little jerk.
grab
grab
ApeTir
AC: 19 (1 dex, 4 NA, 1 Deflection, 3 Barkskin) +2 (Mal)
Str: 23 (19 base + 4) (+6)
Dex: 12
Con: 16
Low Light Vision, Scent
Attack: +4 BAB +6 Str +1 Amulet =+11
Bite: +11, 1d6+7
Claws x2: +11, 1d4+7 + grab
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Speed 30 ft., Climb 30 ft.;
HP 56/63
Barkskin (1 hour)
Resinous Skin (1 hour)
Endure Elements (24 hours)
Resist Energy (1 hour)
HP 32/39
Round 1, Init 20
AC = 21
HP = 41/56
Weapon Equipped = MW Composite Longbow (+2 Str)
Condition(s) = None, Not even a little Fly...
With three new potions, Tsin wordlessly hands them off to Malavarius as they meet outside the wolf house.
...
Approaching the clearing, and setting eyes upon the Dawn Piper, easily above ground, Tsin gladdens for the new bow, and new arrows. She lurches back as the wood imp bursts forward, injuring her fully.
She wipes blood from her brow, and stares down the creature, hoping to understand it better.
Tsin steps up, bow in her offhand, drawing the cold iron longsword, and tries to cleave the creature to splinters.
She draws an arrow cast in cold iron, and lets one fly at the Dawn Piper.
Malavarius grunts as the tiny splinters pierce his skin in several places, but he manages to avoid the worst of it. "Blasted pipers and their bothersome helpers! That infernal hut isn't yours to keep!" Tapping the butt of his staff to the ground, a familiar curtain of light blossoms from its head as the wizard thinks on how best to combat these troublesome fey.
HP: 28/35
AC: 11 (11 T / 10 FF)
Fort: +2 // Ref: +3 // Will: +7 (+1 vs spells, SLAs, & Su abilities of evil arcane spellcasters)
Resist 5: Cold
Energy Absorption: 0/18 absorbed
Cantrips Prepared (4): detect magic, open/close, prestidigitation, read magic
Level 1 Prepared (3+2+1): feather fall [ ], hold portal [ ], protection from evil* [ ], magic weapon [ ], snapdragon fireworks [X] [ ]
Level 2 Prepared (3+2+1): glitterdust [ ] [ ], protection from arrows* [ ], resist energy [ ], spontaneous immolation [X] [ ]
Level 3 Prepared (2+1+1): dispel magic* [X] [X], fireball [ ], haste [ ]
Protective Ward used: 3/8
Scorching Ray charges used: 40/42
Ongoing Effects:
ward (+2): 1/6 rounds
Round 1
"Stupid witchy fey! Quinn curses as splinters bloom from his skin. Calling upon Cayden again, healing energy washes over the party.
The worst of the bleeding stopped, Quinn draws his crossbow.
AC 22, touch 14, flat-footed 19
Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9 (+2 vs enchantments)
CMD 20
HP 25/44
Resources Remaining
Bolts Remaining: 20
Spells: 2/4 + 0/1 (first-level); 1/3 + 1/1 (second level); 1/2 + 0/1 (third level)
Door Sight: 6/6
Touch of Chaos: 5/6
Channel Energy: 3/6
Temporary Effects
none
Constant Effects
Damage Resistance, Cold (2)
Malavarius: 19
Hektir: 11
Tsin: 20
Quinn: 5
Pemsworth: 28
Antagonist: 28
Mal summons his protective ward as Hektir rips the twigjack apart, realizing there's not enough left for him to grab onto.
Realizing it's gone, Tsin gives it no more thought, sending an arrow slamming into the dawn piper, who cries out in pain.
Quinn heals the group as Pems uses his evil eye again on the fey, hoping to make it more vulnerable to your attacks.
Seeing her companion slain, the dawn piper swoops down to 15 feet above the ground and flicks her fingers across her harp, the noise horribly, painfully dissonant.
DP: 7; -2 to saves, 1 round; 2 rounds
Round 2, Init 20
AC = 22 (Warded)
HP = 39/56
Weapon Equipped = MW Composite Longbow +2 Str
Condition(s) = Warded
Tsin hunches futilely, unable to cover both her ears against her shoulder. It's attacking us with a musical instrument?! What else will they twist to their own malicious designs?!
She nocks another arrow, eyes watering from the sonic attack.
Once she's fired, she gestured wildly at Hektir, showing him what it would look like if the harp were torn from the harper's hands, possibly with the hands still attached.
Malavarius extends his staff as the piper strums her harp and waves of distortion bend the air toward the staff's head, as the old wizard seemingly draws some of the cacophonous energy into it. He doesn't divert it all though, and a thin trickle of blood runs out of his left ear, staining his neck and tunic. Narrowing his eyes at the piper, he draws on his own magics and touches the bow in Tsin's hand. "Shoot that noisy fey down, my dear!"
HP: 27/35
AC: 11 (11 T / 10 FF)
Fort: +2 // Ref: +3 // Will: +7 (+1 vs spells, SLAs, & Su abilities of evil arcane spellcasters)
Resist 5: Cold
Energy Absorption: 18/18 absorbed
Cantrips Prepared (4): detect magic, open/close, prestidigitation, read magic
Level 1 Prepared (3+2+1): feather fall [ ], hold portal [ ], protection from evil* [ ], magic weapon [X], snapdragon fireworks [X] [ ]
Level 2 Prepared (3+2+1): glitterdust [ ] [ ], protection from arrows* [ ], resist energy [ ], spontaneous immolation [X] [ ]
Level 3 Prepared (2+1+1): dispel magic* [X] [X], fireball [ ], haste [ ]
Protective Ward used: 3/8
Scorching Ray charges used: 40/42
Ongoing Effects:
ward (+2): 2/6 rounds
magic weapon (+1): Tsin's bow, 1/10 rounds, 1/6 minutes
Round 2, Init 10
Reflex (bonus vs. fey)
Apetir looks at Tsin briefly trying to understand what the woman wants.
She wants to play the harp? But that would make her even more of a shrill harpy.
Apetir frowns at the thought and returns his attention to the dawn jerk. Apetir moves directly under the dawn jerk and reaches up with one hand, in a grabby motion.
to hit; (claw, grab)
damage.
CMD
ApeTir
AC: 19 (1 dex, 4 NA, 1 Deflection, 3 Barkskin) +2 (Mal)
Str: 23 (19 base + 4) (+6)
Dex: 12
Con: 16
Low Light Vision, Scent
Attack: +4 BAB +6 Str +1 Amulet =+11
Bite: +11, 1d6+7
Claws x2: +11, 1d4+7 + grab
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Speed 30 ft., Climb 30 ft.;
HP 50/63
Barkskin (1 hour)
Resinous Skin (1 hour)
Endure Elements (24 hours)
Resist Energy (1 hour)
HP 19/39
Pems feels the shaking in his bones as the piper unleashes its blast. He shakes his head to clear it and reaches one hand toward the Piper! A cold ball of ice flies toward the fey, doing cold damage and requiring a Fort Save DC 15 or be staggered for 1 round!
Round 2
Quinn's eyes cross and he nearly passes out from the sound, only his quick reflexes to cover his ears saving him from further damage. "Cayden, save us from this evil, her harp is more shrill than a goblin choir!"
The flow of healing stagnated and his ears still bleeding, Quinn calls again to his god for help.
AC 22, touch 14, flat-footed 19
Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9 (+2 vs enchantments)
CMD 20
HP 30/44
Resources Remaining:
Bolts Remaining: 20
Spells: 2/4 + 0/1 (first-level); 1/3 + 1/1 (second level); 1/2 + 0/1 (third level)
Door Sight: 6/6
Touch of Chaos: 5/6
Channel Energy: 0/6
Temporary Effects:
+2 AC
Constant Effects:
Damage Resistance, Cold (2)
Malavarius: 19
Hektir: 11
Tsin: 20
Quinn: 5
Pemsworth: 28
Antagonist: 28
Hektir just misses the dawn piper as she elevates out of his reach, Tsin having a little more luck thanks to Mal's spell.
Quinn continues to try to heal you, channeling Cayden's power, while Pems launches a snowball toward the fey creature.
Staggered, she flies upward, stopping 30 feet above you.
DP: 30; 1 round
Round 3, Init 10
Apetir delays, hoping one of the others can knock the critter down to grabbing distance.
HP 37/39
Pems smiles as the fey limps upward. "Come down you damned songbird," he mutters. His wounds knit as a slightly drunken, pleasant feeling spreads from Quinn's holy magics. He looks at Tsin's arrow, but feels a scream building in his chest. He opens his mouth and screams silently!
, but his magic does not seem to touch the fey!
Round 3, Init 20
AC = 22
HP = 56/56
Weapon Equipped = MW Composite Longbow (+2 Str)
Condition(s) = Warded, Magic Weapon
Tsin sighs with relief as the creature moves without further aggression. She steadies herself, and lets fly another bit of cold iron. "This is almost worthless! A little nick here and there... I need to work her with my blade!"
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Round 3
A rumbling noise rises in the clearing, It starts low at first, like the deep chugging of dwarven digging machine, then rises in pitch like a pot of stew brought to boil to quickly. Shifting directly beneath the fey, Quinn tilts his head back as a horrid belch erupts from his gullet and cloud of green gas mushrooms into the air, surrounding the creature.
AC 22, touch 14, flat-footed 19
Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9 (+2 vs enchantments)
CMD 20
HP 30/44
Resources Remaining:
Bolts Remaining: 20
Spells: 2/4 + 0/1 (first-level); 0/3 + 1/1 (second level); 1/2 + 0/1 (third level)
Door Sight: 6/6
Touch of Chaos: 5/6
Channel Energy: 0/6
Temporary Effects:
+2 AC
Constant Effects:
Damage Resistance, Cold (2)
"That... is... disgusting."
Apetir, the knuckle-walking ape with the huge ass, bows his head down to Quinn, a capitulating symbol of true appreciation for the manliness of that outburst.
Malavarius' face twists into a grimace as Quinn displays his own brand of piety. Shaking his head in equal parts curiosity and disgust, he turns his focus to the dawn piper and, conjuring an orb of fire, collapses it in his open hand.
HP: 35/35
AC: 11 (11 T / 10 FF)
Fort: +2 // Ref: +3 // Will: +7 (+1 vs spells, SLAs, & Su abilities of evil arcane spellcasters)
Resist 5: Cold
Energy Absorption: 18/18 absorbed
Cantrips Prepared (4): detect magic, open/close, prestidigitation, read magic
Level 1 Prepared (3+2+1): feather fall [ ], hold portal [ ], protection from evil* [ ], magic weapon [X], snapdragon fireworks [X] [ ]
Level 2 Prepared (3+2+1): glitterdust [ ] [ ], protection from arrows* [ ], resist energy [ ], spontaneous immolation [X] [ ]
Level 3 Prepared (2+1+1): dispel magic* [X] [X], fireball [ ], haste [ ]
Protective Ward used: 3/8
Scorching Ray charges used: 40/42
Ongoing Effects:
ward (+2): 3/6 rounds
magic weapon (+1): Tsin's bow, 2/10 rounds, 1/6 minutes
Malavarius: 19
Hektir: 11
Tsin: 20
Quinn: 5
Pemsworth: 28
Antagonist: 28
Mal and Pems' spells fail, while the stinking cloud created by Quinn's seems to have no effect on the fey -- perhaps fortunately for those of you below her.
Tsin's arrow hits again, seeming to inflict horrid wounds despite her concern and drawing the ire of the fey creature as she swoops out of the cloud.
She casts again and Tsin feels a strange surge of lust suddenly overcome her as she glances at Hektir.
DP: 35
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Round 4, Init 20
AC = 22 (Warded)
HP = 56/56
Weapon Equipped = MW Composite Longbow +2 Str (+1 att/dam)
Condition(s) = Warded, Magic Weapon
Tsin's hand doesn't reach for another arrow. Instead, it reaches for the suggestive curve of the ape's buttocks, which strikes Tsin as the most human part of the dire ape.
Her hand finds purchase, where it lingers for a pinch. It then announces its departure with a sharp slap, and a light sigh of appreciation for the firmness under the flesh.
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Round 4, Init 10
Apetir takes a step back as Tsin approaches him with *that* gleam in her eyes. Apetir takes a second step back...then a third.
Apetir turns and runs. Apetir, who thought himself man enough to fear nothing has found something he fears.
Round 4
"Butcher, we just talked about this, seriously!?!" Quinn watches in disbelief as Tsin plays grab ass with the shy ape. Sure that he'll have to defeat any fey without the butcher's help, he turns his attention back to their foe and fires a shot from his crossbow.
"Hektir, stop running, we have a foe to defeat! Just let her squeeze your butt, it won't be the last time, and swat that fey beastie out of the air!"
AC 22, touch 14, flat-footed 19
Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9 (+2 vs enchantments)
CMD 20
HP 30/44
Resources Remaining:
Bolts Remaining: 19
Spells: 2/4 + 0/1 (first-level); 0/3 + 1/1 (second level); 1/2 + 0/1 (third level)
Door Sight: 6/6
Touch of Chaos: 5/6
Channel Energy: 0/6
Temporary Effects:
+2 AC
Constant Effects:
Damage Resistance, Cold (2)
Malavarius staggers back a few feet at Tsin's sudden and untoward advance. He looks at Quinn and Pemsworth and shakes his head, "I'm not going to prove much help after this, lads. If this doesn't get that blasted fey the two of you will need to shoot her down!"
Malavarius draws a scroll from within his baggy sleeve and tries to set the dawn piper alight from within a second time.
HP: 35/35
AC: 11 (11 T / 10 FF)
Fort: +2 // Ref: +3 // Will: +7 (+1 vs spells, SLAs, & Su abilities of evil arcane spellcasters)
Resist 5: Cold
Energy Absorption: 18/18 absorbed
Cantrips Prepared (4): detect magic, open/close, prestidigitation, read magic
Level 1 Prepared (3+2+1): feather fall [ ], hold portal [ ], protection from evil* [ ], magic weapon [X], snapdragon fireworks [X] [ ]
Level 2 Prepared (3+2+1): glitterdust [ ] [ ], protection from arrows* [ ], resist energy [ ], spontaneous immolation [X] [X]
Level 3 Prepared (2+1+1): dispel magic* [X] [X], fireball [ ], haste [ ]
Protective Ward used: 3/8
Scorching Ray charges used: 40/42
Ongoing Effects:
ward (+2): 4/6 rounds
magic weapon (+1): Tsin's bow, 3/10 rounds, 1/6 minutes
Pems stares with open shock as Tsin grabs the apey Hektir. 'Now I've seen everything, Father. I can die now.' He thinks, then shakes his head and stares upward at the cloud of gas and the floating fey.
Pems pulls down deep in his coldest places and points at the fey, murmuring words of magic as a lightning bolt streaks up to hit it!
Malavarius: 19
Hektir: 11
Tsin: 20
Quinn: 5
Pemsworth: 28
Antagonist: 28
Mal's spell fails, immolating nothing but the paper, as Hektir flees Tsin's loving caress.
Their attack coming apart at the seems, Quinn fires a crossbow ineffectually at the fey woman, but it sets her up perfectly for Pems' lightning bolts, the electricity sizzling through the air and filling the clearing with the smell of ozone.
The she tries to twist away from the worst of it at the last moment, the shock is too much for her and she falls from the sky, harp hitting the ground with a discordant twang.
The tree begins to wither, whatever magic it held seeming to fade as you watch.
DP: 48
Round 5, if necessary...
Tsin shrieks, regaining herself. She storms over to the fallen piper, and stabs at the body, repeatedly if given the time. The withering tree goes unnoticed.
"The day can't come soon enough when our oath is fulfilled. Its compulsion is the root cause for every blasted moment my mind has been puppeted. I rue the day I ever accepted this black task." She spins on each of the men in the clearing.
"If you ever so much as mention any of this subversion of my will, to anyone, I will not hesitate to injure you in return." She stalks off, expecting that their next destination lies behind the black sphere, which has hopefully ceased to exist.
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Pems swallows hard at Tsin's outburst. He casts a quick spell of detection, pointing out any magic items, then rushes to hurry after Tsin.
Catching up to her, he calls "Tsin! Wait, please. Do not be concerned about our trying to embarrass you! We've all stood too close, bled too much for each other to worry about such things. The spell could have targeted any of us. It could have been any of us, Tsin. Please. Even though Hektir is... well, beastly and Quinn a lecherous drunk, and Mal is a bit... absent, and I am but a small man with delusions of power, we are all here for you. We support you. Please. Do not feel you must shoulder your burdens alone."