No witty banter from Felix. He grunts at the hit he took and retaliates.
Rapier
Zayla again readies a daze spell for when the goblin attacks, which it does.
This time the goblin shakes off the spell. They attack, but miss wildly.
Party is up!
Everard roars as he swings his blade first at the Goblin threatening Zayla, then turns his back on it and slashes at the one that tried to take a swipe at him just recently! After that, he just repeats as necessary.
Felix tries to maneuver to flank the goblins.
Rapier +2 if flanking
Rapier +2 if flanking
Rapier +2 if flanking
Rapier +2 if flanking
Rapier +2 if flanking
Rapier +2 if flanking
on Felix
With Zayla dazing one of the goblins a few times, Everard and Felix are able to put them down in just three more rounds. You collapse, quite worn out from the late night combat.
Searching the goblins, you find gold coins.
Once you have searched the goblins and dragged their bodies away from your camp, you resume your sleep schedule, such as it is. You are still fatigued this morning, as your cold miserable campsite still prevented restful sleep.
The 6th of May actually dawns slightly warm and sunny.
Zayla wakes up with a scowl on her face. "Miserable weather, miserable campsite," she mutters to herself at breakfast. "Miserable goblins." Her eyes threaten to drift closed on several occasions. Even the sunny day seems to do little to brighten her mood.
You wake up stiff and sore a second morning in a row, but despite your fatigue, you are able to follow the trail you bushwhacked on your way there, making much better time. You pass the old road by mid-morning, the fairie ring by mid-afternoon, and approach the dryad’s grove as the first stars begin to peek through the gathering gloom. The white stag appears to have been waiting for you outside the enchanted plant barrier, and he turns and leads you inside.
The inside of the dryad’s grove glows with a silvery light, much like the light which illuminates Spielburg at night. In the branches all around you sit a veritable flock of songbirds, silently watching you, lining the way towards the dryad’s massive oak.
As you approach, the dryad’s queen emerges from her tree, and all the songbirds bow in homage. The silvery glow intensifies, emanating from the fey queen.
”And so you return. Were you successful in your quest?”
Everard carefully unpacks the seed - which he checked on several times during the miserable trek - and hands it to Felix to give to the Dryad.
"One Spirea seed," he says. "Now it can boldly grow where none have grown before."
The dryad pulls a cluster of holly and mistletoe, waves them over the seed, and consults the arrangement of berries before confirming that the seed is acceptable.
”Thank you. I sense that you procured this seed while showing the upmost respect for the forest and those rare magical plants. You have proven yourselves friends of the forest. Whether you prove to be friends to my people, however, is yet to be seen. Will you dine with us this evening?”
"Would we? Oh yes, I think we would!" Zayla says, suddenly brightening up after being gloomy all day. "We'd love to!"
Felix takes the seed and reverently walks over to his beloved, Nerrisal. He kneels down, with some difficulty due to his wounds, and raises it up for her to take. Once she has it, he winces as he stands up again and takes a few steps back.
"Dinner would be lovely."
"Thank you kindly, your majesty. That would be a great honour as well as a comfort," Everard replies.
The dryad queen beckons with one hand, and the retinue of songbirds take to the air. The queen leads you towards a quartet of low, polished stumps you don’t remember seeing the last time you were here (or when you arrived this time, either), sits on one, and offers you the others.
Once you have made yourselves comfortable, the food begins to arrive. A faint hum, like that of the fluttering of an oversized butterfly, and a gentle whoosh of breeze against your cheek is your only warning, before wooden platters of food appear, mostly wizzled apples, pears, and roasted nuts. The songbirds return, each with a small sprig of berries in its beak, which they deposit on a platter.
”Here you go!” a tiny, cheerful voice calls out from amongst you, and someone presses wooden cups (which only appear after they’ve been given to you) into your hands. A carved wooden flagon of wine appears next to the queen, who picks it up and pours for you. The wine has a vibrant and invigorating flavour. You feel your fatigue melt away as warmth returns to your bones.
"Thank you kindly," Everard says, as he accepts a plate and a cup.
He toasts the Dryad.
"A toast! To the Balance; to the beauty of nature; to the hospitality of the Fey; and to our charming hostess. May they all thrive! The blessings of Tyche, goddess of chance, and Freya and Odin, the gods of magic and battle, be with them all."
Felix rushes to the closest seat to Nerissal. He enjoys the meal, but has no shame in fawning over her. He spouts poetry (better than expected) and sings melodies (too much wine) dedicated to her beauty and grace and professing his utter adoration of her.
Zayla eagerly joins Everard's toast and partakes of the meal, though after a while, she begins to look a little embarrassed on Felix's behalf. She tries to offer reassuring smiles to the dryad queen if she seems flummoxed or annoyed by Felix's attentions.
After a particularly off-key note, she gently places a hand on Felix's arm. "Maybe stick to poetry, Felix," she says quietly to him.
Indeed, Queen Nerissal seems put off by Felix’s Fawning (TM), though she tries to accept it with good grace without encouraging him further.
Once you are well fed, she steers the conversation to more serious topics.
”Tell me, what do you know of my people, the woodland fae?”
"I know a few things I've read about here and there," Zayla says. "Enough to recognize a few specific kinds of fae and a little bit about things like faery rings, but it's pretty scattered information. It's certainly dwarfed by the information I don't know, and I'd love to learn more."
"You are both the children and stewards of the untamed wild. Magic is a natural part of you. You um, guard your territory zealously and insist on observance of the niceties. Or so say the stories."
Everard gives Felix a brief, meaningful Look.
Felix takes no notice of Nerissal's discomfort or of Everard's look. "All I know is that I am awed by your beauty and terrified of your mere disdain. What else is there for me to know?"
”My people have lived in the isolated parts of the world for many thousands of years. We originated from the Eastern Woods, a vast stretch of unbroken wilderness and forest kingdoms just west of Mordavia. We are lovers of trees, flowers, soft breezes, warm sunshine, and gently flowing water. Before the rise of your kind, we lived mostly in peace, with one great exception.”
”Millenia ago, vile ogre-kin magic users rose to power in the land of Surria, to the east of Mordavia. While my people used magic for healing, light, and peace, they used cruel magic of pain and darkness, worshipping a vile other-worldly being known only as the Dark One. As they sought to expand their reach, they moved west into our lands and we came into conflict. While we possess great magic of illusion and enchantment, the ogre-kin possess magic of transformation and spells of the dead. They captured many of our kind, mutilated and twisted them through dark rituals, and created a being the true antithesis of the fae: goblins. Goblins are vile creatures that know only death and killing, lovers of darkness, cold, and hard stone. Spielburg Valley used to be devoid of such creatures: as such, the war hadn’t come here.”
”But 20 years ago, the ogress Baba Yaga arrived from Surria in her magical hut. It cannot be a coincidence that the goblins arrived soon after. They invaded the iron mines along the western wall of the valley. Baba Yaga cursed the whole valley when the human baron tried to force her to leave. I fear that she means to establish this valley as an outpost of Surria, to build a force capable of invading my people’s lands from behind.”
”While it is not my people’s custom to involve outsiders in our affairs, my own followers are a smattering of pixies, some talking animals, and my loyal protector, who first led you here. They are not a force who could effectively enter the mines, nor can I venture so far from my tree. So far, I have managed to use my magic of illusion to prevent Baba Yaga from finding me, but she would have no trouble if I were to leave my grove. Will you help me?”
She gazes at Everard and Zayla, avoiding Felix’s fawning stare.
"I think fate - maybe Tyche's hand, maybe something else - is already directing our steps that way. We heard the counter-curse, the prophecy, and we want to help restore this Valley besides.
Let me ask, though, your majesty; are the Goblins wholly irredeemable?"
The vehemence in her voice is unmistakeable. ”I am afraid so. They were created through black magic to be creatures of hate and death. They are not starving orphans who turn to a life of crime through a series of poor life choices. They are vile in every way. Goblin mothers often give birth to litters of six or seven at a time, and have to separate them lest they kill their siblings through blind, savage instinct.”
”I heard that you gave goblins you fought last night a chance to flee. It was very merciful and honourable of you. If that goblin returned to its lair, it’s dead by now. The goblin king brooks no cowardice and all fights are to the death. No doubt that goblin was slowly dismembered while it still breathed, to die in agony while its comrades cheered along. Goblins are wholly wretched in every sense.”
”If you truly wish to break Baba Yaga’s curse and restore the Valley, I believe you will need a particular kind of magic known as a dispeller. To create such, you will need: two magic acorns, fairie dust, flowers from Erana’s peace, green fur, and flying water.” She also gives you instructions to tell the healer on how to craft the dispellers.
Zayla's face pales as she listens to the probable fate of the goblin they let get away.
"We'll...we'll do our best to find those things," she stutters when Nerissal has finished.
In a rare moment of solemnity while at the dinner, Felix agrees with Everard's statement. "That's true. We've vowed to free the valley from the evil curse that plagues it."
”Then perhaps I can aid you with additional information about the valley. Ask, and I will tell you what I know.”
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Everard considers, then fires off a rapid stream of questions: "Where should we look for these magical ingredients?
Do your Fey know of a man trapped in the form of a beast, or a child trapped in a band? Or anything else about the prophecy?
Does Baba Yaga have any weaknesses? How about the Goblin king?
What happened to the people who went looking for Elsa? Do the Fey know where Toro lairs?
My comrade Zayla is a Magic-User of budding power. Are there any places in the valley where she can expand her power and knowledge of spells? Zara in town said Felix and I have the capacity for magic as well. Can you help us awaken the potential? Is there any other helpful magic we could gather without upsetting the Balance?
Do the Fey know where the Brigands hide?"
”That is many questions. I will answer what I can.”
”Part of the magic comes from the finding of the ingredients, so I cannot help you there, other than to suggest going to a faerie ring at night to find faerie dust, and perhaps looking at Erana’s Peace for the flowers from Erana’s Peace. I believe there is also magic there for those who know how to find it.”
”I do not know anything about the particulars of the prophecy, other than that you will need to break an enchantment. Part of fulfilling a prophecy like this involves raw magic like the dispellers, and part comes from the journey itself, the people you meet, actions you do, and relationships you forge.”
”The brigands and Minotaur lair among the southern mountains. The way to their fortress is heavily guarded by many archers. A small group such as yourselves would ever survive a direct assault. If there is another option to enter there, I don’t know it.”
”The goblin king has no weaknesses save his own nature. His goblins serve him out of fear not loyalty, but that fear is strong. Baba Yaga is too strong to face in a straight magical battle, but her weaknesses are pride, over-confidence, and her stomach. She loves food, and can sometimes be bargained with for food ingredients.”
”As for your own magic, I know nothing. Fey magic does not come from books or scrolls like human magic.”
”If you wish to collect fairie dust tonight, you should depart soon. There is a ring near the path you took to find the spirea seed.”
"Alright. Any hints on those magic acorns?"
”That remains to be seen,” she replies.
"Alright, friends," Everard says to Felix and Zayla. "Shall we adjourn to collect some faerie dust, or else enjoy a night's rest and recovery, then tackle our tasks when we are refreshed?"
"Let's gather the faerie dust first," Zayla says. "It gets one thing completed and out of the way. Then we can rest and determine what to do next tomorrow."
With a seeming consensus among the level-headed members of the group, you bid the dryad queen farewell and head out into the night, Everard dragging Felix away before he can make a complete fool of himself.
As you are about to exit the grove, Felix feels two sharp pricks, one in the bottom of each foot, as if something sharp and painful were in his boots. Quickly pulling off his boots, he dumps out two glowing acorns onto the ground.
"Wonderful," Everard says as he gently wraps the acorns up in the cloth that previously held the Spirea seed. "Let's get going. We can end the day with two of the ingredients we need."
"Wait! Those are mine. Favors from my beloved." Felix bothers Everard for them, but knows from much experience that it is futile to try and take it from him. Not that he couldn't, but then he'd have an angry Everard to deal with.
Putting away the magic acorns, you once again turn north towards the faerie ring. Darkness has truly fallen in the valley and the forest is disturbingly quiet at night. While getting lost in the dark might normally be a worry, your recent trail is obvious enough to lead you back. You arrive at the faerie ring shortly before midnight.
Lights and flashing colours bathe the clearing in an other-worldly glow. Faint tinkling sounds like music come from one of the larger stones. Small, winged creatures flit about the stones and mushrooms.
Felix motions for the others to remain quiet and hidden. He just watches for a time for a while before trying to remain unobtrusive as he inches forward to try and collect some faerie dust.
Stealth
Everard tries to forestal Felix.
"Wait, we have a good rapport with their queen, we can just ASK!"
Everard tried to grab Felix, but the rogue is already gone. You watch, transfixed, as he quietly makes his way forwards. He gets about ten feet from the stones before he is spotted.
”Oh looky, a human.”
”What’s it doing here?”
”Yuck!”
”Let’s have some fun with it!”
”Humans! Why is it always humans?”
”Go away! You can’t play!”
”I think it wants to play with us.”
”Human, do you know how to dance?”
”How do you dance?”
”Will you dance for us?”
"He'll consider dancing for you," Zayla calls out, coming forward a bit. "But before he does that, we were sent by your queen to collect some faerie dust. If you let us have some, Felix might dance for you. What do you say?"
”Then dance for us!”
”Humans can’t dance!”
”Let’s see you dance!”
”I bet you can’t dance!”
”Dance for us!”
”All he wants to do is dance!”
”Let’s see you!”
”Dance!!”
Felix looks like he got caught doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing. He then starts to dance by first just bouncing his hip, then gets more into it by adding a back and forth sway. "I could use a little help here. Maybe a bit of a beat." Felix then lets go starting with a twirl and some fancy footwork. he does his best imitation the dance from Footloose.
If, by chance, this can be a Dex roll, then add 2 to the check.
Zayla frowns and looks around for something to bang out a beat with. She picks up a couple rocks from the ground, shrugs, and mutters, "Here goes nothing." She begins clanging the rocks together.
Felix will try some flips and leaps in an effort to make the dance more exciting.
Acrobatics
The fairies’ tinkling music resumes as Felix begins his dance. The fairies hover silently for awhile before resuming their lightning mass chatter.
”Oooo!”
”It does know how to dance!”
”Wowie!”
”This is neat!”
”Gee! I didn’t think it could do this!”
”Well, I just love it!”
”You love an Antwerp!!”
”Do not!”
”Do too!”
As Felix’s dance comes to a close, the fairies gather closely around him.
”So what do you want?”
”Remember, they want some fairy dust.”
”Fairy dust is very magical, you know.”
”Why should we give it any dust?”
”Well, it did dance for us.”
”I say we give it some dust.”
”That’s because you have a crush on it!”
”Do not!”
”Dewdrop’s in love with a human!”
”Am not!”
”Are too!”
”If you love it, you give it some dust.”
”Ick! Not me, you!”
The fairies argue for several exchanges with a barrage of “Not me, You!” Before one suggests,
”Make Mikey do it. She’ll touch anything!”
”Mikey!”
”Alright, but you all owe me.”
”Alright, human.”
”Hold out your hands and close your eyes.”
”And you will get a big surprise!”
Presuming Felix complies, he feels faint whispers of touch on his hands and arms, and then another touch he distinctly believes was way more intense than necessary. One of the fairies snickers Dewdrop’s name.
”No peeking!”
”I think it’s cheating!”
”Oh, just give it some dust!”
After a few seconds, the fairies move off and Felix opens his eyes to see a small pile of sparkling dust in his hands.
"Zayla," Everard says in a quiet tone. "You still have an empty potion bottle. Both of you catch the dust in that before we lose it to a gust of wind."
To the faeries, the warrior politely inclines his head.
"Guardians of the circle, dancers in the night ... Mikey, especially ... thank you for your generosity."
"I will remember this night always." Is all that Felix can get out.
"I think we all will," Everard agrees. "Ladies Fey, if you will excuse us, we'll leave you to your dances and go look for a place to rest for the night. We wouldn't want to overstay our welcome."
Zayla pulls out her empty potion bottle. After making certain it's dried out, she lets Felix pour the dust into it.
As they leave, she says quietly, "That has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever done. And the most awesome!" She pauses to take one last look back at the faeries, then continues on.
"The most ridiculous? Let me tell you about this time Felix was sure that the mayor's oldest daughter at our hometown had been giving him the eye," Everard says, winking.
Then he considers, and shrugs. "Or the time I thought the apple farmer's wife had been giving me the eye, I guess."