The group extricates itself from the sticky situation and journeys southwest. Luckily, the path seems to oblige them, allowing them to stay within sight of at all times as they follow the unseen longspiders' directions. In the morning fog, navigation is difficult, so this is a major blessing. It is not too long before the party can hear the trickling of a small spring up ahead.
The spring rises from beneath the roots of an old blackened stump, a steady flow of clear water running south. The plant life around is particularly verdant; the ground is blanketed in grass, moss, and pink blooms. Atop the stump, which is nearly four feet tall, sits a small child in a fur cloak.
The child's cloak appears to have been skinned from a wolf or fox, and has a rough, unkempt quality, as if it is very old and was crafted with limited implements. The child, who looks to be about five or six years old, glances over as the party approaches. Their skin is a ghastly bone-white, but patterns of spiraling shadow break up the ivory. Finer designs of red, pink, blue and gold pinwheel over their face, giving them a look reminiscent of a painted skull. Their eyes flicker as though little candles burn within. The young aasimar stares at the party for a moment, their expression vague and distant.
Then they crack up in a delighted smile. "You're all animal people!" they exclaim.
Isamu gives the child a vulpine grin as he bows. "Indeed we are!" he grandly replies. "We're also noble defenders of the lost and innocent. You wouldn't happen to be one of those, would you?"
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As Yeldrid describes the many varied delicacies he's enjoyed a few droplets of ichor run down Lily's fangs. These are both good to eat. I wouldn't know about the crunch, but rabbits have the squishiest innards. Lily smiles a bit. As Yeldrid mentions swatting spiders her fur stands up, the red hair on top of her head rising in an angry mohawk: hmph. Good luck surviving the forest with that attitude! Why, my friends might just require a larger payment than a rabbit after-all. Despite the threat, Lily subtly puts two of her mice in the longspiders' webs before bidding them a fond farewell.
She turns to face Isamu, blushing a bit, fur relaxing slightly: I haven't nearly the gift of some, but we all make due with what we are given.
Now addressing the group, but pointedly ignoring Yeldrid: I haven't seen the gangles like this before, it must be one odd soul to drive them to this. I think I know this 'spirit's' location, but who knows what we'll find when we get there.
for now
Lily smiles at Rex, her fangs shining in the morning sun, her fur almost fully relaxed: I'd be happy to introduce you in more fortunate circumstances;for now let us find this spring
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Lily smiles at the Aasimar, fangs and legs twitching happily as she bows down to their level. Aaand hello to you too little ones! The forest is very dangerous right now! Why don't you come with us back to the village?
Isamu gives the child a vulpine grin as he bows. "Indeed we are!" he grandly replies. "We're also noble defenders of the lost and innocent. You wouldn't happen to be one of those, would you?"
The child nods. "I guess so. I was going that way," they point west, "but I got a bad feeling, so I stopped and went to sleep here." They stare up at Lily, looking almost mesmerized by her many eyes. "Wow, you've got eyes like those web insects! I bet no one can sneak up on you!"
Yeldrid looks west and ponders.
"Why west?"
He looks over the kid with a curious eye. "You know, kiddo, that's an odd cloak you have there. Who made that for you?
The 'kiddo' blinks. "No one. I've always been wearing this."
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Rex's ears perk up in interest as they enter the clearing with the stream and stump. He'd never seen an aasimar and its bone-white skin made it look instantly appealing. He trots over on all fours and sniffs around for a bit, getting a good feel for what an aasimar smells like. "Gardenia. Rose. Jasmine. Wisteria. Wow. You smell like all the best flowers."
The child giggles, reaching out for Rex to sniff their hands. They then reach out, as if to pet the corgyn. "Who are you people?"
"I am Nakano Isamu," Isamu says. "If I might ask, what is your name?"
The young aasimar seems to ponder for a moment. "Trin," they say at last.
"Nice to meet you, Trin. Names Yeldrid. We're adventurers heading west and we're here to save you along the way!" Yeldrid gives Trin a stupid grin and double thumbs up.
Rex sniffs the hand and cringes as it moves to pet him. But the moment of fear is gone when the child scratches his head. His terribly short arms and legs made it hard to reach such a spot. As long as the child scratches, Rex is too content to do more than stare blankly into space.
"I've never met adventures before!" Trin says, returning the grin. They continue to scratch as they look around them, their smile dropping slightly. "So you can keep the tall men away?
The way they eye the branches suggests that Trin has perhaps encountered, or seen, the gangles.
"Wow, you've got eyes like those web insects! I bet no one can sneak up on you!"
Well it certainly takes a little more effort anyways. Lily smiles, happy to find a charge appreciative of her rescue.
She thinks for a minute before turning to the group. We must get them back to the village somehow; I could scout out the forest, and try to figure out what is blocking the way. We could take the long way around, but I'd rather not take children through the woods unless it's necessary---Gangles are far from the worst threats we might face---we need to gather more information to decide what course of action is best.
Straight ahead on the path leads to an old hunting cottage. The original owner is dead, but a funny little woman calling herself "Hob" lives there now. She's often knowledgeable about goings-on, though she always expects offerings of cream or fresh fruit from guests, and finding those could be a challenge. The other problem is that Hob is about a half-day's journey west—directly away from Barlily.
Closer by, there is an old gangle nest to the southeast. The party could target the nest, which usually houses one or two sick or noncombatant orcs, and try to get some information from them. It's not far, but this would require going further from the path.
The party could also try scouting, as Lily suggested. Everyone's pretty sneaky, after all.
It's a tad out of the way, but we might be able to drop the children off with Hob while we investigate; it is a little out of our way, and she'll want payment besides, does anyone have any cream? Or fresh fruit?
Isamu thinks for a bit, then shakes his head. "I'm afraid nothing I carry is fresh, and I'm rather mediocre at finding edibles in the wild."
He pauses, then asks, his voice pitched low, "Who is this Hob? Would it be safe to leave Trin with her?"
Rex manages to extricate himself from the glorious head scritches to voice his opinion. "Whichever is safest. We were traveling with one that might have been able to find fruit in this forest but then her companion had a change of heart. Little leafy thing. Is this Hob trust worthy?"
"I'm also somewhat at odds about this Hob. But if she can help us while we scout out a good path back, then I'm willing to risk it if you think it's worth it, Lily."
Hob's a dear, you'll love her. If we were closer to the city we could just pick apples from the orchard... I'm not sure what's nearby here though, lily looks down at the tasty looking sniffy one I don't suppose you smell anything nearby?
Rex follows his nose. He can smell the faint scent of cream on the air, or so he thinks, but it is too subtle to distinguish. It is much easier, however, to find fresh fruit. Rex leads the party, after some determined sniffing, toward something sweet not far from the main path. The group comes upon a small—but very deep—pond. In the middle of the pond, atop a little mossy island, grows a large, prickly pineapple plant. Isamu can tell it is ripe, and Rex can smell the sweet fruit beneath its thorny rind.
Unfortunately, the party is not the only lot to be interested in this bounty. Three massive ants skitter about the pond, facing off against an enormous, colorful crayfish. The crayfish snaps its pincers angrily, clearly intent on protecting its home from the hungry insects. The ants let out loud chittering sounds as they spot the party, warning the party from trying to take their prize.
Yeldrid taps his chin. 'I reckon that while they're busy with each other, we can get our hands on that fruit. Just gotta be quick. No need to get involved.' He looks at Izamu and winks.
Isamu nods. "I can't say I have any particular opinions on which animals win this match, unless one or the other here is more than they appear. But I doubt any of us can get to the island, grab the fruit, and get back before that shellfish is on them. Any ideas?"
Yeldrid thinks for a moment before snapping his fingers. "No need to waltz up to it. We just need to go over the pond! I have a folding ladder we could use for a bridge. Once it's in place, we have someone run in grab the fruit and someone else to cover them and keep the crayfish at bay. Then we high-tail it!"
As he is pulling stuff out of his mule's saddle bags, Yeldrid is explaining the plan. He puts on the ground the parts of the ladder, a spade and a grappling hook. He also pulls out his weird knife from his boot. "Everything we need. Rex, you might need to be the one to keep the crayfish busy if it comes to it. But I'd reckon most of us are good enough at balancing not to have a problem along the ladder. But if you want, I'm particularly suited due to my...cat-like reflexes'
Yeldrid giggles at his own stupid joke.
As Yeldrid turns to Rex he notives a doted outline of where the tiny, dog warrior used to be. "Do not falter in your defense noble crustacean. Help is on the way," Rex shouts as he circles around the ants to flank. Or at least that is what you would hear if he was speaking common. Instead, all you here is angry barking.
Trin watches the battle of the arthropods in fascination. They seem aware of the danger, at least, but the creatures clearly mystify them. "What are those?" they whisper. "They're the biggest bugs I've seen, ever."
The enormous crayfish lunges out with its claws towards one of the skittering ants. The ant, however, ducks out of the way of the clumsy swipes.
Isamu's mouth hangs open for a bit, his unspoken words interrupted by Rex's barking. He glances over at Yeldrid.
"Well, I suppose we have a distraction. I'll back you up, Yeldrid."
Yeldrid visibly blinks and then hurriedly assembles the ladder and runs with it around the tree. He calls back 'Grab my tools!' as he approaches the northern side of the pond.
Lily listens to the plan, nods, then says sounds good, but I can make that jump without a ladder, just be ready to help me back across.
Lily gets a running start, then jumps , tucking her feet under her in a forward roll, and coming to a rest just under a delicious looking pineapple. She immediately grabs for it.
The ants skitter around the slow-moving crustacean. One sinks its mandibles into the crayfish's leg, while another pierces the crayfish's more vulnerable underbelly with its hooked stinger. The crayfish scrambles back, hissing and flailing its claws around to drive the ants back.
Lily runs up and leaps onto the island, grabbing the leaves for balance. As she lands, the crayfish turns and tries to snap at her, but the same plant that forces her to cram into a crowded space hampers its attack. Lily reaches up and grabs the large pineapple.
Meanwhile, Yeldrid runs around with the ladder, and Rex circles closer to the battle.
Isamu darts forward, standing to one side of Lily's line of retreat. "I'll cover your retreat!" he shouts to her, blade at the ready.
Lily tugs at the pineapple, but it holds firm.
Giving a hiss of alarm, the dimwitted crayfish turns and lunges at this new invader. The pineapple tree hampers its strikes, however.
The ants are a bit clever, and recognize that someone else has designs on their meal. They chitter angrily. One of them skitters north to harry Isamu and Yeldrid; it snaps its mandibles, but Isamu parries the ant away. Meanwhile, another starts crawling crawl over the slower crustacean to attack Lily. It manages to make it across the crayfish's back. Suspended awkwardly between the leaves of the plant and the tail of the crayfish, struggling to maintain its balance, the ant snaps at Lily as its third compatriot again attacks the crayfish.
Both the crayfish and Lily fend their attackers off.
Lily's fangs chitter in frustration, as she gives the pineapple another good tug.
Her offering secured, she hurries to Yeldrid's ladder-bridge, scurrying across the makeshift platform as quickly as possible
Yeldrid has indeed setup the bridge, and is now wielding his gun in his hands. Lighting the wick, he stares the ant dead in it's many eyes and lets out a long, pitchy growl most around him probably didn't realise he could make.
Yeldrid intends V I O L E N C E.
Lily scampers across the ladder. Yeldrid yowls at the ant, causing it to recoil from the harsh noise.
Isamu stabs at the ant attacking him.
He then backs up slightly . Without turning away from the ant, he calls out, "We have what we came for, let's make an orderly retreat now. No need to kill these creatures if they won't pursue us."
The ant ducks under the overly cautious jab.
Rex barely slows as he transitions from four feet to two. He continues forward, drawing steel, and uses the momentum for a powerful swing. Unfortunately, it was not aimed properly and hits a thick part of the carapace.
The crayfish reels away, then tries to rip the ant off its back. It succeeds, snatching up the ant in its immense claws and nearly crushing its abdomen.
The ant currently grabbed struggles frantically, biting and stinging toward the crayfish's joints. It manages to rip and tear at the flesh holding it in place, but this is not enough to incapacitate the crayfish. Meanwhile, Rex deflects a lunge at his belly, and Lily barely dodges the ant that rears up to slash at her arm—which is thankfully still being cautious around Yeldrid, and strikes too slow to land a hit.
Lily withdraws from the pond, leading the party towards Hob's house. Hey guys, got the offering, lets go now before anything else shows up.