You hear a faint rustling of leaves from further down the path - whether it is being made by the figure you spotted, or something further along, is difficult to tell.
For Laithe and Keildrithe:
I stop moving and whisper "I see him too. Do you think that he's Jarred Hale? I think that we should surround him with our bows ready and then Keildrithe should approach him. That way we have a way to contact him in a non-threatening manner and still provide Keildrithe with cover. Laithe, how is Wil acting? Has he spotted the man yet? That would be a good indicator as to whether or not he is Hale." With that I draw my bow, just in case and seem to meld into the trees on the side of the path with very little noise listening for any noise that the man might be making but I'm too far away and the forest noise makes it so that I can't hear anything.
Wil does not seem to have noticed – or at least not reacted to – the person as yet.
I am relativley prepared for combat but I'm tired from the day's combat and march and it takes me longer to prepare to fire my quietley.
Laithe and Keildrithe both move off into the bushes to the side of the trail and attempt to remain out of sight of the stranger up ahead – both readying weapons. Alton makes his whispered suggestion to the two Karands, readies his bow, then melts off into the darkening wood, attempting to move around behind the figure.
Jirkin and Yruch have lagged a little behind the others, and have not yet reacted to what has so startled the lead three.
Being in majority consensus, you start off down the narrow southern trail, with Laithe in the lead, following the tracks, Wil the fox following happily at his feet, occasionally yapping at things in the bushes, or chasing off after small, unseen animals.
The trees and vegetation press close on the narrow trail, further reducing visibility in this gloomy place. The afternoon wears on as you trace your way through the wood, crunching leaves under foot, the monotony broken occasionally by furtive rustling in the underbrush, or the far off cry of animals. However, you rarely spot the creatures causing these noises.
You have journeyed for several more hours. It is still an hour or more away from twilight, but a chill is starting to settle in the air, and already twilight seems to be beginning under the heavy canopy.
Spot result 19+ ** spoiler omitted **
Spot result 24+ ** spoiler omitted **
"there seems to be nothing wrong" jirkin hold on to his quarterstaff as if it were a walking stick.
Jirkin then listen to what everyone else is listening to.
Yruch halts further back on the path than his companions, not sure what they have seen, but realizing that they are trying to remain unseen. He remains where he is, trusting to his companions to take the lead for the moment, and glancing behind to make sure nothing is approaching from that quarter.
---
Jirkin, you hear the faint rustling of leaves from further down the path.
---
There is no further development from what the three adventurers have seen further down the path – at this stage, all act as you will.
I stop moving and whisper "I see him too. Do you think that he's Jarred Hale? I think that we should surround him with our bows ready and then Keildrithe should approach him. That way we have a way to contact him in a non-threatening manner and still provide Keildrithe with cover. Laithe, how is Wil acting? Has he spotted the man yet? That would be a good indicator as to whether or not he is Hale." With that I draw my bow, just in case and seem to meld into the trees on the side of the path with very little noise listening for any noise that the man might be making but I'm too far away and the forest noise makes it so that I can't hear anything.
Laithe nods at Alton's words, looking to Keildrithe to ensure he is happy with the plan. "Hedilye, give us a moment to sneak further up in position and then approach the man cautiously. My gut says he is not our enemy, but we will none-the-less be nearby if he proves aggressive".
Admiring the ease at which Alton melts off the path and into the surrounding foliage, Laithe does his best to make his way quietly, moving parallel to the path a couple of yard in, on the opposite side from Alton.
Laithe moves off the path into the forest, being careful to avoid crunching leaves under foot. Unfortunately, the point he has chosen to leave the track is sparse on cover, and he is not sure if he will be able to remain unseen from the half hidden figure.
Keildrithe gives Alton and Laithe a moment to move into flanking positions. Once they have picked their spots, he rises, leaving his pack and drum behind the tree where he had taken cover. Longsword held loosely by the pommel in his left hand, point facing down, and right palm held up for the stranger to see, he advances in as non-threatening a manner as he can, stopping when he is approximately 20' away from the person.
Then, in a calm and quiet voice, trying not to alert that which the mysterious stranger is spying on, he addresses him (her?) in Karandic:
.
Alton and Laithe both work their separate ways through the trees to either side of the path, finding positions where they can shoot at the stranger (or perhaps anything else coming down the path) should things turn hostile. They both manage to get within about forty feet of the figure, with reasonably clear shots, although the relatively poor light and the concealing foliage may pose some obstacle.
---
Keildrithe moves up the path until he stands a little more than twenty feet from the stranger. The shadows are deep, and the figure’s camouflage is good – it is still difficult to make out details. Keildrithe says his piece and then advances half a pace, hoping for a reply. The figure steps forward from the concealing shadows, and turns its head towards the bard – (spoiler for Keildrithe)
Keildrithe,
Whether these creatures are plants, fey, or something else, neither you nor the stories can say. It is said that they cannot be reasoned with – the best course upon meeting one is to flee! – or so say the travelers…
Keildrithe says his piece and then advances half a pace, hoping for a reply. The figure steps forward from the concealing shadows, and turns its head towards the bard – (spoiler for Keildrithe)
Keildrithe's face goes completely pale. He raises his sword in a high guard, ready to fend off his foe, while crying out in terror: "It's no human! 'tis a LEAFLING!!! We're doomed! Ehlonna, Mother of the Forests... HELP US!!! Please, LEAFLING, let us go in peace, we wish you no harm! JIRKIN, THE PENDANT!!!"
Alton and Laithe see the half hidden figure suddenly lurch towards Keildrithe, arms outstretched, and hear the bard yell out, raising his blade in a defensive posture.
I curse and let fly the arrow which I had nocked and it speeds towards its intended target (presumably hitting). "I'm not familiar with the creatures of the woods. What precisley is a leafling?" I shout as I fire my bow. As soon as my arrow is away I begin to nock another arrow.
Alton’s aim is true – his arrow flies straight at the creature as it begins to lurch towards Keildrithe – and passes straight through it’s leafy body, narrowly missing Keildrithe as it emerges from the other side! It is difficult to tell given the leafy, vegetable nature of the creature you face, but it does not appear to have inconvenienced the thing at all.
The thing – a leafling Keildrithe called it, swipes at the bard with a leafy humanoid arm, claws of sharpened twigs extended. However, Keildrithe, ready as he is, easily avoids the clumsy blow.
Laithe curses as Keildrithe cries out and immediately pushes back onto the track and runs up to the bard's side. Then he remembers it is he who carries the pendant, having not yet returned it from the clearing with the standing stones. He fumbles around in his pack and wrenches it forth, holding it out for the creature to see and hoping that is works...
Laithe holds forth Gosia’s pendant, holding it in the direction of the creature. The thing turns it’s head towards the druid, who finds himself strangely unnerved by the creature’s face – a parody of a human face formed of small leaves, with only faint bumps and hollows where it’s brow, eyes, nose and mouth should be.
It appears that the creature recoils slightly from the pendant, but this does not seem to halt it’s assault on Keildrithe.
Laithe,
I curse and let fly the arrow which I had nocked and it speeds towards its intended target (presumably hitting). "I'm not familiar with the creatures of the woods. What precisley is a leafling?" I shout as I fire my bow. As soon as my arrow is away I begin to nock another arrow.
The bard replies, breathlessly, to Alton: "They are plant creatures that hate humans and seek their destruction! They think we are responsible for causing harm to the forests... it is said that they cannot be reasoned with, and that one should flee when confronted by one!"
Then, in a trembling voice, he adds: "Laithe, is there anything you can do to convince it that we intend no harm to the woods?! I am trying not to harm the creature, but am fearful for my life..."
Keildrithe addresses the creature in a tired, frightened voice, while keeping it at bay with his sword: "I beg you, leafling, let us be... We Karands revere the elder gods, the spirits of the woods, and have always sought to live as one with them, taking nought but what we need from the forest, with reverence and with the blessings of the Old Ones..."
Alton’s aim is true – his arrow flies straight at the creature as it begins to lurch towards Keildrithe – and passes straight through it’s leafy body, narrowly missing Keildrithe as it emerges from the other side! It is difficult to tell given the leafy, vegetable nature of the creature you face, but it does not appear to have inconvenienced the thing at all.
Keildrithe says his piece and then advances half a pace, hoping for a reply. The figure steps forward from the concealing shadows, and turns its head towards the bard – (spoiler for Keildrithe)
Keildrithe's face goes completely pale. He raises his sword in a high guard, ready to fend off his foe, while crying out in terror: "It's no human! 'tis a LEAFLING!!! We're doomed! Ehlonna, Mother of the Forests... HELP US!!! Please, LEAFLING, let us go in peace, we wish you no harm! JIRKIN, THE PENDANT!!!"
Jirkin reacts looking for the pendent Jirkin then looks at Laithe "Use the pendent to make this creature flee or we will have to.!" Jirkin runs toward Keildrithe ready for a battle.
I curse and let fly the arrow which I had nocked and it speeds towards its intended target (presumably hitting). "I'm not familiar with the creatures of the woods. What precisley is a leafling?" I shout as I fire my bow. As soon as my arrow is away I begin to nock another arrow.
The bard replies, breathlessly, to Alton: "They are plant creatures that hate humans and seek their destruction! They think we are responsible for causing harm to the forests... it is said that they cannot be reasoned with, and that one should flee when confronted by one!"
Then, in a trembling voice, he adds: "Laithe, is there anything you can do to convince it that we intend no harm to the woods?! I am trying not to harm the creature, but am fearful for my life..."
Jirkin sights "I do now think it will listen to us, it has made up its mind. He blames us and wants his revenge... and that is something the "Leafling" cannot give up on... believe revenge it is hard to get rid of." Jirkin pauses again
"Well that was advise, use it as you may."
Keildrithe's panic increases: "Alton, your arrow flew through the creature and did not seem to harm it! I fear that our weapons are useless against the leafling... if Laithe's pendant has no effect and he cannot reason with it, BE PREPARED TO FLEE! Or does someone have a net, or rope, or even magic with which we might subdue it? Flame might harm it!"
Keildrithe's panic increases: "Alton, your arrow flew through the creature and did not seem to harm it! I fear that our weapons are useless against the leafling... if Laithe's pendant has no effect and he cannot reason with it, BE PREPARED TO FLEE! Or does someone have a net, or rope, or even magic with which we might subdue it? Flame might harm it!"
"i have a spell that may work" Jirkin stands in front staring at the "leafling" Jirkin holds his hand out in front of him... shooting a blue orb toward the "Leafling"
"I have a flask of alchemist's fire, which will ignite as soo as it is exposed to air. Should I throw it at the leafling? I'd rather not start a forest fire, particualary not while we're still in the forest"
Laithe stands hopelessly for a second or two, caught in the glare of the creature. Finally the desperation in his companions voices get through to him, and shaking his head, he is spurred into action.
"Only flame and chopping weapons like axes are likely to harm it!" he cries out to them (in Atuscan).
Turning back to the Leafling he holds out the pendant once more, while also pulling forth his own carved holy symbol, the unicorn of Ehlonna. He speaks to to it in Sylvan. "Spirit of the forest, we are merely travellers through these woods. As a servant of Ehlonna of the forests, I swear by her bow that we will not harm the woods or the creatures housed by these trees other than in self-defence. Your aggression towards those who would do it harm is noble, but ill-directed towards us. I beg that you save your anger for those who deserve it. Leave us now."
Keildrithe desperately backs away from the creature’s furious onslaught, his pleas seeming to have no effect on the thing. The creature moves with a lurching, jerking motion, as though not fully in control of it’s limbs, although it seems to have a wiry strength in it’s arms, which combined with the sharpened twig fingers is likely to tear apart any opponent unlucky enough to be caught by it. Fortunately, Keildrithe’s defensive moves manage to deflect the creature’s wild blows for a few seconds more.
As Alton scrambles in his pack for something which may be of use against the thing, and Jirkin runs through his prepared magics in his mind, Laithe desperately pulls forward the unicorn symbol of Elhonna that he wears, and holds it aloft, along with Gosia’s stone pendant.
And the creature pauses.
Whether at Laithe’s words, the holy symbol, the pendant, or some combination of the three it is impossible to tell. But for now at least, it has stayed it’s attacks on the bard, and stands almost motionless, it’s leaves quivering slightly in the slight breeze that the imminent onset of night has brought.
I pause in my search for a moment and then resume, trying to find the flask in a non-threatening manner. After all, better to be prepared. I think, recalling the lessons of my mentor.
As Jirkin is ready to cast he pauses "What to do? This spell shouldn't be used yet and wasted here, maybe the flask will help more." Jirkin lowers his arm watching the "Leafling" seeing what it will do now.
As Jirkin lowers his arms from a spellcasting position, and Alton finds and grasps the flask of Alchemist’s Fire within his pack, the leafling lurches backwards by several steps, and returns to the position in which the group first noticed it, just off the path and partially concealed by the surrounding vegetation. It stands still, and turns it’s eyeless head slightly up the trail in the direction you have not yet traveled, as if waiting for something.
As Jirkin lowers his arms from a spellcasting position, and Alton finds and grasps the flask of Alchemist’s Fire within his pack, the leafling lurches backwards by several steps, and returns to the position in which the group first noticed it, just off the path and partially concealed by the surrounding vegetation. It stands still, and turns it’s eyeless head slightly up the trail in the direction you have not yet traveled, as if waiting for something.
Keildrithe lowers his blade, still shaky from the unexpected attack by the mythical creature. "Thank you, leafy one... and praise be to Ehlonna and the old gods who rule these woods..."
He follows the leafling's gaze up the trail, making a few cautious steps in that direction while attempting to maintain concealment behind some foliage. Keildrithe peers into the twilight, hoping to see and hear what the leafling seems to have noticed...
"What does it sense?", he whispers to himself...
Around the bend in the path, a few dozen yards away, Keildrithe spots a dark lump, a shape, lying on the ground in the middle of the trail, but can make out no more details from here in the dim light.
the leafling lurches backwards by several steps, and returns to the position in which the group first noticed it, just off the path and partially concealed by the surrounding vegetation. It stands still, and turns it’s eyeless head slightly up the trail in the direction you have not yet traveled, as if waiting for something.
Laithe slowly lowers the pendant and holy symbol; like Keildrithe somewhat shaken by the encounter. He whispers a quick thanks to Ehlonna and Gosia; not certain if it was his holy symbol or Gosia's pendant which persuaded the Leafling to halt it's attack, but relieved either way.
Seeing Keildrithe move forward to view whatever the Leafling is watching, Laithe begins to say "I think we should leave and not push our luck here..." but his voice trails off as curiosity overtakes him. Despite the failing light, he too halts and peers down the track, trying to see what it is that the Leafling is intent upon.
Around the bend in the path, a few dozen yards away, Keildrithe spots a dark lump, a shape, lying on the ground in the middle of the trail, but can make out no more details from here in the dim light.
"Laithe, do you see it? What do you make of it?"
Laithe’s sharp eyes, used to the dappled light of forested environments, pick out what appears to be a child sized, raggedly clad corpse.
Laithe’s sharp eyes, used to the dappled light of forested environments, pick out what appears to be a child sized, raggedly clad corpse.
"I think it is a body...possibly that of a child" he whispers back to Keildrithe. "It might be a trap, we must proceed with caution". He scans the ground around the body and the surrounding foliage for any sign of movement or a trap.
Keildrithe looks over his shoulder at the strange creature that mere moments ago had threatened his life. He then murmurs to it in Karandic:
Laithe, you do not see any signs of danger between you and the corpse, or get a clue as to what may have killed it.
---
Keildrithe, you do not get any sign that the leaf creature understands what you said, let alone a clear response. It simply stands and waits, rustling faintly in the breeze. It’s leaf covered “face” remains featureless, inscrutable and somewhat unnerving.