Rowan frowns. "I'm not very diplomatic." he admits. He turns to Anastacia. "I think I can make them show themselves, if you're willing to try to talk to them." Assuming Anastacia agrees, he soon finds a small clearing in the woods. Walking out alone to the center of the clearing he places two of the Fangberries he has cast Goodberry on in the center on a large leaf. He then speaks.
A grig soon flies from the trees, landing near the leaf. It starts to reach for the berry, but stumbles momentarily. It is flat footed for a couple of seconds.
Anastacia takes a step forward. "Hello there. Those berries are for you. We noticed you and your friend watching us, and we thought we'd like to meet you. We mean you no ill."
Anastacia takes a knee so she can be more at eye level with the fey.
"We are exploring this region, and have heard that there are many children of the First world here in the Greenbelt. It is our desire to live in peace with the natural order, so we would greatly like to learn your ways, which are unknown to us; so our two peoples may live in harmony."
Bej keeps his distance while Anastacia and Rowan deal with the feys. He knows a little about those creatures, and he’s fairly sure they can be annoying, but in their natural terrain they can be incredible allies. He really doesn’t want to mess up a partnership by reacting poorly to a prank.
"Clever little bastards," Vors mumbles to himself as he puts two and two together realising the ruse. Allowing Anastacia to speak Vors keep an eye on the pseudodragon in the trees.
The grig looks up at Anastacia's face and then fades from existence in front of her eyes. Gales of laughter can be heard above you in the trees. Shorty an identical grig flies down, followed quickly by a tiny dragon with butterfly wings. The grig pokes experimentally at the berry then quickly gulps it down. Immediately a look a delight crosses her face. "Now that's what I call a GOOD BERRY" and she reaches for the second, but she is interupted in mid snatch as the psuedodragon tackles her. Their is a brief wrestle that the psuedodragon wins, by grabbing the final berry and popping it into his mouth. The grig turns to Anastacia. "We thank you, mortals, for the fine meal. I know you three." At this she indicates Anastacia, Rowan and Vors. "fought the bad humans, so logic says you should be good humans. I am Tyg-Titter-Tut and this is Perlivash. And we shall not harm good humans."
Vors can't help himself smiling at the struggle between the two for the last berry as the creature speaks he pauses, not sure what to expect, but certainly not this.
Anastacia smiles at the comical display.
"Nice to meet you, Tyg-Titter-Tut. And you too, Perlivash."
Anastacia gives the creatures a curtsy. "I am Anastacia. This is Vors. And Bej. And this is Rowan. We would like to get to know you better. Is this grove your home?"
The dragon actually seems a little bashful as Tyg-Titter-Tut continues to talk. "Yes, we live here" she says spreading her hands wide as she can. "This is our land as far as we can see flying above the trees."
Anastacia sighs. "I thought it might be something like that.
"So, how would you feel, if a family of humans came here, and cut down enough trees to build a house and barn. In place of the cut trees, they would plant a field. They would make a low wall around the field, using the rocks they plowed up from the ground. Perhaps they would start a hedge growing along with this wall, as shelter from the wind."
"They would have cows, chickens and perhaps some pigs. These large folk would be unlikely to notice you, but you would certainly notice them."
"Would you be able to live and be happy with such people as your neighbors? I think Perlivash would do well, he looks like the sort who would enjoy hunting the rats that always collect around a barn."
Perlivash smacks his lips at the word 'rats', Tyg-Titter-Tut however has a tear in her eye as she says. "Cut down trees! Some of my best friends are trees. They would be bad humans if they did that."
The last statement puzzles Vors, how can someone be friend with trees? These are indeed strange lands.
“Ehm… Perlivash, Tyg-Titter-Tut… ” Bej chimes in “don’t think of them as bad humans. They won’t cut down trees for its own sake. They need them to survive. A wolf ain’t a bad wolf for eating a hare, it needs that, so it…ehm… he can grow and make nice strong wolf cubs.” Bej tries his hardest to keep a serious, business-like face I’m talking with a butterfly-lizard and a grasshopper with t*ts. That’s just peachy.
“As Anastacia said, they’d plant new… ehm… friends for you to grow fond of” Yep. That was a pun. Me old man would smack my head if he heard that. “Apple trees by the doz-en, and corn fields. They’d have pups and kittens with them. We’d make sure no man who doesn’t love the trees surrounding him as much as you do would ever set foot here.”
Tyg-Titter-Tut nods in agreement. "Yes wolves aren't bad. Not like bears. Bears are bad." She shudders at some memory and glances fearfully towards the west. "You'll come visit us and if we tell you who the bad humans are and you'll take care of them, right?" She asks, adding as an afterthought. "Oh!, bring goodberries when you come to visit."
"I'll be happy to come and visit you again." Anastacia is curious about the fey's way of thinking. Understanding the folk will be critical to future relations.
"Are you friends with every tree, or are there just a few that speak to you? I don't think we would want to cut down any tree that we knew was sentient. Most of us humans can't tell if a tree has a soul or not. Though perhaps Rowan can."
Oh, I don't talk to trees. I like trees that don't move around. Trees that move around are bad. Falchos knows some good trees, but I think they are somewhere along way a ways. She waves her hand towards the south. "Falchos travels alot." she adds in explanation.
"Are there any trees that move around?" Vors asks.
"There are swamps over that way" she motions to the west. "Mean trees walk out of there all the time, but they are slow and easy to fly away from."
"Good to know." Anastacia gazes in the direction the grig indicates. "I suppose we will need to deal with them at some point."
There is something I'd like to ask you about, Tyg-Titter-Tut. One of the bad men we fought had given his soul to someone. Though he is dead and cremated, his soul is in the possession of someone to the South."
Anastacia gives the grig a penetrating gaze. "Do you have any idea who that someone could be, Tyg-Titter-Tut?"
Tyg-Titter-Tut visibly pales and looks down. "We don't speak of 'The Green Lady', bad things happen to those who do." As she speaks her hands fly to mouth as she suddenly realizes that she spoke of the creature in question. Frightened, she takes to air sobbing "I'm sorry" Perlivash flies after her and as they disappear from view you can hear him say. "It's alright, Tyg, she probably wasn't listening."
"Well." Anastacia watches the fey creatures disappear with a bemused expression on her face. "At least we have a name for Lanya."
Anastacia stands back up. "Well, gentlemen, shall we get on with our survey of the countryside?"
"A good idea Anastacia," Vors says moving away from the conversation towards the horses.
Pharast 16
By the end of the day you have completely explored the area. It is made particularly tedious by the amount of snow on the ground. That evening is clear and very cold and nothing bothers you.
Pharast 17
The morning is brisk and clear and has a marvelous sunrise. The temperature quickly begins to climb and by mid-morning it has risen above freezing and the snow begins to melt. By noon you have reached the edge of the forest and the rest of the afternoon is spent exploring the plains to the east. By that evening you come across the familiar terrain surrounding Oleg's Trading Post, so instead of setting camp you just ride a couple hours, arriving at the Trading Post just as the sun sets.
Pharast 19
The land you explore is plains and would make good farmland. Near the end of the day you see a small hut standing alone in the plains. You see an old man with a hoe, breaking the ground in what appears to be a small garden. He starts a little when he first sees you, then calms down. He bows to Vors. I assume you are the new lords of the area. You're Lord Wilhelm, right?"
Sitting on her horse, Anastacia smiles pleasantly, making sure that the farmer can see the worn wooden symbol of Pharasma, that she wears. The crossbow she has in hand is pointed at the sky and away from the old fellow. The cleric does not want to appear threatening to the man.
Anastacia looks toward Vors, waiting for him to answer the question.
Vors smiles at the man's misunderstanding. You are half right, my name is Vors Garess, Lord Orlovsky might ride by another time. Who are you and what do you do in this lonesome place?"
The old man stands up, slightly embarresed. "My name's Bokken. And I hear tell you killed that rascal Happs Bydon and his men. Good for you. He was a plague upon the area. Why just earlier this month, Oleg sent Svetlana down here for me to hide, knowing Happs was about due to collect his 'taxes'. But Happs hit here first and took her back with him. I'm glad that you saved her, she's a fine cook and a fine woman. Keep an eye out for my brother while you're out fighting bandits. He's a viscous killer, bit my finger off when he killed my parents." At this point he raises his left hand and you can see that he seems to be missing his pinkie. "I chased him down to this area, but I wound up falling in love with the scenery. I've given up vengence, now I just make a living supplying Oleg with potions. If you run across anything that can help with potions, I'll give you the best price I can for it. Come on inside. I'd be a bad host if I didn't feed you." Bokken's hut is slightly ramshackle, but seems sturdy. The garden he is tending, seems to consist more of herbs then vegatables, but he does have some potatoes and rabbits and soon cooks up a passable stew. It's not Svetlana's cooking but its not bad.
"And I would be a bad guest to refuse," Vors says as he dismounts. "I am sure we can spare the time?" he asks Anastacia. Following his host, he inquires: "Tell me more about this brother of yours."
Huh, Dareon thinks. It's odd to come across straight-up friendly people living by themselves in the Greenlands. Mostly what you find are loner eccentrics, murderers, and gigantic deadly monsters that want nothing more than to eat your face right off. He smiles as he enters the house and smiles even more widely as he's offered food and a seat. "Yeah, your brother. And how you managed to make a living for yourself all alone out here in such deadly lands?"
"Good to make your acquaintance, Bokken. It would be rude to not accept you kind offer of hospitality."
Anastacia slides of her horse and offers Bokken a hand in friendship. As she does so, she watches the man closely.
"He's absolutely bug s+%@ crazy. Used to work in King Rogarvia's menagerie. He got into some gambling debts and decided he steal from his own parents to try and cover them. Mom and Dad discovered him and in the argument he killed them both. He fled New Stetven and I tracked him down here. Wasn't hard. We look alot alike being twins and all. I couldn't track him past Oleg's though and the animals down here are too dangerous to go wandering off on your own. So I built this hut and made a modest living selling potions and doctoring up the trappers and hunters in the area. The bandits have been my biggest problem. I was having to make 10 Curing Potions every month as my taxes to them. Bastards!" he spits.
While talking he has been preparing the stew. The man seems earnest to Anastacia, no deception in his voice. Also looking around the room, it consists of very little other than a bed and a table that had a rudimentary alchemy kit spread on it before Bokken cleared it for you to sit. You can also see the contents of a healer's kit. Everything is very disorganized however.
"I take it you haven't found him then and lost track?" Vors inquires looking around the room. "Have you considered the security of a town?"
Bokken replies. "Erastil knows, its dangerous out here. But I love the scenery. You should see these plains in the springtime."
“I’ll drink to that.” says Bej when Bokken mentions the beauty of a life out of a city. “There’s much to love in living in these lands, there will be even more once the bandits and monsters will know this is no place for them.”
The wizard is enjoying the simple yet genuine meal, and finds in Bokken a kindred spirit. “I’m glad you’re living nearby. This little kingdom m’lord Orlosky is putting together needs good folks like you. If you have anything else on your brother’s thereabouts, we’ll see that he is jailed.” and hanged, but mentioning that at lunch would be bad taste.
"Spring will be here soon, maybe we will come around and visit you then." Then Anastacia adds. "We'll keep an eye out for your brother as well. If we capture him, you will need to testify to his crimes."
Chewing and with a mouth full, he asks Bokken, "How interested are you in people coming to settle these lands, anyway?"
Dareon's question peaks Vors' attention. He looks interested at their host for his response. The noble hadn't consideret that. Sure they had asked the fairies but not the human.
Bokken agrees to testify against his brother if need be and responds to Dareon's question. "Well, I'm always glad for the extra business, And I think I live far enough from the Trading Post that they won't disturb me. So I say, let um come."
"In time they might come closer as more land is settled," Vors remarks waiting for a reaction.
"If they bother me, I'll just pack up and move." The afternoon passes peacefully and there are no encounters that night.
Pharast 20
You continue east. The plains continue and you feel like this would indeed make good farmland. It rains most of the day and washes away all trace of the snow. Nothing happens that night, other than being rather cold.[/ooc]
Pharast 21
Turning slightly south, you continue in plains. The day is still cold but stays above freezing. Nothing happens that night.
Pharast 22
Heading back to the west you continue in plains. The day is actually nice, lots of sunshine and the temperature climbs into the 60's. That night, during
Vor's watch, he sees a grizzly bear approach his camp. It shows no fear but heads right for your food supply.
"Don't worry, Bokken. If you want to stay here, just mark the bounds of the land you need with stakes. There will be someone in charge of land survey. Your homestead will be recorded as yours. No one will move in on your farm. This territory will not be run that way."
Anastacia gives the old fellow a wink and a smile. "'Course if you want to move on, that's OK too. Any one who lives in peace, will be left in peace."
Vors stand his ground as the bear approach, allowing the creature free roam of the food, keeping an eye of for the safety of the others. As they begin to wake up, Vors makes sure that the bear doesn't changes its preference in regards to food source.
After inital feasting he gently ushers the bear away from the more important parts of their supplies.
Bokken thanks Anastacia, and she gets the sense that as long as you don't develop the hex he lives in above farmland, he'll be OK.
About 9gp worth of rations were scavenged by the bear, along with some damage to your supplies. The bear eventually wanders off and the rest of the night in uneventful.
Pharast 23
There is a slight shower that morning. The skies stay cloudy and that afternoon you have a thundershower. The terrain has turned to rolling hills. At one point, you spot a hill that has a lone tree on it. Like the Old Sycamore the mites lived in it gives the appearance of a claw sticking out of the ground, although it is much smaller. The thunderstorm hits about the time you reach the tree.
Anastacia also realizes that this is about a close as your planned route would come to the river and the undead that has been reported there.
Dareon remarks on the tree and on their proximity to their destination. "See, that tree there - a good landmark. We should be close to the undead monstrosity that we found there last time, I just hope we're prepared for it."
Anastacia contemplates the removal of the undead. It is a task that she will have to take on, and soon. However, Pharasma does not require her clerics to throw away their lives needlessly. It might be better to come back with flasks of holy water.
In the meantime, there is a storm to weather and if this tree has a nest of mites hidden in its roots, they will need dealt with.
Forcing a smile Vors replies: "i would rather we didn't meet it, if it's the same to you."
Vors notes that the ground near the tree has been dug up recently. But more important, its probably not a good idea to stand near a solitary tree on a hill in a thunderstorm. Good way to be hit by lightning.
Worried that the thunder will spook her horse, Anastacia dismounts and leads the beast down away from the tree. She hopes to find some shelter on the lea side of the hill.
"Clerics of Pharasma hunt the undead. It's what we do." The rain splashes on Anastacia's hood as she faces Vors. "We try to be prepared if we can. I'll see if I can get Wilhelm to help when I come back. He has reason to hunt the lifeless abominations, same as me."
The storm soon passes
Lightning does indeed hit the tree during the height of the storm. As the storm ends it is definitely cooler.