As Grim comes to these signs he waits for the group to come to him as he carefully observes the area around him and his companions. As they near enough to see his hand signs he signals them to be quiet and then waits for Nadya and his friends to come to him. He shows them the sign and explains it to the rest of them knowing that Nadya will know what he is pointing at.
As he does he compares the small foot tracks to Porablum's. He then inspects them more closely to get an idea of what they might come upon and what made them.
"See these...small feet and they cross this path but they are days old. Up ahead of us see the smoke rising above the woods. Nadya do you want to go around or chance scouting the site?"
Grim's attempts to compare the small tracks to Porablum's result in some consternation on his part, as he finds that Porablum apparently doesn't leave tracks.
Porablum does accommodate him by placing her foot above one of the tracks to help him compare the size, though.
"Whoever or whatever made them, they're likely not aware of our deeds, and maybe not even of our presence around these parts, if the tracks are indeed a couple of days old. Easlis says in a hushed voice looking left and right for any signs of life, then gives his two coppers regarding the tracks "At least they are not bigger than ours..."
Grim studies the prints in more detail and determines that there are two sets. one is larger and heavier, and looks to be about right for a large human man, maybe Hjorleaf's size. the second set is smaller, but not nearly as small as porablum's feet. likely a human woman.
the tracks are spaced regularly and fairly close together, making you think they were left by people walking at an average pace.
you do not spot any creatures or movement in the woods.
the smoke looks to be the size you would expect from a cooking fire. maybe outdoors as a campfire, maybe out of a chimney.
Grim's attempts to compare the small tracks to Porablum's result in some consternation on his part, as he finds that Porablum apparently doesn't leave tracks.
Porablum does accommodate him by placing her foot above one of the tracks to help him compare the size, though.
Grim frowns and is a bit confused but accepts that Porablum has abilities that he probably doesn't understand. He thanks her as she gives her foot for comparison.
He looks to his friends. "A man...the size of Hjorleaf or about...and a small human woman. They are not fleeing or running...moving at a normal walking pace." He looks back to the smoke and ponders what he sees for another moment. "The smoke is probably from a camping fire a chimney."
"People who live out here? While I wouldn't mind a fire and a chance to rest, we should probably avoid them. If they aren't spies for the witches, we could get them in trouble if the witches find out we were there."
Grim nods in agreement with Porablum.
"Agree. I don't want innocent people dying because of us."
Agreed
"They're already attracting attention with the smoke. They will surely be discovered by our pursuers. We should put some distance between us and the natives." Easlis says cautiously, noticing that the tracks are bigger than what he thought initially.
the group decides to press forward. the path through the woods will likely bring you at least close enough to see whatever is causing the smoke (it is really not a large wood, certainly nowhere near as big as the forest in book 1). avoiding the smoke trail means either cutting even more across country to go the long way around the smoke or going back to the main road for at least some distance.
which option do you want to go with?
Garran...which way do you think is best to travel.
"Whoever is making the smoke is going to have to manage on their own. We aren't going to risk children and wander so easily into danger." Easlis tries to convince the rest of the group to take the long way around the forest and somehow avoid the road as well.
Grim nods in agreement with both Easlis and Hjorleaf. "We can skirt around the smoke through the woods but I believe we can still be close enough to see what the source is with out being spotted as well. I can take the lead for us and if I or anyone sees anything that stands out to us we can stop and investigate otherwise we move on. I don't like endangering the children either. Sound good?"
Hjorleaf nods at Grim and follows behind at a slight distance.
Grim skirts out ahead first taking his time and scanning the ground and surrounding area for any thing that would endanger him or his companions.
He then scouts out and determines the best way to skirt around the location of the "fire".
Grim moves ahead scouting the path. he spots several animals, but none seem out of place. he finds that the source of the fire is a small log cabin with smoke coming from a brick chimney. a woman with red hair sits on the porch, but doesn't see Grim
Grim moves back and away towards the group and passes along the information via whispers in the ear and hand sign to next person so they can pass it along as well.
"Small cabin is where the smoke cooking fire is coming from. A women, red hair on the porch, she has not seen me from what I can tell." He points to the direction of the cabin and the smoke and moves back up but keeping a little bit farther away to put a few more trees and bushes between the cabin and himself but not enough to keep a watch on the cabin and movement.
He keeps his bow ready but not drawn to that he doesn't appear as a threat if he comes upon a stranger.
"Then it's good, we know it isn't a scouting party, she hasn't noticed us, we can move on." Easlis said, clearly agitated, both by the inevitable chase and by unknown inhabitants of the hut.
Grim, is it possible for us to pass her without being notice?
"We can widen our path away from the cabin enough for us to get around. We will need to make sure the dogs keep quiet and we move slowly. I can put my self between the group and the cabin and just ahead to keep an eye on the cabin as you move around it."
Sounds like a plan...let get moving then.
The half-elf nods and follows the Ulfren taking the long way around the cabin.
Porablum follows along, trying her best to keep out of sight.
Grim will skirt back towards his original spot he sighted the cabin and the lady with the red hair but he will add enough distance, trees, and bushes for the party to move around the cabin. If he thinks they are moving to quickly he will put his hand up to slow them as they move around. He will move in parallel with them. His attention will be on the cabin and the area in front and behind the entire group as he scans letting the party monitor their right flank
cabin..........woods...Grim...woods....
................woods................Group
the group is able to pass by the house without incident. not far from the building you also spot a small natural-looking cave.
Grim sees the cave and stops the party and points it out. From his location he kneels down and he takes his time and watches the entrance and the area around the cave for movement or anything that stands out. Inspecting not on the area but the objects on the ground, hanging from rocks, or branches, or any sort of smell (if breeze permits - downwind). Is there a noticeable trail he can see from the cave to the cabin or any where else.
Grim moves up to check out the cave. he sees there is something moving inside. it looks humanoid, but large and deformed in some way. it looks almost troll-like. it seems a bit too small to be a troll but too large to be a normal human.
Grim moves up to check out the cave. he sees there is something moving inside. it looks humanoid, but large and deformed in some way. it looks almost troll-like. it seems a bit too small to be a troll but too large to be a normal human.
Grim takes a knee behind any tree or bush that will provide concealment and cover from the cave and the cabin. He then waves for the party to stop and then points out the cave. As he does he double-checks the cave and makes sure whatever is inside the cave is not moving out of it and towards his position or the groups.
If any of the party members move up to him he will whisper into their ear.
"Something is in that cave...looks like it might be troll but it seems too small to be a troll. Not sure what to make of it being this close to that cabin and the women. I am not sure I like leaving a potential predator at our back with what we might run into but it doesn't appear to have noticed us."
Approaching Grim, Hjorleaf listens closely to the ranger.
We should investigate...We do not want to draw attention to the family true but I also would not like to have a potential enemy this close to the woman. Let us investigate and determine what is going on. If need be, we kill the threat...if not, fine. We may even find some shelter or even an underground passage that will get us further away from those damn crows.
Porablum stays back, not wanting to disrupt Grim's stealthy movements with her own clumsy attempts.
"A cave could work as a good hideout. " Easlis says as he unsheathes the scimitar ready to pounce on the sleeping troll-like inhabitant.
Your call grim...
Grim puts his hand on Easlis to hold him in place for one moment.
He turns to Hjorleaf and Porablum. "I can't argue with your logic Hjor...but there is a good chance more than just one of those things are in that cave. Let me and Easlis move up and get a better view of the cave and maybe we can see what is actually in it." He points to the nearby flank of the cave so that he and Easlis can skirt the cave but put the two of them just outside of the view of the entrance. He also makes it a point to go on the far side of the Cabin...he is still unsure of the inhabitants of the cabin and their relationship whatever is in the cave."The three of you keep an eye on the entrance and if you see anything that looks like danger call it out. No use in us being sneaky if it comes out knowing we are here." He smiles as he turns to move off to the flank of the cave with the Magus.
He keeps their pace slow so he and Easlis can move quietly but also so he can scan the ground and area for any signs of what they are facing and how many..foot trails...number of tracks...different types of tracks and such. He knocks an arrow and has one at the ready.
Grim...Be careful.
the prints that Grim finds all look to be made by a humanoid booted foot. it looks like someone walked into the cave at some point, likely over a day ago from the way the tracks have aged.
you're able to get quite close to the cave. it is not very large so you see inside pretty well. it looks like there is one creature inside, pacing back and forth. it looks less like a troll this close up.
it appears to be a large human man, with some kind of lumpy growths all over his back, neck and head.
this man is covered in a plant known as Mindslaver Mold. as its name implies, this fungus attaches itself to a host and then takes over its mind, until the mold itself dominates the victim's ability to function as it loses its sense of self.
Mindslaver mold is a much-feared infestation from the First World that is particularly common in Grungir Forest, as well as on the island of Kalva, where the cannibals respect and fear the mold almost as a manifestation of some strange god. The mold itself shares a single consciousness, although individual patches of the stuff retain their own goals. Mindslaver mold seeks humanoid hosts, parasitizing them even as it manipulates them into serving as its bodyguards and protectors.
Grim nudges Easlis and slowly bring up his hand points to the creature....man inside.
He whispers in the magus's ear..."It is a man but what is that on his body? I can't make it out...some sort of deformity maybe?"
He then turns his gaze to the cabin and back to the cave. "Maybe the man is cursed and is family of the women in the cabin?"
The half-elf caught up to Grim who was a farther ahead and remains crouching while scratches his chin pondering what to do about the deformed humanoid.
"It would be a shame to lose the element of surprise but we can't kill a man in cold blood even if we know he won't react well to us intruding on him."
Little Nisse...can you cure him maybe?...of this deformity...
Grim turns to Easlis and then looks back to the rest of the group that is further back and back at the cave.
He then leans into Easlis's ear and in a low voice. "Can you sense if this is magical or a curse of some form? I don't wish to take this man's life if we can heal him? Maybe we should parlay with the women if this is our wish. If we can heal him without harm she might be able to help us in some manner."
Porablum frowns. "Maybe. It depends on the cause of the deformity. I don't know what it is..."
Grim turns back to the cave after talking to Easlis and takes some time and studies the man a bit more. This time closely inspecting the lumps on him and realizing he is a big man. Is this natural, unnatural, a curse and if so is it something we can actually fix??? The thought goes through his mind as he waits on the Magus to respond.
"Obviously there's something magical at play here. I don't think rashes can get that bad. But I guess it wouldn't hurt to check for magical traps as well." Easlis retreats to the entrance of the cave such that he can cast the detection spell from there trying not to rouse the attention of the man with the chanting. The magus will sneak right back on the front lines with the information he got after casting the spell.
"Obviously there's something magical at play here. I don't think rashes can get that bad. But I guess it wouldn't hurt to check for magical traps as well." Easlis retreats to the entrance of the cave such that he can cast the detection spell from there trying not to rouse the attention of the man with the chanting. The magus will sneak right back on the front lines with the information he got after casting the spell.
Hjorleaf grips his ax, waiting for the time to kill something.
Ealsis checks for magic while Grim mulls over the cause of the growths on the man. Easlis does not detect any magic at all.
after thinking about it for a bit you do think you know what it is. it looks like a mindslaver mold. as its name implies, this fungus attaches itself to a host and then takes over its mind, until the mold itself dominates the victim's ability to function as it loses its sense of self.
Mindslaver mold is a much-feared infestation from the First World that is particularly common in Grungir Forest, as well as on the island of Kalva, where the cannibals respect and fear the mold almost as a manifestation of some strange god. The mold itself shares a single consciousness, although individual patches of the stuff retain their own goals. Mindslaver mold seeks humanoid hosts, parasitizing them even as it manipulates them into serving as its bodyguards and protectors.
As Easlis casts his enchantents Grim realizes what they would be facing... He lowers his eyes and shakes his head and mutters under his breath "Damn'it...if it is not one thing it is the other." He puts his hand on Ealsis' shoulder and looks back to the group and nods. "I know what this is...lets get back to the group.
Grim waits for his companion to finish so that they know the full extent of what they are facing. He then lets Ealsis move first but keeps them going slow so as to control the noise of their foot falls. Keep his bow knocked and eyes on the entrance as they follow their path back to the group staying to the flank of the cave entrance so they are out of sight of the man inside.
Once back to the group
He looks back at the cave and to his friends. "It is a man...a big man probably the size of you. He looks at Hjor... "He is covered in Mindslaver mold...it is a natural affliction from the First World. It is some sort of fungus that takes over the mind of it's victim and controls their mind. It is pervasive in its desire to find hosts... It is something we need to be cautious with...if it touches us we could be infected."
He looks back at the cave keeping his eyes on it and the surrounding area.
The magus follows Grim closely, his elongated eyes pricking up, curious as to what the northman had to say.
Upon hearing what they were facing Easlus put the sword back in its sheath and ensured that the travelling sack was well tied on his back.
"I did mention that it would be nice to find a good haven to spend the night, but I'd rather face the elements and witches than having my body snatched by one of those spores. Even if we succeed in subduing the big man there's no telling one of us won't be afflicted during our stay in the cave."
We should put him down...That is no way to live out the remainder of your days. Little Nisse may be able to help him but she is not sure. If we are not able to help him...we can at least end his suffering.
”I have no idea how to treat Mindslaver mold. It sounds awful - I don’t think I could do anything about it.”