...If she's an assassin I'd say she's no more danger to us but if she's a relic hunter then she's just gonna come back with trackers and retrace our trail with a fine tooth comb and I'd really rather not have that item fall into the wrong hands again."
The woman smiles slightly during Karrin's rant, but says nothing
Nari kneels down beside the prisoner and whispers in her ear.
"If it were up to me I would burn you alive...slowly, and listen to your screams as your flesh cooked off your body. But my companions, they're the merciful type. I'll let them have their way. For now. Don't give me a second chance."
She picked up a scrap of bark and used Matter Agitation to light it on fire to illustrate her point.
1d20+11
The woman seems very fearful, and her flashing green eyes narrow.
"I'll be good"
"See that you are," she said, with a cold smile. Her body language was unusual for her, oddly confident, haughty even.
Talismin sighs
"You're going to leave me with either rustics or rodents?"
She sighs again theatrically, creating some interesting physics beneath her robes
"well, I guess it is better than being penned in the dead book."
She looks about.
"Will you at least leave me unbound? I would also like a moment to change out of this garment. It is ruined."
She looks at the greatsword-sized rent in her robe and the congealing blood soaking the sheer garment.
"Fine. Rhiannon, Nari: would ye take Ms. Redboar aside so she can change? Top-shelf gentlemen like ourselves in the Silver Rose shall avert our eyes. After that we'll have to bind yer hands, cutter: tradition, after all."
Ekuur will also be sure to destroy the woman's unholy symbol and remove any spell component pouches he can see from her.
"It might also be wise to gag her, besides binding her hands. While they are not many in number, some spells require only a word or two to be cast."
Justin nods in Agreement with Ekuur. "Good idea. Nothing too inhumane, or even that uncomfortable. A simple binding of the thumbs should do the trick."
Justin packs his gear and ties it to his beetles saddle. He uses a cantrip to help clean up the mess from camping, and the battle, and goes to see if the others need any help.
Rhiannon nods, drawing her sword slowly and deliberately in warning as she and Nari move the woman over to the side of the campsite.
"Do you possess other clothing?"
Nari just glares imperiously at the prisoner, making sure not to take her eyes off of her in case she tried to escape.
Justin nods in Agreement with Ekuur. "Good idea. Nothing too inhumane, or even that uncomfortable. A simple binding of the thumbs should do the trick."
Justin packs his gear and ties it to his beetles saddle. He uses a cantrip to help clean up the mess from camping, and the battle, and goes to see if the others need any help.
"You know a lot about bondage?" Karrin asks, a mischievous smile on her face.
The witch leads the women over towards the scene of the skeleton carnage. There, hidden by a fold of peeling bark is a small backpack. Inside is a few adventuring tools (rope, pitons, torches, oil, etc.) and a few changes of clothing. Talimsin uses a canteen of water to wash herself and changes into some doeskin breeches and a white shirt.
"Ready when you are. Oh, one moment.'
The tiefling witch whistles and a sinuous snake comes out from under a creased chunk of bark.
"Please don't hurt her, that is Lillitu, my familiar."
The snake winds up her leg and torso. It eventually settles across her shoulders.
Ekuur keeps a silent eye on the woman, but makes no threatening moves and nods at her request not to hurt the snake.
"Does anyone have anything to bind her hands?" Ekuur will also find a scrap of cloth to make a gag, and place it around her mouth (tight, but not painfully so).
"Aye.", Isaac pulls out his silk rope, "Hands together, cutter, thumbs crossed."
Once she complies, Isaac will bind her wrists securely, running the rope around her thumbs so she can't move them to cast spells. He'll keep them secure but not uncomfortable.
"Mount up, cutters, 'fore the day gives us the laugh entire."
I'll keep our captive on my beetle unless someone else wants to take her.
"You know a lot about bondage?" Karrin asks, a mischievous smile on her face.
Justin blinks in surprise, and responds without thinking.
"No, not really,..." Then a slow, almost embarrassed smirk spreads across his face.
"Skyy, on the other hand,..."
Rhiannon quickly mounts the shadowy destrier preparing to depart. She takes a position behind Isaac keeping a close eye on the prisoner.
[As the day brightens in that sourceless fashion that is the hallmark of Yggdrasil, the group treads forth, headed for the lair of their erstwhile allies, the ratatosk. Talimsin puts up little resistance to her binding and climbs aboard Issac's beetle. The odd saddle allows the lithe tiefling a little room to get a seat, and she presses tight against Issac's back. Issac is surrounded by the scent of her, a pleasant cinnamon perfume.
"If I wasn't in such peril I'd almost enjoy this," She purrs in the Godsman's ear as they ride along the rough bark.
As the 'daylight' begins to mellow into a more afternoon feel, the beetle convoy approaches the Ratatosk lair.
[As the day brightens in that sourceless fashion that is the hallmark of Yggdrasil, the group treads forth, headed for the lair of their erstwhile allies, the ratatosk. Talimsin puts up little resistance to her binding and climbs aboard Issac's beetle. The odd saddle allows the lithe tiefling a little room to get a seat, and she presses tight against Issac's back. Issac is surrounded by the scent of her, a pleasant cinnamon perfume.
"If I wasn't in such peril I'd almost enjoy this," She purrs in the Godsman's ear as they ride along the rough bark.
As the 'daylight' begins to mellow into a more afternoon feel, the beetle convoy approaches the Ratatosk lair.
Isaac outwardly appears entirely focused on the path ahead, the reins tightly clenched in his lap.
"Think unsexy thoughts, think unsexy thoughts, think unsexy thoughts...."
"Maybe she should ride with me," Karrin suggests, "she's looking a tad too cuddly for my liking. Plus as a spell caster I could tell when she was up to no good."
"It's fine, cutter, we're almost to the ratatosk's kip. Ms. Redboar's my responsibility until we get there anyways. Besides, I don't reckon she'll be casting any spells soon, eh? Believe me, I'm the model of a trig professional. Yes indeed. Prepared fer anything. Standing at attention. Strict professional."
At Isaac's second to last statement,Rhiannon fails to hold back the snicker.
Merle rolls her eyes at Isaacs statement but cant help but smirk at the same time.
The party gets to the area close to where the declivity in Yggdrasil led to the portal to the Ratatosk 'village'. As they ride up, a half-dozen beetle-scalemail-armored squirrelfolk appear from behind lesser branches, brandishing wide-bladed spears and pikes. An angry chittering comes from them.
Sylvan:
Their agitation seems odd that since the party was here very recently. The Ratatosk seem much more angry than they were a few days ago.
Karrin raises an eyebrow.
"Ya, that's great," Karrin says, her voice flat, "very amusing."
Nari directs her beetle to the front, not sure Isaac is in a position to calm anyone with the prisoner riding with him. It was taking a chance since she'd been very quiet the last time she was here and she wasn't sure they'd remember her, but anything to get her other self to cooperate and stop fighting her for control for half a second.
Sylvan:
Nari directs her beetle to the front, not sure Isaac is in a position to calm anyone with the prisoner riding with him. It was taking a chance since she'd been very quiet the last time she was here and she wasn't sure they'd remember her, but anything to get her other self to cooperate and stop fighting her for control for half a second.
Sylvan:** spoiler omitted **
Sylvan:
Isaac adds his own input after Nari speaks.
Sylvan:
Diplomacy:
The Godsman rummages through his many pockets until finally finding the carved ratatosk token. He holds it up for the guards.
...The Godsman rummages through his many pockets until finally finding the carved ratatosk token. He holds it up for the guards.
The leader of the squirrel squad peers at the carven wood pendant and his fur settles on his frame. The squad's tails smooth as well.
Sylvan:
Isaac turns to the rest of the crew and translates.
"Chant is there's been sickness in their Nest since we've been here, shadows walking the limbs. So they're on their guard in case yeh got yer eyes shut."
Sylvan:
Merle relaxes a little until Isaac mentions the part about shadows. "What do these shadows happen to look like?" she asks Isaac hoping he will translate the question to the Squirrel's
Isaac nods to Merle's question and turns around to translate.
Sylvan:
Isaac nods to Merle's question and turns around to translate.
Sylvan: ** spoiler omitted **
Sylvan:
She glanced over at Isaac, concern clear in her eyes.
Sylvan:
She glanced over at Isaac, concern clear in her eyes.
Sylvan:** spoiler omitted **
The Ratatosk squad leader chitters at the slender elf
Sylvan:
The squirreloid motions with a clawed hand and points to the small declivity in the bark.
The squad leader leads them into the bark declivity. It looks like nothing more than a small irregularity in the bark, but when the party jumps in they suddenly are ported ...elsewhere.
They emerge in a large room that looks as if it is hollowed out of the World Ash. A warm burnished wood chamber soars above them, dotted with tunnel openings and balconies. Side tunnels lead off the main area.
The room is full of bustling squirrels. There is a manic, chaotic air as they scurry about chittering amongst themselves. The chamber has a strong musky smell, not too unpleasant, but very noticable.
Thise that had visited before note all of this in stride. It is much as it had been scant few days ago, yet ....
The crowd of squirreloids parts for the newcomers, chittering in a chorus of cheeps and chirps.
A bent and stooped Ratatosk comes out to meet them. He is dressed in a shiny silk loincloth with bones and feathers worked into his greying fur. He grips a staff carved in stylized knotwork and animal figures. A wise-looking face with a white muzzle stares at them from under a large beetle head hat. Beside him is a tall and robust-looking Ratatosk clad in beetle mail. Those that have been here before recognize Phaumee and Glittereye.
"Hail friends, and merry met again," Glittereye says in faintly-accented Planar Common. "I have thought of you much since Phaumee returned to us. You vanquished one of our direst foes, but I fear the war is not yet won. Have you come to journey to the Warpwood?"
Merle Perception
Seph Perception
Merle Perception
1d20 + 7
Seph Perception
1d20 + 7
Katzenjammer kidz:
"Well thats part of the plan" Merle responds looking around "Err no offense but everyone round here seem somewhat more to put it bluntly angry than normal?"
"Well thats part of the plan" Merle responds looking around "Err no offense but everyone round here seem somewhat more to put it bluntly angry than normal?"
Glittereye nods
"We feel disturbances in the Mother quite keenly, Mistress Merle. Our folk feel something is wrong, and they are reacting accordingly. I fear whatever sickens the Mother is sickening us as well."
Perception:
"A similar sickness took root in Crux. A woodcarver grew ill, prey to nightmares. Nari and Merle were able to fight it off by going into his brainbox and fighting the shadow that started it... but I don't reckon we can do it again. We've come to investigate the Warpwood, Glittereye, as we promised."
Perception: 1d20+15
Nari and Merle were able to fight it off"
"Fight it off? I'll have you know we were completly kicking it ass Well till the thing kicked us out at least" Merle somewhat trails off at the end bit.
Perception: 1d20+15
"A similar sickness took root in Crux. A woodcarver grew ill, prey to nightmares. Nari and Merle were able to fight it off by going into his brainbox and fighting the shadow that started it... but I don't reckon we can do it again. We've come to investigate the Warpwood, Glittereye, as we promised."
Glittereye nods
"And I promised to take you to it. And so I shall. Do you need anything before we set out?"
Isaac takes a deep breath. He was hoping not to make his requests in front of the whole hutch, but it seemed like this was the only opportunity. He clears his mouth of Chant and asks formally in the Planar Trade tongue.
"Yes, we have two requests. We were attacked on our way here by this woman,"he indicates Talismin,"and a demon. The demon left some of us drained of life force. We were hoping that we could barter with you for the curative magics required. We would also ask if you will place her under guard until we return from the Warpwood; we will take her from here back to Crux."
Justin raises an eyebrow at the activity in the nest, and tries to put together an accurate ID of what they might soon be facing as the others chatter and bargain,... He's hoping they're not what they sound like,...
Isaac takes a deep breath. He was hoping not to make his requests in front of the whole hutch, but it seemed like this was the only opportunity. He clears his mouth of Chant and asks formally in the Planar Trade tongue.
"Yes, we have two requests. We were attacked on our way here by this woman,"he indicates Talismin,"and a demon. The demon left some of us drained of life force. We were hoping that we could barter with you for the curative magics required. We would also ask if you will place her under guard until we return from the Warpwood; we will take her from here back to Crux."
Glittereye ponders
"I am a priest of the Mother. I can restore your life force. All I ask is that you recompense the hutch for the materials needed, for they are rare and hard to come by."
|
Isaac takes a deep breath. He was hoping not to make his requests in front of the whole hutch, but it seemed like this was the only opportunity. He clears his mouth of Chant and asks formally in the Planar Trade tongue.
"Yes, we have two requests. We were attacked on our way here by this woman,"he indicates Talismin,"and a demon. The demon left some of us drained of life force. We were hoping that we could barter with you for the curative magics required. We would also ask if you will place her under guard until we return from the Warpwood; we will take her from here back to Crux."
Glittereye ponders
"I am a priest of the Mother. I can restore your life force. All I ask is that you recompense the hutch for the materials needed, for they are rare and hard to come by."
