Since a bear like this likes to give deadly hugs, it might be that I should use my grease spell on the armor of Edric or Malthir before they move up to the beast.
Hopefully, I can get a clear shot at the bear before it engages. If it is fighting a summoned creature, it will be more difficult to hit. I will have a bane arrow nocked and ready to fire as soon as we get near the temple.
It may be that you want to cast the grease spell as soon as it engages the celestial. If it falls that is just another round it will stay busy getting up and fighting the celestial? How long does it last for?
The exploration takes quite some time in the forest compared to the plains, but you are nearing the end of your labours as night is descending when you come across a clearing you have not yet mapped. Fenna and Edric both spot the signs of a recent battle in the clearing, and moving to investigate the group can see wolf fur and bloodstains in the ground. The remains of a man torn to pieces lie in the centre of the clearing, mostly scattered in the long grass. Fenna spots the remains of his clothing- simple common clothing, a dyed brown shirt and a pair of black trousers. Both are covered in blood...
Something about this scene doesn't feel right. Kessle, can you look for tracks with Fenna and Edrics help? Are there any troll or trollhound tracks? Would wolves normally do this to a man, tear him apart like this or just eat him if he was prey? He doesn't seem to be a threat other than the muzzle and they could easily outrun this man. I have a hard time believing the pack did this to him with his only weapon a dagger??? Now trolls or some other beast - yes.
Kressle can see the tracks of a wolf pack, in particular one large set of pawprints she assumes belongs to Red-Eyes. As she tells it, the man was walking through the clearing, and the wolves leapt upon him from all sides of the forest. She thinks he put up a fight and managed to wound a couple of the wolves, which she finds odd. No sign of trolls or trollhounds.
Malthir whats left of the man was ripped apart by teeth and claws, utterly savaged. You can't tell much more from the remains really.
After finishing your investigation (and possibly taking the man's backpack and possessions), Kressle leads you into the only section of this hex you have yet to explore, another clearing. You get to the edge of the clearing and as the trees begin to thin you can clearly make out a radish patch, with the undergrowth and vegetation going up a little above the waist of most men. The stars are out and the clear skies have continued throughout the day, with the moon out exceptionally bright and illuminating the radish patch somewhat. As you enter the clearing...
Edric-
Fenna-
Malthir-
Vaysh-
Casimir-
You can hear faint groans of what sounds like pain coming from the centre of the radish patch...
Along with the groans, you can hear strange yipping noises, almost like a dog's bark but much higher pitched.
You can see forms in the very centre of the radish patch, perhaps half a dozen small figures. They appear to be mostly lying on their backs... Perhaps they are wounded?
Odd, that they would attack a travellor. He doesn't seem to have taken his dagger out to defend himself but still was able to hurt them. I guess we can ask them about when we run across them.
When the duelist mentions his families motto and their history of neutrality Edric falls silent again as if lost in thought. From what you know of the Swordlords would they ally against House Surtova?
As the party travels through the Greenbelt Edric remains close to Kressel discussing the land in hush tones as the pick out the best trail and make note of local flora and fauna. Though not unfriendly to the women the Knight keeps a serious, professional, demeanor during their conversations.
At the site of the battle Edric concurs with Malthira and Kressel that something is odd about the scene. From what I know of wolves this is very odd behavior indeed.
Wait... Whats that sound? Kressle mutters. Sounds like someones dying in the radish patch... she concludes, pointing one of her new hatchets at the centre of the patch.
“It is certainly odd that the wolves would attack this man without provocation,” Fenna answers Casimir and Malthir’s conscerns, and continuing to look about the ground of the clearing, “hopefully we run into some of them soon so we can clear up this mystery.”
Upon hearing the strange sounds from within the radish patch, she looks over to Kressle, “Quite, though they don’t sound like people… perhaps small dogs?”
Malthir dismounts and draws his blade looking around for any danger and starts walking towards the edge of the patch, Is there anyone there? Are you okay? We mean you no harm!
With a shriek, movement can be heard as several small forms heads become visible over the radish patches, six of them in all. They look like this...
It's a group of Kobolds!
The strange small creatures jab spears in your direction threateningly, yappering away in some strange language and yipping like dogs occasionally.
This is OUR radish patches! You leaves now bigfeets!
Seeing little or no response to their language, one of the creature's tries Common.
You leave! Ours! one of them yips!
I don't like your tone little fellow. Do you have proof of your claim that this land, and therefore its contents are yours? Or is it that you think that you can take what you want? Now I suggest that you be so kind as to back off and allow us a share of these good radishes and we will be on our way.
Casimir reigns in Shadow , slips his hand to his sword and prepares to inspire his friends.
The Kobold stares at Malthir, failing to understand the complex statement delivered, but sensing a dangerous undertone to the Paladin's words he yaps something in their strange tongue once more. The Kobold's do not lower their spears, but one of them cautiously approaches the group with a basket full of radishes. Dropping it skittishly in front of the group, the Kobold leaps back to join his fellows.
Yours! Now you leave! the self-styled leader snarls at you in broken common.
You think that the Swordlord's have a deep emnity for Surtova, and want to see them brought down.
Anyone know what these creatures are and whether or not we should concern ourselves with them, I have to admit that I don't like their tone or their orders...
I think they're just scared, probably just trying to protect their food supply. They don't seem overly dangerous Kressel have you had any run-ins with these creatures before?
These are kobolds. I guess they think this is their radish patch. I see no reason to challenge them for possession, since they seem to be willing to offer us a basket of radishes if we leave them alone. We can alway come back later and rout them, if need be.
Almost certainly. The Swordlords bear little love for the Regent of the Dragonscale Throne. I would not be surprised to find them involved in affairs that would weaken House Surtova.
Didn't we hear about some Kobolds and other creatures fighting? Could these Kobalds be the same ones that we are seeking to either remove and make an Alliance with? Casimir, are Kobolds in general evil creatures? Would making an alliance with them be more trouble thn it is worth? he turns to the Kobolds, Are you part of the Sootscales tribe?
Didn't we hear about some Kobolds and other creatures fighting? Could these Kobalds be the same ones that we are seeking to either remove and make an Alliance with? Casimir, are Kobolds in general evil creatures? Would making an alliance with them be more trouble thn it is worth? he turns to the Kobolds, Are you part of the Sootscales tribe?
The kobold leader shakes his spear indignantly at Malthir!
You say you leave when you have radishes, you have radishes, now leave bigfeets! Yes, we Sootscales, now leaves our patch!
Guardians, I smell an opportunity here. Maybe we can talk these little fellows into helping us locate their tribe, so we can discuss forging an Alliance. I know we have other matters at the moment, but it may not hurt to build some repore with them for later.
To the Kobolds:
We are the Guardians, and we would like to be your friends. He puts away his sword, We will leave you to your radish patch soon, but first a peace offering he pulls out a large strip of Tuskgutter Jerky. We share with you and you let us talk to your chieftain some days from now? You let us know where you live so we can talk with your chieftain and forge Alliance, chieftain be very happy with you for this! He then offer the Jerky to the little leader.
Like a wary animal being offered a treat, the kobold warily approaches once more, snatching the jerky and quickly retreating back into the undergrowth. He bites into it and nervously smiles.
We... live South. Look for big tree, then walk to the river. Sootscales cave near river. Avoid big tree...
Like a wary animal being offered a treat, the kobold warily approaches once more, snatching the jerky and quickly retreating back into the undergrowth. He bites into it and nervously smiles.
We... live South. Look for big tree, then walk to the river. Sootscales cave near river. Avoid big tree...
And what is your name little fellow, so that we may tell your chieftain it was you who helped forge this Alliance so that he can reward you?
And what is your name little fellow, so that we may tell your chieftain it was you who helped forge this Alliance so that he can reward you?Like a wary animal being offered a treat, the kobold warily approaches once more, snatching the jerky and quickly retreating back into the undergrowth. He bites into it and nervously smiles.
We... live South. Look for big tree, then walk to the river. Sootscales cave near river. Avoid big tree...
Sart. You leave now! Sart says aggressively.
Casimir bends down and retrieves the basket of radishes.
Nicely done, Malthir. The tree he mentions must be the sycamore. I suggest we leave now, so we don't risk wasting your offering of peace.
We may also look into some way of communicating more clearly with these little fellows if we are to negotiate an alliance. Perhaps some scrolls of the spell tongues.
Malthir mounts his horse and rides on, after a few minutes I am not sure if that was wise, but at least we might be able to use his name to avoid an immediate fight in the future. We will have to see what their intentions are in the region. I know very little about Kobolds, I hope that was the right thing to do. Will these radishes last long enough to seek out the Unicorn before they go bad?
The group manage to make it to the Thorn River Camp and makes camp at around midnight. The group have a peaceful night of sleep, with very few noises from the forest. The next day, the mapping of the area around the ford begins-
Group Survival Rolls (Level 2)
Edric- (if his is the assist, add +3 not +2)
Fenna- (+8 at night, +4 at day, +6 on daily exploration checks)
Malthir-
Vaysh-
Casimir-
Karina-
Kressle= (+7 in normal terrain)
Group Perception Rolls (Level 2)
Edric-
Fenna- (12 at night)
Malthir-
Vaysh-
Casimir-
Karina-
Kressle- (+7 in normal terrain)
The exploration and mapping goes remarkably smoothly, with Edric seeming to have a natural grasp of these tasks and the rest of the group all contributing successfully with the exception of Malthir. While mapping, Fenna stumbles across a precious pearl near the bandit camp, half-buried under fallen leaves.
Gem type : Pearl (Fancy), GP value: 100
With the mapping finished before the night draws in, do the group wish to go to the temple...?
Fenna remained quiet during the confrontation with the kobolds, something deep within her roiling against the thought of dealing with the reptilian creatures despite her rational mind seeing that peaceful contact works towards the goals of the Guardians more than bloodshed.
As the group approach the Thorn River camp after the day's successful exploration, she bends down to brush aside a small pile of leaves, "it appears that we missed something during our original search of this area," she says, holding up an iridescent silvery white stone.
Depending upon terrain, when we are going into a dangerous situation like this, Edric would probably be up front, followed by Malthir and Casimir, then Fenna and Vaysh in the back.
Casimir, what do you think about retreating as soon as we see the bear and then enacting my plan unless we can enact it right away. My plan was to use a celestial or two to keep it busy while we hit it with some arrows and then charge in once Fenna summons a last celestial to draw its attention by moving in itself?
I would prefer a dawn attack myself it would give us more time to secure the temple in case there are other guardians. As far as the attack itself I would prefer to remain mounted so I willingly forfeit my bow to Kressel I feel she would be better suited to using it than I. The summoned creature sounds like a good plan Malthir but perhaps it should be summoned behind the creature allowing me to charge the bear if the opportunity arises?
The Guardians eventually decide to spend the evening at the old bandit camp, and reminisce on the strange turn of events that have had you fight Kressle here and befriend her in only a matter of weeks. Both Karina and Kressle seem very ill at ease here, and Kressle often glances at Casimir and winces.
The next day, the Guardians spend the morning travelling to the temple. Edric calls a halt as he spots it's outline through the tree line. The group sees no sign of the bear, but that may change once they get closer to the temple.
I would prefer a dawn attack myself it would give us more time to secure the temple in case there are other guardians. As far as the attack itself I would prefer to remain mounted so I willingly forfeit my bow to Kressel I feel she would be better suited to using it than I. The summoned creature sounds like a good plan Malthir but perhaps it should be summoned behind the creature allowing me to charge the bear if the opportunity arises?
Just worried about the distance of the spell for Fenna, maybe just have it summoned off to one side a little and leave the bear open for the charge then. I don't believe that a summoned creature will last more than a few seconds against the bear anyways. Terrain may be a factor again for a charge anyways. Lets rest then and take this beast on!
Casimir hands three of the Bane arrows to Kressle and keeps three for himself.
He has the Darkwood bow strung and a Bane arrow ready.
No spellcasting just yet.
Let's try to draw the bear out into the open with your magical sounds Fenna and then start your summoning while the rest of us try to hit it at a distance.