On a personal note. I believe you spoke to Karina? Your sister is very special, but now is not the time for personal matters or distractions. I thank you for talking to her, I hope she did not take it to hard? She is a beautiful young women, I am sure she will find someone who deserves her attention and love.
** spoiler omitted **
Kressle smiles and listens intently to you as you speak, nodding along early to indicate she would be interested in staying in the Greenbelt.
I fear for you if you truly intend to face the Stag Lord... But I understand that you must fight for what you believe in. I would love to hear more of Iomedae, I thought all the gods were stuffy old men or whore goddesses like Calistria...
Kressle chuckles as you mention her sister.
I spoke with her and she has backed off for now... But shes clearly still... after your... affections. I'm afraid my sister has always been rather dogged... And with Vaysh having left your group I believe she feels an opportunity will soon present itself...
Kressle smiles and listens intently to you as you speak, nodding along early to indicate she would be interested in staying in the Greenbelt.I fear for you if you truly intend to face the Stag Lord... But I understand that you must fight for what you believe in. I would love to hear more of Iomedae, I thought all the gods were stuffy old men or whore goddesses like Calistria...
Kressle, you should not fear for me, or the other Guardians. Whether this Stag lord is merely a man or something more he will be defeated by my hand or another's eventually. This is what we are meant to do. If I fail I expect you to pick up where I left off, to continue to fight against people like the Stag Lord and for the people of the GreenBelt. You may not think you are stong enough for this, but you have already lived through so much, will this be any more difficult? Your sister, she believes in you as well, will you let her down? I don't think so, not any more.
Kressle chuckles as you mention her sister.I spoke with her and she has backed off for now... But shes clearly still... after your... affections. I'm afraid my sister has always been rather dogged... And with Vaysh having left your group I believe she feels an opportunity will soon present itself...
Malthir turns from Kressle after Vaysh is mentioned, speaking very softly, I can understand why she may think that. But because someone is not there in front of you, does it change your feelings for them? I am not sure if I can ever be what Karina wants me to be. She is very young still, we will just have to see what the future holds.
Malthir spends a little time after this walking with Kressle and speaking about another of Iomedae's "acts".
Other than this he spends the next two days being sociable with the folks around the temple and Jhod.
Once he is recovered sufficiently from his wounds and the effects of the centipede poison, Casimir packs his horse and takes Kressle for a trip to the hot springs the group visited ealier. Here, he uses the trick Fenna taught him to change the sulfur odor into a pleasant lavender scent.
The couple spend some time at the springs, soaking in the hot water, practicing with their weapons - and without - and just talk to each other.
They return to the Temple in good time for Casimir to mingle with the other people here and tell the tale of the dramatic battle with the mites and their vermin allies. [ooc]Perform (oratory)
Yelena looks blearily about the temple. "That was a closer call than I am comfortable with." She reaches into her cloak and removes her overweight tabby cat, rubbing her nose against the familiar's nose. "Isn't that right, Mr. Cornflower? Mommy was so worried about her big sweetie. Yes she was! Yes she was!" She stows the cat back into her cloak and straightens her clothing, "I am ready to depart whenever convenient."
Regarding tactics:
The most important thing must be not to get swarmed again. If access from the tunnels we already cleared are closed off, we should be able to focus on moving forth in one direction with the two tin-cans (Mal and Ed) in front. The mites themselves didn't do a lot of damage, so the main thing must be to focus on big beasties and special enemies such as Grabbles and his mount, any other vermin and any spellcasters.
AoE spells like burning hands and color spray should clear out most of the mites, along with a few well placed grenades.
Should we approach the sycamore and then plan from there depending upon what we see?
Also I say let's go ahead and take the antitoxin, it lasts an hour which should be enough time to explore most dungeons unless we have to make more foray's into it.
Edit: The water thing is really lame. What is the point? I would also make sure that any treasure that was down there slipped away into the cracks as well....
Heading back to the Old Sycamore, the group make good time and arrive just as the sun is going down.
Fenna pulls out the tiny vial of antitoxin and the tub of sticky white vermin repellent, with a nod towards the massive tree. "Ready?"
Fenna pulls out the tiny vial of antitoxin and the tub of sticky white vermin repellent, with a nod towards the massive tree. "Ready?"
As you approach the tunnel, a single mite rushes out, bearing a crude wooden pole with a white hankerchief attached to it. He begins to rapidly swing it from side to side, visibly sweating as he does so.
Hilarious, Yelena. Tell this one to have Grabbles come out here himself if he wants to talk. Otherwise, we'll come down and parlay a bit - with out blades.
"We are willing to talk." Fenna says sternly to the mite in sylvan, "but only with Grabbles himself, tell him that we are waiting for him here... if he wants to avoid more bloodshed he will need to come out."
The mite nods pitifully as he returns to the tree. A short while later, the muscled mite in fine armour emerges from the unnel, riding his giant tick. Several mites follow him, along with two of the giant-sized centipedes like the one you slew yesterday. Grabble's forces keep a respectful distance back, as he approaches you with four tougher looking mites that are clearly his honour guard. One of them blows a trumpet to announce his lord.
one of the honour guard announces loudly in good Taldane.
The Lord states that there has been too much bloodshed here. Lord Grabbles proposes a duel among Knights- a mounted duel to settle this battle without the need for further killing. Should the murderer's champion be victorious, Grabbles leutenant will honour the duel and forever lead the mite people from these lands. Should Grabbles prove victorious, the murderers will leave the mites in the Old Sycamore be.
Sir Edric looks like he is about to respond to the challenge, but then looks to the group for confirmation.
Edric, this looks like a job for you and Talia. I find the terms acceptable, as long as the little buggers hand over any stolen property before they leave.
Once he is done speaking, Casimir casts a glance at the two giant centipedes and retrieves his antitoxin from his Adventurer's Sash and gulps it down - just in case.
To the mite speaking, I have several questions, is this a duel to the death? Do they agree to hand over any stolen property, particularly a human ring we are looking for when they loose?
To the party, To be honest, I don't like this. When we act as a group we are stronger. We have no idea how powerful this creature is or how powerful this tick is. This could very well be a trap. If the rest of you vote for it then I will abide by your decision but I just don't like it. The implications of Edric possibly being defeated and us having to live with this evil vermin would be difficult for me to bear. This is a bigger issue for us than just having a duel. There is Kressle to consider as well, there is the well being of the people of the GreenBelt. If we loose then her fate is sealed and these creatures can continue to terrorize the people in this area. My vote would be to turn them down and see how they fare against our combined might. I don't think they would like the odds.
If the rest of the party votes for the duel I hand Edric my potion of Cure Light Wounds that no one has taken from me yet.
[Ooc]this was going to happen regardless of whether edric left so don't worry malthir, valid counter arguments there anyway. I'm posting from my phone so I'll summarise I hate railroads so let me assure you its not a railroad. If it comes to a mass brawl, they have grabbles, four honour guard mites, two of the massive centipedes, six mites and three smaller centipedes..[ooc]
[I] Grabbles agrees that their stolen loot (it turns out they stole it from the bandits and kobolds) will be yours, he merely wishes to spare as many of his people as possible. Grabbles was assuming a duel until one combatant fell from their wounds, but is amenable to a non-lethal duel.[I]
[I] Grabbles agrees that their stolen loot (it turns out they stole it from the bandits and kobolds) will be yours, he merely wishes to spare as many of his people as possible. Grabbles was assuming a duel until one combatant fell from their wounds, but is amenable to a non-lethal duel.[I]
[ooc]That is a lot of enemies for one fight. One we would be well advised to retreat from if it comes down to a battle like this. I think we are just waiting for Yelena or Fenna to speak up since it is 2 for a 1 against. I have a feeling that the duel will be going ahead though.
Casimir will of course start up inspire courage right before the duel.
Casimir will of course start up inspire courage right before the duel.
Edric smiles at Yelena's statement, and then mounts Talia, moving into open ground. Grabbles raises his lance and moves a short distance opposite Edric.
The two mounted combatants glare at each other for a time, and then Edric speaks.
On behalf of the Guardians of the Greenbelt, your chaos shall end this day. Prepare yourself. the Knight solemnly intones, challenging his opponent. Grabbles does not respond.
Edric
Grabbles
Round 1-
The mite surges forward with his lance, charging towards the Orlovsky knight. The blow seems sure to strike when Edric deflects it skillfully with his shield at the last possible moment. Now unable to charge, Edric spurs Talia on and launches an attack, his lance lunging for Grabbles while Talia attacks the giant Tick. Edric's lance's aim is exceptional, and the lance deflects the mite's buckler and plunges through Grabble's chain shirt with force. Talia's disdain for her counterpart is clear as she viciously bites the insect and then clips it with a hoof for good measure. Grabbles is able to maneuver the Tick out of the way of the bite.
Success
Hit
Damage to Grabbles
Negated
Miss
Hit
Round 2-
The heavily wounded Grabbles focuses his efforts on stabbing out at the unarmoured Talia, but the horses dodges the blow. The giant Tick follows its riders lead and lunges for Talia but Edric barely swerves her vulnerable neck aside from the bite.
Miss
Pass
Edric changes tactics and lunges for the Tick with his lance, directing Talia's attack onto the insect as well. The knight's horse wounds the tick, but the thing appears exceptionally tough and takes the blow in its stride.
Success
Miss
Hit
Miss
Miss
Round 3-
Grabbles stabs at Edric, but his lance can't penetrate the knights sturdy half-plate armour easily. Snarling in frustration, Grabbles directs his mount to attack Edric's steed but the mite almost falls off his vermin steed as the giant tick completely misjudges Talia's speed. In return, Edric rams his lance into one of the tick's many legs, Grabbles riding skills insufficient to avoid the blow to his mount.
Miss
Pass
Success
Hit
Miss
Miss
Miss
Fail
Round 4-
Grabbles lance finally finds a weak point in Edric's armour, and the Cavalier grunts in pain as the lance pierces his abdomen. The tick's bite lunges for Talia once more, the horse barely evading the strike. Retaliating, Edric slams his lance into Grabbles with massive force, unseating the mite and leaving him bleeding out on the ground. Talia slams a hoof into the Tick. Its master possibly dead on the ground, the Tick has little reason to continue fighting and flees east, Edric and Talia both missing with their strikes as the tick flees.
Hit
Pass
Success
It is done.
The mites stand in shock, several of them gazing at Edric in awe, none of them moving to save their fallen leader. The centipedes are completely motionless. One of them moves forward and speaks up in Common tentatively-
You have won. Permit us to leave these lands unmolested; please, we have women and young. We will include the ring you spoke of as part of your spoils.
Take your vermin companions and go - we shall not harm you further, but you must be gone from these lands by nightfall and never return. You have seen the might you will face if you do.
Also, if any of you know the reason for your feud with the kobolds, tell us so.
We play pranks upon them, we have stolen from them three times now. Normally it leads to amusement, and at worst a minor skirmish. But something drove them to an all out war with us.
A small exodus of mites leaves the area, leaving their valuables behind, heading east. It seems Dingetooth was bluffing about the mites numbers- there are only a dozen or so left. Strangely, the mites centipedes remain utterly motionless, and the mites completely ignore them...
The mites stand in shock, several of them gazing at Edric in awe, none of them moving to save their fallen leader. The centipedes are completely motionless. One of them moves forward and speaks up in Common tentatively-
You have won. Permit us to leave these lands unmolested; please, we have women and young. We will include the ring you spoke of as part of your spoils.
We will escort you from our lands, just to make sure you keep to the agreement. Please do not return or there will no further mercy from us.
We play pranks upon them, we have stolen from them three times now. Normally it leads to amusement, and at worst a minor skirmish. But something drove them to an all out war with us.
A small exodus of mites leaves the area, leaving their valuables behind, heading east. It seems Dingetooth was bluffing about the mites numbers- there are only a dozen or so left. Strangely, the mites centipedes remain utterly motionless, and the mites completely ignore them...
[/ooc]
[/ooc]We play pranks upon them, we have stolen from them three times now. Normally it leads to amusement, and at worst a minor skirmish. But something drove them to an all out war with us.
A small exodus of mites leaves the area, leaving their valuables behind, heading east. It seems Dingetooth was bluffing about the mites numbers- there are only a dozen or so left. Strangely, the mites centipedes remain utterly motionless, and the mites completely ignore them...
I'm going to assume Malthir points it out to you- everyone can now make DC15 Will Saves at a +4 bonus to realise the centipedes are in fact... Illusionary!
[
[/ooc]
1d20+5
** spoiler omitted **
I'm going to assume Malthir points it out to you- everyone can now make DC15 Will Saves at a +4 bonus to realise the centipedes are in fact... Illusionary!
Quite crafty little ones, yes we will be sure to escort you to our border.
Actually you could take them to the edge of the Greenbelt by nightfall, it's only a short distance away. You'd also be near Nettles Crossing if you wanted to investigate it tomorrow.