Drosil wakes as Desna's healing energy flows into him; as his eyes flicker open, he looks to the tree, then back at Anton. "We've got to stop getting into these situations." As he sits up, he looks to Janos and B'yelka. "Will he be okay?"
"Uugh." Janos pushes himself up weakly and coughs. "I never want to see the inside of a tree like that again." He rolls over on his back, grimacing.
"What the hell was that?"
"I don't think it was really a tree."
Janos climbs to his feet, wincing from his wounds. He surveys the dead tree-thing and the damage it wrought around them. The Ranger tucks the Lopper's Axe back into his belt. Then he goes searching around the tree innards for his sword. He picks through whatever remains are also inside the tree.
Janos knows what it is, it's a Hangman Tree. A rare type of intelligent carnivorous plant which uses hallucinogenic spores to lure in its prey. This one was apparently quite old and successful as its branches and roots are stuffed with the bones and undigested belongings of its former victims. They have come across a veritable trove of adventurer's gear here.
"I think this is what's called a Hangman's tree." Janos rubs the cuts and bruises around his neck. He kicks at some of the bones. "It uses spores to make people hallucinate. I bet the werewolf corpses we saw hanging from it weren't real."
"A creature like this probably feasted on prey for hundreds of years." The Ranger finds his longsword and begins using it to hack atthe various vines and bark. He pulls out the partially digested arm of a previous victim and grimaces, tossing it away.
Feral roars as the hangman's tree falls and its grip around his throat loosens. He shoots the remains what can only be an admiring glance as Janos explains its nature. "It seems these woods have no shortage of predators." The hulking form of Feral then proceeds to rip apart what's left of the remains with his heavy, clawed hands alongside Janos, though the half-elf gets the impression the wolf is working out his anger more than he is trying to help search.
What a cursed land this is. Anton mutters to himself as he watches the bestial form of his friend rip into the tree-horror.
To Anton, "Aye, and I was coming to think Cheliax was terrible. At least at home the horror is predictable and it's easy enough to get above it. At least we survived another of this lands attempts." She looks sideways at the paladin, "Together."
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Janos and Feral turn up more loot than they've seen in all their adventures so far. Much of it looks to be magical.
Cloak of Resistance +2
Ring of Protection +1
Belt of Dex +2
Custom Goggles (Eyes of the Eagle or Goggles of minute seeing, move action to switch between them)
+1 chain shirt
Amulet of Natural Armor +3
Iron Fangs (Unique item. Must be placed over canine teeth, once put in place can only be removed with a Remove Curse. Count as face slot item. The fangs cause a creature's bite attack to count as cold iron, silver and for overcoming DR. They also enchant the bite to +1 keen. At level 10 it becomes +2 keen. At level 12 +3 keen and overcome all kinds of material DR.)
Belt of Physical Might (Str/Dex +2)
Celestial Armor
Greater Mask of Disguise
Wand of Cure Moderate Wounds 50/50
Wand of Cure Light Wounds 50/50
Hairpin of Charisma +2
Boots of Striding and Springing
Ring of Protection +2
+1 Animated Large Wooden Shield
Bracers of Falcon's Aim
As the spoils are distributed, Feral works on preparing a few curatives for himself and glances back at B'yelka as he stands hunched over Dantrian's equipment. "Let's see to it that this necromancer in Feldgrau doesn't survive."
HP: 67/67 // Temp: 17
AC: 17 (11 T / 16 FF) (13 vs incorporeal touch attacks)
CMD: 22
F/R/W: +8/+7/+5
Mutate used: 0/2
Prepared Mutagen: Strength (darkvision, scent) [X]
Spontaneous Healing used: 25/35hp
Enhanced Potions used: 0/3
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [X] [X] [X] [ ], shield [ ]
Prepared 2nd Level Extracts (3+1): ablative barrier [X], alchemical allocation [ ], barkskin [ ], false life [X]
Prepared 3rd Level Extracts (1+1): displacement [ ], thorn body [ ]
-Ongoing Effects-
ablative barrier (7 hours): 0/35 hp converted, +2 armor (force)
false life (7 hours): gain temporary pool of hp
Anton whistles as the haul spills out of the stricken Hangman Tree.
I've never seen the like... If the necromancer is in Feldgrau we could not ask to be better prepared.
He then offers a quiet prayer to Desna in thanks.
Feral chuckles menacingly as he holds up the iron fangs to regard. "Ho ho... What have we here?" With a predatory grin, he sets the shining metal spikes into place over his own already formidable fangs. He grunts in pain as the magic triggers and the iron bonds to him, thin veins of the metal worming through his gums down to the roots of his teeth.
The pain is considerable, and the towering wolf lashes out once, striking a tree and leaving a cratered impact behind in the aged bark. But before too long, the pain passes and Feral looks up with a silver smile. "Feldgrau isn't far. Are you all ok to press on and bring our hunt to an end or do you want time to recover and prepare?"
The fangs are fashioned of cold iron, and are the size of tiger fangs. They have minuscule sylvan script inlaid with silver wire in spirals around each fang, too small to read with the naked eye. The edges of the metal teeth are so sharp that they gleam in the light.
Feral, stop! Anton warns but he is all too late as he watches the hulking form bite down on the strange object. What is that going to do to Dantrian?
Drosil grimaces as the fangs bond to Feral. Impulsive...so unlike Dantrian in so many ways...
As he sifts through the gear, he can't help but smile at their good fortune. "I suppose this will make up for almost dying, after all..."
The group finishes dividing the loot, and spreads it among themselves. Then they continue on their journey to Feldgrau. The group makes it a bit farther from the house, before darkness comes once again. Their third night in the field in unremarkable, and in the morning the group continues on.
Around noon, they finally arrive. The decripit town of Feldgrau lays in a small valley of the war-torn land of the Furrows below them. The Prince's Wolves' trail takes the group into the town from the north west. On the outskirts of the town stand the ruins of a small farmhouse and two outbuildings, their roofs long collapsed, exposing splintered frames of gray timber. Beyond, a sodden, unsown field stretches to the edge of the shattered town of Feldgrau. The barren earth is scarred with muddy trenches and covered with a perpetual wash of low, swirling fog. Dead trees, like pale and wiry skeletons, grasp at the gray skies, casting their long, ghostly shadows over the crumbling ruins.
As Feldgrau comes into view and the group begins to approach the outlying buildings, Feral exerts himself once more after Dantrian quaffs a number of extracts and potions. And even though it was Dantrian who knelt beside the group when the Stairs of the Moon were sanctified, Feral's eyes flash with the same tell-tale silver sheen.
HP: 67/67 + 8 temp
AC: 27 (12 T / 25 FF) (14 vs incorporeal touch)
CMD: 23
F/R/W: +10/+10/+7
Mutate used: 0/2
Prepared Mutagen: Strength (darkvision, scent) [X]
Spontaneous Healing used: 0/35hp
Enhanced Potions used: 1/3
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [ ], enlarge person [ ], shield [X] [ ], open [ ]
Prepared 2nd Level Extracts (3+1): ablative barrier [X], alchemical allocation [X], barkskin [X], false life [X]
Prepared 3rd Level Extracts (1+1): displacement [ ] [ ]
Ongoing Effects
ablative barrier (7 hours): 0/35 hp converted, +2 armor (force)
false life (7 hours): gain temporary pool of hp
barkskin (70 minutes): +4 natural armor
heroism (70 minutes): +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks
shield (7 minutes): +4 shield bonus to AC
I don't need divinity to know there is evil here. You can feel it in the air. the paladin says. Be careful, who knows what restless spirits and else besides can still be found here.
Anton cautiously heads towards the collection of buildings at the outskirts of the village and takes a look inside.
Janos pauses as the town of Feldgrau comes into view. He makes a low whistle. "That's as bleak a sight as I've ever seen. You think there's still people here?" He begins walking again, but stops after only a few steps.
"Well, that answers my question." He points down to the ground. "Several tracks. Wolf and human." he studies them for a bit before standing and nodding to Anton. "Sure, let's see that first building. Then maybe head to the north side of town?" Janos points to a lone building to the northeast of town.
B'yelka lingers close to Anton as the group approaches Feldgrau. Mulling over her options, she settles on offering some magic to Drosil, "Care for a Blur Drosil?"
Drosil, still grinning after receiving his new gear, smiles even more broadly. "Considering that I am consistently throwing myself into danger - and that danger often takes full advantage of that fact - I don't believe I will ever turn that down, m'lady," he says with a mock bow and flourish.
On the outskirts of the town stand the ruins of a small farmhouse and two outbuildings, their roofs long collapsed, exposing splintered frames of gray timber. Though the farmstead is uninhabited, the central farmhouse contains a makeshift shrine. On the crude altar lies the very bloody
remains of a shredded humanoid.
lord of werewolves.
"Ever so dashing!" B'yelka casts Blur before they approach the farmhouse.
"Look here, this sigil in blood. I am pretty sure we are following the work of the Demon Wolves." Though her voice is confident, B'yelka's face is a touch flushed at the gore displayed on the table.
Feral regards the shrine coldly, seemingly not put off by the gory display in the slightest. He sniffs the area, rooting around for some sign of their prey.
HP: 67/67 + 8 temp
AC: 29 (12 T / 27 FF) (14 vs incorporeal touch)
CMD: 23
F/R/W: +10/+10/+7
Mutate used: 0/2
Prepared Mutagen: Strength (darkvision, scent) [X]
Spontaneous Healing used: 0/35hp
Enhanced Potions used: 1/3
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [ ], enlarge person [ ], shield [X] [ ], open [ ]
Prepared 2nd Level Extracts (3+1): ablative barrier [X], alchemical allocation [X], barkskin [X], false life [X]
Prepared 3rd Level Extracts (1+1): displacement [ ] [ ]
Ongoing Effects
ablative barrier (7 hours): 0/35 hp converted, +2 armor (force)
false life (7 hours): gain temporary pool of hp
barkskin (70 minutes): +4 natural armor
heroism (70 minutes): +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks
shield (7 minutes): +4 shield bonus to AC
Janos turns away from the shredded body in disgust. "You think the wolves did this? The tracks showed the human ones came later. Is it possible someone followed the wolves here? Or doubled back to tail them." The Ranger pokes around the shrine and the rest of the farmhouse.
Or wolves in human form. Anton offers
There is nothing further of interest in the farmhouse. Both sets of tracks lead to a single building. Janos follows the tracks, while the rest of the group watch his back. They flit through the ghost town nervously, waiting for the axe to fall. The tracks lead them to a cluster of buildings on the edge of town, to one in particular.
A large open forge stands in the far corner of this building, surrounded by deep stone basins and next to a huge black anvil atop a bench. Another workbench, laid with metalworking tools, polishing stones, and dried oilcloths, partitions the forge area from the remainder of the room. Two doorways exit through the wall opposite the forge. A man stands in the forge, he turns to look as he hears the group approaching.
"By the gods! Janos, is that you? I feared I would never see you all again!" The man is none other than Duristan Ariesir.
Suspicious both of the man’s sudden disappearance at the Temple and now reappearance at Feldgrau, Anton keeps his bow handy.
Duristan, how are you here and why did you leave us at the Temple?
B'yelka watches carefully as Duristan answers.
"As I circled around the tower to meet you all, I was attacked by werewolves. I was badly wounded but managed to escape into the woods. I guess that scar-ward protected me from the curse after all. After I recovered, I followed the wolves who hurt me to this town. I hired a group of mercenaries to get my revenge. They are waiting for me in another building in the center of town. Come with me, we can go meet them and clear out these monsters together."
Seeing the distrust cloud B'yelka's face, Feral stalks forward at the noble's words, revealing himself to their acquaintance for the first time. His huge shoulders bob with each heavy footfall and a dark grin splits his lips as his gravelly voice rumbles, "Oh did you now? Where are your mercenaries now, Duristan?" Feral looks side to side and shrugs. "Tell me another story, Duristan. Though, you should try harder this time."
HP: 67/67 + 8 temp
AC: 29 (12 T / 27 FF) (14 vs incorporeal touch)
CMD: 23
F/R/W: +10/+10/+7
Mutate used: 0/2
Prepared Mutagen: Strength (darkvision, scent) [X]
Spontaneous Healing used: 0/35hp
Enhanced Potions used: 1/3
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [ ], enlarge person [ ], shield [X] [ ], open [ ]
Prepared 2nd Level Extracts (3+1): ablative barrier [X], alchemical allocation [X], barkskin [X], false life [X]
Prepared 3rd Level Extracts (1+1): displacement [ ] [ ]
Ongoing Effects
ablative barrier (7 hours): 0/35 hp converted, +2 armor (force)
false life (7 hours): gain temporary pool of hp
barkskin (70 minutes): +4 natural armor
heroism (70 minutes): +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks
shield (7 minutes): +4 shield bonus to AC
Anton looks from B'yelka to Duristan to Feral and then remembers the mixture of wolf and human footprints.
If he were lying, no matter how cnvincing the words, he could not hide his heart.
"So you were bitten, Duristan? Come let's see the bite." Janos looks for any signs of a bite on the man's arms or legs. "Was it the Demons Wolves?"
"Settle down, Feral. Duristan was surely telling us all an entertaining yarn, and as I am sure of the efficacy of her scar-ward, we should have nothing to fear from dear Duristan." The Diva affects a bored countenance with the whole proceedings, maybe a bit sad, "But my dear, you had us to help you hunt the wolves. Surely you were close enough to the tower to see some of what happened there. Why did you not come to us for help? I thought we were friends, Duristan!" She gives a dramatic stamp with her foot to punctuate her anguish.
"Or we can test the efficacy of this ward Dantrian had never heard of before with my bite. Heh heh haaaaah." Feral chuckles darkly as he watches Duristan closely.
Duristan seems to concentrate for a moment, straining, but nothing happens. He shows them his scar-ward and says, "Remember when I told you this gave me immunity to lycanthropy? Well, I was wrong!” and whips his sword from its scabbard.
Janos steps in front of the others, drawing his sword. "No, Duristan! What are you doing?! We can help you! We can find a cure for you!" Seeing the hunter start to draw his sword, Janos tries to knock it away.
Feral chuckles as Janos attempts to bat Duristan's sword away and rushes in behind the ranger, bounding forward with sudden speed. "A cure? For this arrogant whelp? A waste of precious wolfsbane, Janos." Feral's eyes narrow on Duristan then as he lances one heavy claw forward, clamping down around the afflicted man's throat. Feral pulls him in close, "You should have listened to Dantrian when he doubted Ivanja's scarward, Duristan. And you shouldn't have abandoned us either. But don't worry, you won't have to suffer from your pitiable hubris any longer." Feral grins as he holds the former noble close, "Because you're a Jezeldan now aren't you? And do you know who I came to Feldgrau to kill, Duristan? That's right. Jezeldans. All of them."
HP: 67/67 + 8 temp
AC: 29 (12 T / 27 FF) (14 vs incorporeal touch)
CMD: 24
F/R/W: +10/+10/+7
Mutate used: 0/2
Prepared Mutagen: Strength (darkvision, scent) [X]
Spontaneous Healing used: 0/35hp
Enhanced Potions used: 1/3
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [ ], enlarge person [ ], shield [X] [ ], open [ ]
Prepared 2nd Level Extracts (3+1): ablative barrier [X], alchemical allocation [X], barkskin [X], false life [X]
Prepared 3rd Level Extracts (1+1): displacement [ ] [ ]
Ongoing Effects
ablative barrier (7 hours): 0/35 hp converted, +2 armor (force)
false life (7 hours): gain temporary pool of hp
barkskin (70 minutes): +4 natural armor
heroism (70 minutes): +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks
shield (7 minutes): +4 shield bonus to AC
Duristan tries to cut Janos as he goes to knock away the nobleman's blade.
Janos easily parries the attack, and then sends Duristan's silver longsword flying to the ground. Feral chuckles as Janos bats Duristan's sword away and rushes in behind the ranger, bounding forward with sudden speed. "A cure? For this arrogant whelp? A waste of precious wolfsbane, Janos." Feral's eyes narrow on Duristan then as he lances one heavy claw forward, clamping down around the afflicted man's throat. Feral pulls him in close, "You should have listened to Dantrian when he doubted Ivanja's scarward, Duristan. And you shouldn't have abandoned us either. But don't worry, you won't have to suffer from your pitiable hubris any longer." Feral grins as he holds the former noble close, "Because you're a Jezeldan now aren't you? And do you know who I came to Feldgrau to kill, Duristan? That's right. Jezeldans. All of them."
"Then get it over with, dog!" Duristan shouts. "I don't want to be cured, this power is more than I could have ever been as a man!" He begins struggling mightily in Feral's grasp.
Duristan could have been an ally. Instead he chose to get himself infected. His choosing this path is the only reasonable answer for why he insisted on abandoning us... Now, truly a bit sad at the fool Duristan's fate B'yelka says, "May our mercy be a quick death."