Jenya scrambles away as Korinne says, "Oh, my! That was unexpected!" The arcanist casts a spell in preparation for slowing down the tree.
Cassie's arrow slams into the tree and bounces off but leaves a flaming scorch mark behind.
The tree lashes out at the fire elementals swarming it, even as they are setting small fires upon it.
One of the fire elementals is smothered by a swift slash of a branch that cuts through it and shreds it to tiny wisps that are blown away.
The tree then slowly starts squeezing its way toward Vallen and Cassie with malevolent intent.
Spread out. Take pot shots! How fast does the bastard move? Jenya shouts as she sees the trees move towards the rest of the group.
She closes to within 40 feet of the tree and throws another alchemical fire at the tree. It's a long way to throw it but Jenya has pretty good aim.
Jenya's thrown vial smashes against the tree and engulfs it in yet more flames. An odd moaning sound comes from deep in the tree, and it continues to wave with ferocious swings of its sharpened boughs.
Round 4
The third fire elemental roars into existence as the first is snuffed out, slithering towards the evil tree in a straight line. No enthusiasm is lost from either elemental as their brethren is sent back to their home plane. Vallen would wonder if this was because they knew they faced no real danger here or if they cared naught for each other, if he were not trying to load his pistol as fast as his thick fingers could allow.
"Droskar's foul navel, what does it take to burn down a single tree?!" He exclaims, backpedaling until he accidentally runs into the nearby hillock. Settling his pistol into the notch on his buckler, the dwarf fires a desperate shot at the tree in hopes it would splinter something.
Instead, it would seem the priest had unerringly drawn Droskar's attention with his curse... the beautiful, artisanal masterpiece pistol Torag's Fire unceremoniously shoots fire and black smoke out of its side with a cacophonous roar. Bewildered, Vallen waves away the smoke and gapes at the finger-width hole blown out of the barrel of his gun, the steel peeled back like the flesh of a blackened fruit.
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Vallen's fire elementals seem to be having a bit of trouble hindering the tree. The tree lashes out at the newcomer as it moves into range.
The fire elemental is nearly snuffed... but hangs on.
Cassandra continues her slow march forward. With the fire elementals drawing...fire from the tree, she was confident she could get close enough to start hitting joints, cracks, or really dry spots. She pulls up next to Jenya to fire another shot. The arrow hits solid bark, barely penetrating, but the fire on the arrow washes over the point of impact, blackening a large swath of wood.
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Cassie scores another hit that skitters harmlessly along the bark but leaves a scorching trail.
The flames from her arrow catch in some of the lower branches, and soon fire joins fire and flickers up through the tree and down into the bole. The tree lets out hollow groans as it swings this way and that, trying to escape a fiery demise, but its dry, pocked surface is too much fuel for the eager sparks. Black smoke billows into the sky as it becomes a bonfire, and even some of the surrounding bushes scorch and smoulder.
At last the tree droops, then blackened branches start falling off. The trunk breaks open with a great crack and the tree stops moving as flaming chunks fall to the ground while sparks and ash float into the sky.
A careful search of the area finds that the ground where the scythe tree was rooted (at the start of the fight, before it moved) is riddled with small root-holes and it seems that the tree left remnants of its prey underneath it. In the root-holes you find three small chunks of amber and a folded-up bundle of cloth (which detects as magical). In addition, among the bones scattered around the clearing you find 42 cp, 55 sp, 6 gp, and a simple silver ring.
Korinne excitedly says, "This robe has powerful magic in it! But, um, not good magic. It lets you pull bones out of the pockets and turn them into animated dead that serve the wearer."
Well, I say we burn that thing to go with that damned tree Jenya groans as she shrugs off her pack to ease the pain of the tree's vicious slashes. It doesn't help. Vallen, I'd really love some of that healing you were talkin' about
Vallen is about to have a panic attack- his pistol is broken, the tree was destroying his fire elementals, and it was getting ever closer.
As he feels the black fingers of doom running across his pscyhe, the tide of battle suddenly changes. The evil tree sways and starts to fall. "FALL YOU ABOMINATION! THE FIRES OF TORAG CLEANSE YE!" He whoops, throwing his hands in the air.
Distracted by victory, Vallen doesn't notice the unburnt black powder spilling from his raised, broken pistol. It spills onto his golden hair to make an unsettling grey mixture.
The dwarf lets the fire elementals prance and borrow into the exposed wood of the evil tree, consuming the flammable gases trapped within and growing ever larger until their time on the material plane has ended. They deserve it, for their heroic service in the name of Torag. He thinks, before Jenya calls out to him.
"Oh, aye! You took quite the blow, let me fix you up, then I can see to your armor." He walks over to Jenya, pulling out a Wand of Cure Light Wounds.
The robe causes Vallen to blanch, shaking his head at the sight of the item. "Burn it with the tree. The less necromancy in this world, the better."
Cassandra sighs in relief as the tree stops moving. She lowers her bow, stowing the arrow she had readied to fire. She moved closer, watching as the flames withered leaves and scorched bark. Her eyes grew wide with concern as the flames ignite nearby bushes. The tree had cleared a lot around it so there was little chance of igniting nearby trees but it might run along the bushes or bead foliage to other parts of the forest. Cassandra hurriedly moves to any nearby bushes and starts hacking them down and tossing them into the fire. They had to get rid of the fuel or else it might spread. "Guys. Fires spreading clear a ring around the tree."
Feeling much better as Torag's healing touch washes over her Jenya sighs with relief
Really appreciate that Vallen, that whole bein' connected to the gods business is real useful
She's then jolted back into action by Cassandra's warning.
Right, Fire break, coming up. Vallen, you got any magic water type stuff you could do as well? Then we head back to that plant lady?
She starts making a circle around the final resting place of the evil tree and, much like Cassandra, starts to clear out any scrub that might catch creating a thick circle of dirt around the area.
Jenya is no stranger to sudden fires and explosions. She clears out dead, dry brush as quickly as possible to keep the fire from spreading. Vallen, handily, does have create water prepared, and he is easily able to dampen the ground around the tree and the bushes nearby to keep the fire from spreading.
With the tree destroyed and its "loot" recovered, nothing prevents you from returning to the dryad with news.
~~~~~~~~~~
Not too much later you return to Tiressa's grove. The dryad is overjoyed to see you.
"I have already heard the good news!" she gushes expressively. "Word has traveled, through root and branch, leaf and bough, of the end of the horrid tree! You have saved these woods from a creature worse than axes, worse than frost. You have my eternal gratitude."
The dryad calls out and says, "Falchos! We must reward our saviors." From a hiding place in the bushes a shy satyr emerges. He looks like he is trying to cut some compromise between swagger and suspicion. He brings with him several items carried in his arms, which he hands to Tiressia, who then hands them to you.
"Please take these tokens," says the dryad. "This wand has healing power - you should be no stranger to such things," she says as she passes you a wand made of leather-wrapped bone. "These vials, as well," she says, giving you two small crystal vials with a violet fluid inside. "And this scroll, a druid's power, usable by the devout." She gives you a leather scroll case.
"Finally, take these as well," she says, giving you six small rough-hewn wooden figurines that look like tiny trees. "Place these about Melianse's grove and they shall spring back into full bloom. The nixie is capricious, but she will be pleased."
"I know much that transpires in these woods, and so long as we are friends, what I hear on the turning leaves shall make its way to your ears."
Vallen seems to find himself fighting fires rather often lately. Between his Create Water prayer and his Traveler's multi-tool (in shovel form), the fire was easily contained.
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A small smile curls onto his lips at the dryad's praise. As much as I enjoy the peace of my study, it is truly rewarding to do Torag's work.
The dwarf bows his head slightly, accepting the tree tokens. He looks them over carefully, taking a professional interest as a sculptor. "Thank you Miss Dryad, we will give these to Melianse on our way back. Hopefully we can send some representatives soon. If we can help it we would like to work together with the denizens of this forest for the benefit of us all."
Wit ha sigh, Vallen broaches a topic he was afraid of having answers to. "Ah.. I have a question for you. Not so long ago we discovered a dead unicorn- north of here, I think. It was surrounded by corruption and death.. killed by a powerful spell, and its horn sawn off, we fear some dark magic is at work. Did.. you know this unicorn? Did it have enemies? Anything we should worry about?"
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Tiressia says, "Who but the darkest of hearts would count a unicorn as an enemy?" The dryad turns profile and looks deeply saddened; the satyr pats her comfortingly on the back.
"The seasons turn and the courts of the Faerie wax and wane. These lands, these old woods, have long been home to fae of my ilk, and others alike; but other faeries are not so friendly to man... and dwarf," says the dryad. She stretches up and her arms and fingers reaching skyward give the impression of a tree reaching for sunlight. "Light and warmth half the year, snow and darkness the other half. Such is the way of our kin." She turns back to Vallen and says, "Master dwarf, when your hands are cold, you blow on them to make them warm, do you not? And when your porridge is hot, you blow upon it to make it cold, yes? How can we of the faerie world live with creatures such as you who can blow hot and cold at will? Our nature is like the seasons, I bloom with the spring and I go naked in winter, and I am one or the other as the times decide. But you mortals, you are so... unpredictable. You make yourselves into... whatever it is."
"But I digress!" says the dryad as she comes back down from her sun-worshipping pose. "I know not who would befoul such a beautiful creature in that way, but these woods have long been home to many among faerie kind, and not all are as friendly as I, or even as Melianse."
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Vallen looks back at his companions as the dryad starts explaining how the cycle of seasons influence the Faeries. The dwarf shrugs apologetically -he clearly had no intention of starting such a conversation, but looks back to the forest creature with interest.
"Uh... well, see..." The priest starts to gesture with his hands, then looks down at the ground below. He digs through some fallen leaves and manages to scrape up some dirt and rocks. "In the beginning, Torag the Forge-Father crafted Glorian on his anvil, shaping the stone with his reality-shpaing hammer Kaglemros. All dwarves were born of the stone, and most of us live while being surrounded by it just as you live surrounded by nature."
He points to the rock in his hand, rubbing the dirt off. "Just as a falling tree can kill, so can stone. We dwarves understand that we have to live as one with the stone- maintain it and listen to it so it does not collapse on our heads. I extend this view to the surface world, but with trees and waterways and more importantly the creatures living within. Not all my brothers and sisters share this view, with many seeings forests as an inexhaustable resource, but as a builder I have always tried to consider the conversation of natural landscapes in my designs."
He takes a deep breath, the stone tumbling out of his finger to the ground. Vallen wipes his hands on his ceremonial leather apron as he finishes speaking. "So while we may shape our own... becomings... we also want to maintain your forests for the benefit of all. In Darkmoon Vale there are druids that work with the logging consortiums to ensure the sustainable harvest of trees and make sure your... cycles... don't get interrupted. We uh... want something like that, I guess."
Ah, since we're all the way out here we might as well finish the job and see what this place's all about. I figger nothing really dangerous would have spent much time here sos not to run across the blasted tree. Jenya argues.
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Jenya listens in rapt attention to both the dryad and the dwarf as they explain their views on reality. She'd always been too busy with more alchemical and engineering pursuits (not to mention target practice) to pay any attention to matters of the religious and divine, but now the topics seemed to call to her in some way.
So dark faeries? Jenya says musingly. There's a lot of scary stories about those. she throws Cassandra a worried look Not that I listen to those things!
"I know much that transpires in these woods, and so long as we are friends, what I hear on the turning leaves shall make its way to your ears."
Cassandra nods vehemently as Vallen thanks the Dryad for the gifts. She gives special care and attention to the figurines. Powerful nature magic flowed through them. Fae magic. One day she hoped to wield such magic as the strongest rangers did. But for now, the wood felt like wood and nothing more. She sighed and put it back in it's pouch. She'd have to be content with watching the magic work. "One of these days I hope to have enough rangers watching the forests around here. I'll make them aware of yours and Melinase's presence. And I'll visit from time to time. This grove is beautiful," she says looking around at the wondrous Fall colors on display. "But if something important comes up then you can send me a bird or something. Maybe with a life with a triangle cut out. Something that will catch my attention."
"The seasons turn and the courts of the Faerie wax and wane. These lands, these old woods, have long been home to fae of my ilk, and others alike; but other faeries are not so friendly to man... and dwarf," says the dryad. She stretches up and her arms and fingers reaching skyward give the impression of a tree reaching for sunlight. "Light and warmth half the year, snow and darkness the other half. Such is the way of our kin." She turns back to Vallen and says, "Master dwarf, when your hands are cold, you blow on them to make them warm, do you not? And when your porridge is hot, you blow upon it to make it cold, yes? How can we of the faerie world live with creatures such as you who can blow hot and cold at will? Our nature is like the seasons, I bloom with the spring and I go naked in winter, and I am one or the other as the times decide. But you mortals, you are so... unpredictable. You make yourselves into... whatever it is."
"I don't think we can," Cassandra says hesitantly. She hurries to make her point before being misunderstood. "You're creatures of chaos and us order. You change with the seasons. We merely plan for and endure them. We aren't blowing hot or cold. Its the same temperature. We have to stay in balance or we die. But we can understand each other's nature I think."
She considers what Vallen says as well and lights up as he mentions the druids of Darkmoon Veil. Didn't sound like a good place but the agreement with the druids sounded like something they could try. "We don't have any druids I know of but we could do something similar with these figurines if their easy enough to make. So far I've only been ordering the loggers to plant and water any seeds they find. But that's too slow. It'd be nice if we could work out something like that."
So dark faeries? Jenya says musingly. There's a lot of scary stories about those. she throws Cassandra a worried look Not that I listen to those things!
Cassandra shakes her head and smiles. How long would it be before people saw just her and not the werewolf? After the debacle with an actual werewolf, likely a while. "How's back? That looked like a nasty wound."
You take a little time to make sure to explore the forests in the area.
As Cassie noted, the forests here are vibrant and lively, well-fed by the river and deep. Old. Filled with color and wonder.
You don't encounter any unsavory creatures in the three days that you spend charting the area.
You return to the nixie, Melianse, who waits suspiciously in the water with just her eyes peeking out as you return to her lake. Cassie reverently places the oak tokens in a circle around the lake, and as each one is placed, it suddenly rises up into the full size of an old oak tree, spreading shady boughs over the water.
Melianse rises partway from the water (slightly awkward as she apparently doesn't believe in clothing) and says, "You've done it! My goodness, my lake is shaded and shielded once more! Oh, look at the colors as the sunlight comes through the leaves! It's a rainbow from the heavens. Thank you. Thank you so much." She flips in the water, rises up again and says, "All these waterways are connected, and I shall send word to you should I see anything amiss through the currents and in the deeps."
Well-rested and watered by Melianse's lake, and camping there and enjoying her oddball company for a time, you refresh yourselves and then head home.
Construction continues at new hope, and Uncle Olin is hard at work overseeing repairs to the fortification. In even the few days that you've been gone, weak and broken walls have been pulled down, foundation stones replaced, and cobbled walkways added to outdoor areas. Scaffolds surround the watchtowers, which are slowly being transformed into good, solid works with planed timber and beams covered in fire-retardant resin. The northerly watchtower is already complete, with a fine shingled roof over it and smooth, hardwood floors. Even the staircases have been smoothed and had cracked or broken steps removed, making the keep partially habitable.
New letters arrive from home for some of you as well.
Korinne is overjoyed to be back and she says sadly, "I feel like I'm reaching my limit. I love helping you all... but this is just getting too much for me. I need a little time to adjust. I'm not going to leave, but... I don't think I'm the right person to be out there in the wild, confronting these problems. My spells were useless against that tree, and I don't have any magic to help build here, either. I... I need to do more useful work, maybe help teach, learn more magic, before I can really contribute. And that means I need to figure out what I can do here."
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The approach of the castle has Vallen in awe. He whispers to his horse to stop as the newly completed watchtower comes into view. "By Torag... it's exactly as I imagined it. Uncle Olin is a true master of the craft."
The dwarf leans over the pommel of his saddle, staring with misty-eyed reverence for a few moments. Suddenly, he gives a start and kicks the flanks of his warhorse. "Ah! Blast it all, if I don't get back to work I'll be the cart with the stuck brakes on the track! Nothing is worse than laborers sitting around waiting to be told what to do..."
On their return Vallen is a little distraught by Korinne's decision to leave, partially because he liked the spellcaster and partially because he wishes his god would allow him to get away with doing the same. "That's a shame, Korinne.... But I certainly understand. I implore you to consider teaching and encouraging the pratice of the arcane arts in the settlement. Out in the frontier even a little bit of magic can save lives."
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As the three weeks pass Vallen is holed up in his study, working furiously on designs for the castle and laying out the burgeoning town that will surely spring up around it. This was a city planner's dream- by starting absolutely fresh everything can be manipulated and laid out into a highly ordered and functional cityscape.
Vallen is making plans for decades down the road. Explosive population growth, monster attacks, flooding from the lake.. he always assumes the worst case scenario and plans for it.
Three days of bliss came and went all too fast. Cassandra didn't realize how much she missed just exploring the forest until she crested the last hill and saw the castle. She knew she shouldn't feel disappointed in seeing it. This was the place they were building a home, a nation. Hopefully one that would be better than others. It made her feel even worse seeing Vallen's reaction. They stuck him as diplomat because they needed someone to fill the role. Well he should stop being so good at it if he didn't want it.
She had mixed emotions on seeing Bob when they got back. He'd done well, administrating while they dealt with issues in the vicinity. He was doing an awful lot of work for an old man. She was relieved for that but seeing him meant they had to get back to their duties. And the first thing to look at was a letter. Not from home, but from one of her friends in the other groups. She couldn't remember who had gone with Maegar Varn but she knew the style and handwriting. It had to be Christian. Roy would have said Cassandra and Leena would not have been as formal. Reading the letter, a powerful bout of nostalgia hit her hard and tears sprung forth unbidden. She missed home. Her family. Her friends. It wasn't nearly as nice as talking with him but seeing her brothers handwriting relieved a weight on her heart she didn't realize was there.
It took a few more minutes to get her emotions under control. In a way it was a relief to let it out in the privacy of her own room. To just let go for a bit. When she met the others to discuss how to move forward she was herself again. "I got this letter today. It's from my brother Christian. He went with Maegar Varn's group east to the Nomen Heights. It sounds like they're doing well. Could have a trade partner and ally in a few months when our two nations get things settled."
Sad to see you go Korinne. But ya don't need to be traipsing around the wilds to do a lot of good. Startin' up a school would be a hell of a nice thing. We've got a lot of kids runnin' around Jenya says to Korinne
****
Sounds good. Looks like your family are good people, and that makes good neighbours Jenya replies to Cassandra. The young woman has been a bit quiet since the encounter with the tree. She's had scrapes before but this was by far the worst she'd ever gotten close to death.
She searchs out Vallen.
Hey Vallen, when you're not busy, could you tell me a little bit.. about Torag I guess. Some of the things you're able to do are right impressive. All I can do really is shoot things from close up. Don't think that's... enough for me to really contribute around here.
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Vallen, as usual, was in his office as Jenya seeks him out. She can hear the sounds of at least seven locks, deadbolts, and chains being moved out of the way before the door opens silently and gracefully on its perfectly oiled hinges. The inside of his office has been mostly patched up, and it's noticably warmer than last time. Two bright lanterns hanging over his drafting table cast light there but the rest of the room is mostly shadowed.
The dwarf's ice-blue eyes look up at Jenya, and he ushersher in. "Ah, Jenya, good to see you. I was just making plans for a centralized, state-owned smithy we were planning. I had an idea for a new furnance design while I was working on it, one that incorporated alchemically treated, aerated charcoals to make them burn hotter. Of course that means the fire bricks would need to be treated as well, and.... Ah, sorry." He chuckles sheepishly, wringing his hands absentmindedly. "That's not why you came, right? What can I do for you?"
Vallen's eyebrows gently raise as Jenya expresses her concerns to him. "Oh." Is his first reaction, and he briefly puts his hands on his hips, looks down, and sighs. "I see. Well, Jenya, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Torag hasn't already noticed your actions." He points at the pistol on her belt. "One of the most holy pursuits of a worshipper of Torag is creativity, and you have that in spades. Putting together a firearm out of ju- errr... spare parts at such a young age is an incredible accomplishment. Not only that, you're brave, put the concerns of others before yourself... I could go on, but my point is that if you're looking for a patron god I feel you already have a lot of qualities He would admire."
Crossing his arms, Vallen sighs again and thinks. "My only concern is that... well, the Forge-Father created the stone we're standing on, and his principles are just as hard and unyielding. He is a lawful god, and Torag blesses us when we honor traditions, create order, and banish chaos. You uh..." Vallen gestures, his hand making a circular motion as he searches for the right word. "Are not quite as... rigid... as would be expected of a worshipper. We take rules and hierarchy very seriously, but you seem more like a free spirit to me. In addition, worshippers of Torag- and dwarves in general, are very family-orientated, and it's expected that Hearth and Home be given as much love and attention as our craftsdwarfship. In fact, it's not just Torag I worship but his entire family! His brother Magrim, his sons Angradd and Grunndinar, all with their own domains and personalities. Uh.. My point is, I don't know what your plans are, but perhaps if you're serious about this you should keep in touch with your adopted family at least."
He draws in one more breath, reaching the end of his spiel. "Lastly, you should know what you're in for, in the long-term. Every craftsdwarf dreams of serving Torag in Heaven, attending His infinite forges, crafting weapons for His celestial Dwarven Defenders in their eternal battle with the demons of the Abyss, contributing plans in the ever-orderly spires of Heaven... That's our ideal afterlife."
The priest unclips the silver and leather-bound tome always on his belt, handing the (extremely) heavy book to Jenya. "Here... uh.. This is my personal copy of Hammer and Tongs: The Forging of Metal and Other Good Works. Take it back with you, read the passages on pages 4, 56,117, and 119, and whatever else interests you, and we'll talk about it, all right?"
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The dwarf's ice-blue eyes look up at Jenya, and he ushersher in. "Ah, Jenya, good to see you. I was just making plans for a centralized, state-owned smithy we were planning. I had an idea for a new furnance design while I was working on it, one that incorporated alchemically treated, aerated charcoals to make them burn hotter. Of course that means the fire bricks would need to be treated as well, and.... "
"Scope creep Mr. Silverclasp," Bob says overhearing the conversation as he walks by. "Go for economical. We can make improvements when we have all the essentials of a thriving city going first. Pardon me," he says as apology for interrupting and continues on his way.
Jenya listens attentively and carefully to Vallen. She's come to admire everyone who has gathered in the former bandit camp and committed themselves to carving a brand new nation out of the wilderness. For her, it'd been something of a lark, but for the others around her it was far more serious.
The former bandits seemed to be searching for redemption.
The settlers a home to build for their families.
Cassandra was driven by some internal goal that seemed incredibly important to her.
Vallen was fulfilling his duties and responsibilities in a manner with a dedication that seemed almost sacred.
All of them deserved to feel safe as they pursued their goals. But how could anyone feel safe when there were... things in the world that could kill and desecrate something as beautiful and joyous as a unicorn.
Jenya had stumbled into a position of leadership of the community but she wasn't sure she deserved it. Sure she had Misfire and some skill at using it. But that wasn't enough.
She hefts the suprisingly weighty book that Vallen carried around like it was a part of him. Thanks for this Vallen.. I really appreciate it. I'll keep your book safe. I'm a pretty quick reader too so I'll try and get it back to ya soon.
A good week of time passes as construction continues. The squat castle takes shape on the hillside, overlooking the country, and soon houses are going up nearby, along with the beginnings of Vallen's smithy. Farmers put in a late spring crop on the fields around the hill, while fishermen with small canoes ply the lake, bringing in a bounty of pike, sturgeon, trout, turtles, and frogs.
While Cass is at loose ends, itching to get out into the wilderness again but instead dealing with a minor squabble between a pair of fishermen (which ends abruptly when she runs out of patience), Ralan stops by and taps her on the arm. "Got some news while I was roaming some of the fields north of here. Farmers are reporting some trouble - something's eating goats, leaving half-eaten carcasses. One farmer's disappeared. Not a werewolf this time; something that burrows. You want me to look into it, maybe take Akiros?"
"Scope creep Mr. Silverclasp," Bob says overhearing the conversation as he walks by. "Go for economical. We can make improvements when we have all the essentials of a thriving city going first. Pardon me," he says as apology for interrupting and continues on his way.
"Uh... right, economical." Vallen mumbles as Bob passes, casting a sour look in the man's direction as he rounds the corner. The dwarf looks back to Jenya, crossing his arms over his chest-length beard. "I do not like that man. No vision or concern for aesthetics or innovation. It's all numbers to him! This city isn't an accounting ledger, people live here!"
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How can people fight so hard over fishing spots? Cassandra thinks as the fisherman leave. Not like fish stay in one spot but each fisherman had a spot and it was their spot and no one could have it. It was stupid and infuriating. This was not her job. She jerks at Ralan's touch, too caught up to sense his approach. "Yeah. I'd appreciate it. Maybe Kesten and Auric too. Not a lot for them to do just yet until things settle. Don't want them getting antsy. Speaking of..."
Cassandra makes a hasty retreat heading for the castle proper. She had no idea where Jenya might be but Vallen was almost always in his office. She barges in after a short knock. She looks a little surprised to see Jenya but brightens quickly. "Oh. Good. You're both here. Hey you...uh," she stops when she sees the large book Vallen was handing over to Jenya. "Did I interrupt something?" She looks sheepishly between them having realized she's barged in. Assuming they let it slide, "You guys want to take a few days break, go finish mapping the northwestern part of the territory? These fisherman and their stupid 'spots' are driving me nuts."
Nah Jenya says with a grin I just got some readin' to do. the young gunslinger says showing Cassandra the book It'd be nice to get out of town, count me in! I think this'll make good night time readin' under the stars
Vallen nearly humps out of his beard as Cassandra barges in, holding a hand over his heart. "Oh, no, no, come in Cass, but goodness... there's a reason I usually keep the door locked, you nearly sent me to Torag's Great Forge in Heaven right there!"
He settles down, looking a bit skeptical about the prospect of leaving his warm office and drafting table. Putting his hands on his hips, the dwarf sighs and begins to say- "Well I've go-" The image of the plate rolling off his table and to the door flashes in his mind, and he knows exactly what his god would want him to say in a situation like this. "got a good lead on all the work I wanted to do, so... yeah. Sure. Let's go."
The priest sucks in a breath and gives a suspicious glance around the office, but doesn't see anything out of place.
Some reading? That book would take me months to get through, Cassandra thinks. That tome looked heavier than her entire load out for camping, and that included a 20lbs tent. No comment there.
Cassandra blinked in confusion at Vallen's metaphor for a heart attack. Also no comment. But she caught the pause and obligated agreement. "If you're working on something you don't have to. I can go alone and just scout the area. Come back if I need help."
"Oh no, no. I'm going. This is for the best, trust me. Just trust me." Vallen says as he takes another glance around the room. No errent silverware, tools, or other inanimate objects seem to be telling him any different. I hope Torag blesses me with more... direct means of communication with his celestrial host soon. I'm starting to get paranoid aboutseeing Omens.
"Great. I'll pack."
You pack and set off to get some more mapping done while construction continues.
Heading northwest to the nearest uncharted areas, you travel into the woods again and find another branch of the rivers that give the area its general name. East of the Skunk River, this part of the woods turns into a soggy mire, with large, root-clustered trees rising up over tepid water and mud. Occasionally, you spot fish swimming in the pools and streams. Birds nest in tree branches and you're pretty sure that the wildlife here leans more toward beavers and badgers, with the occasional elk.
You find an old, overgrown trail in one part of the marsh, with a pair of badly-tumbled stone buildings next to pools of water. The buildings have poor foundations and are partially sunken, with waterlogged reeds and planks covering over part of the mess. Cass quickly notices that there are signs of recent habitation.
From a distance the place looks like a ruined, waterlogged wreck. There are plenty of swamp trees to conceal your approach, though.
Vallen shakes his head at the sight of the dilapidated stone buildings. "I can't believe someone tried to build something that heavy in a marsh. I'm amazed it hasn't sunk directly into the mud. Probably more old Taldan ruins- they always did mine out more than they could haul." The mason gestures towards the structure, pointing at the crumbling foundations. "Look at that! It's barely a free-standing structure! Whomever built this should be ashamed of themselves."
He glances at his companions. "I'm assuming we're going to explore the place." The dwarf says with a resigned tone of voice. "You two really enjoy sticking your beard- er, necks, into the unknown."
"Nature can change things fast," Cassandra says looking more at the swamp than the ruins. "Beaver builds a damn and the whole area turns to marsh." She takes a whiff of the air and pauses. She sniffs again. "I smell frog. A lot of frog. And not number but...big."
Jenya is glad to have something else to occupy her mind rather than The Forging of Metal and Other Good Works. She'd always thought of herself as a good student and a quick study but darn but the book was tough going. It felt like it was her head on the anvil getting pounded on. There were some passages in there that made sense to her, but overall... we she was less surprised at some of the stuff Vallen said than she used to be that was for sure.
Well, can we avoid it? Leave it be if it'll leave us be Cassandra?
Cassie turns in a slow circle to figure out what she smells, while Jenya takes a look with her keen gunslingin' eyes. Reeds and rushes conceal part of the structure, so she has to lean back and forth to get a better look.
There Jenya whispers pointing at one of the rushes in the ruin Something big, green, and slimy, there! Tracks show two kinds of frog prints, one seems to be on two feet and one a frog big as a darn pony.
Vallen continues to be more interested in the building. He's gotten a good look at it, and can now say with certainty- "Human style building, imported stone... Aye, more Taldan pomp. Probably was a guardhouse. They imported stone to build a watch tower by a river, and didn't even bother to do it right? Utterly wasteful."
The priest sighs in disgust and shakes his head, trying to distract himself from the horrific display of shoddy workmansip in the distanceby looking for the frogs Jenya pointed out. "Two feet? A frog? With a bigger, but beastial frog? Could be sentient natives and their beasts of burden."
He shifts in his saddle, sighing once more. "Hopefully they don't immediately attack us. Grundinnar willing, I'll try to be "The Grand Diplomat" again and avoid hostilities. Let's get thsi over with."
Despite being as excited as ever about his official duties, Vallen urges them forward.
Well, can we avoid it? Leave it be if it'll leave us be Cassandra?
"Not if we mean to stick our beards into the unknown," she says, smiling at Vallen. Besides, this was her duty as Warden right? Scout the surrounding area to make sure it is safe. Or if not, warn people from going there. Vallen was doing a good job of being the Grand Diplomat and he didn't even want it. It'd be a shame if she didn't do the job she wanted just as well.
She shifts, picking defense over offense. She couldn't not be non-threatening like this but it was better to be safe than worry about some possible frog person's sensibilities.
Jenya draws her weapon and nods. Well if we're announcing ourselves then let's do that. I'll take point and ya can start with the chinwag.
Hey, we see you in there. she calls towards the large, thing, she spotted in the rush. we just want to talk. she nudges her mount forward to move in front of Vallen.
She readies an action to shoot anything that charges at them though, once it gets to twenty foot range.
There's a distinctive, low, slow noise...
rrrrrRRRRRRRRIBBIT.
Whatever was moving around in the stone building shifts to where it can get an eye on Jenya. It looks somewhat like an enormous, slimy toad with warts all along its back. And giant tusks.
A moment later there is a flapping sound and a frog-like humanoid (or humanoid-like amphibian?) corners around one of the crumbling stone walls, flapping its webbed hands in the air, and shouts, "Truce! Truce!"
Jenya opens her mouth to say something and then thinks better of it. She grins and nods at the frog person and then at Vallen Well, you're up Grand Diplomat Vallen.
Vallen seems a little taken aback by the massive, rabbiting noise, tenatively reaching for his pistol. All of his trepidations are dispelled when the... froganoid...? comes out of the ruined structure with wacky wavy flailing arms.
"Ah.. yes! Truce! We are here bringing truce." The priest touches his holy symbol, mumbling to himself. "Grundinnar, here my plea...please let this be the last time I have to do this."
He kicks Nelly forward into a slow walk, squishing through the wet ground and leaf matter below. "We mean you no harm! I am Vallen Silverclasp, Priest of Torag and Grand Diplomat of Emeria. We are exploring the region and making contact with the local inhabitants for the purpose of cooperation and goodwill between us all."
Is that a...boar frog? Cassandra thought as the massive creature turned to them. She tensed but her bow stayed low. She was fast enough it wouldn't make a difference. Most of archery was intuition and experience. This was Vallen's duty and her's was to make sure nothing happened.
"Me no die! Me no die!" says the frog-like humanoid.
"Me boggard," it says, gesturing to itself with its webbed hands. "Me Garuum." The final word includes a sort of resonating toad-like sound.
Boggard huh? Jenya says with a shrug Well hello Garuum. I'm a human. By the name of Jenya, Jenya Poole
Vallen seems to relax a bit. There's no threat here- just a froginoid living in some ruins. "Well Garuum we're just exploring. Making maps and seeing where boggards such as yourself live. We don't mean you any harm and will be on our way."
The dwarf turns in his saddle to look at his companions. "Garuum doesn't look like he's going to cause any trouble. We'll have to inform the Department of Cartography and Exloration that he's living here so they don't get surprised by his uh.. giant toad?"