"We found her injured, she had been taken by some Derro. We managed to defeat them, but unfortunately we were too late to save her eyes. She insists that once she finds Naavi she will be able to regain her sight though, so we offered to find her home to deliver her there safely. But we thought we should make the journey as safe as possible, so we do not get attacked along the way. What is it that she guards the Narlmarches from?"
I shake my head at the memory of the horrific sight that we witnessed.
Jacobus stopped packing and his ears perked up at the information being provided by the fey.
Lanyssa is a witch?
"We found her injured, she had been taken by some Derro. We managed to defeat them, but unfortunately we were too late to save her eyes. She insists that once she finds Naavi she will be able to regain her sight though, so we offered to find her home to deliver her there safely. But we thought we should make the journey as safe as possible, so we do not get attacked along the way. What is it that she guards the Narlmarches from?"
I shake my head at the memory of the horrific sight that we witnessed.
"Those who would defile its natural beauty." Tyg responds.
"Those who would defile its natural beauty." Tyg responds.
"I thought I liked her when first we met," Torsten says approvingly. "She mentioned one named Naavi whom she sought. Would you know where that one might be found?"
I nod in respect to Tyg's answer, "She is resting at Oleg's trading post at the moment, once we have found this temple and her home we shall be returning to her to assist her in her journey. Has anyone appeared to defile the beauty of this land since she has been missing and do you have a message you would like us to pass on to her when we see her again?"
"Never heard of anyone named Naavi." Tyg says. "Although the few times I have seen her, she usually has a hawk and a wolf with her. One of the two could be Naavi I suppose."
Perlivash answers Theodore's question by saying, "No one at this time, though its usually those of your kind clear cutting forest and building in the area...kind of like the folks in...oh what do they call it...blast, I can't remember the name of the place."
I run my chin in thought as Tyg mentions the wold and hawk, before turning to Perlivash, "Well I can promise you; my friend, that I have no intention of destroying your home. All I want is to make it safe for all of the denizens who are living here, and not just because the Swordlords of Restov want that too. But because I want there to be peace throughout the land, a peace with no war."
"I hope you speak the truth, but actions speak loudly. Travel safe." Perlivash says as the pair fly back up to their nests.
"Only time shall prove the truth of my words."
The party wakes in the morning and bids Tyg and Perlivash a fond farewell as they head off to the southwest in search of the lost Erastilian temple.
You have traveled for half a day when the thick tangle of brambles gives way into a large clearing in the woods, its border partially defined by ruined stone pillars. The western face of the clearing is dominated by a looming, upthrust ridge of rock, nearly 300 feet across and rising to a moss-topped height of 100 feet at the center.
The side of this towering boulder facing the clearing has been carved in the likeness of an immense elk, its antlers drooping down from its weathered face to frame a 50-footwide cave entrance.
A flight of stone steps leads up to this cave entrance from the forest clearing—both the steps and elk face feel quite old and are thickly encrusted with layers of moss. A 50-foot-long oval pool of foul, stagnant water sits in the middle of the clearing, thick with algae.
Tove's face lights up with awe and wonder at the sight of the carved stone as the woods give way to the clearing and the great elk becomes visible.
"Amazing, this place is incredible. I wonder how long it's been here?" She ponders, half to herself.
Dismounting Ros, Tove leaves her horse at the edge of the clearing and walks slowly through the pillars towards the cave, remaining cautious, wary of the bear Tyg mentioned.
As she moves through the ruins, her eyes drift across the old holy site and she keeps her eye out for any significant signs of worship.
When she gets closer to the pool, her nose wrinkles and she furrows her brow. "Too much to purify with an orison. Sad to see the place in such a state though, there must be something we can do."
I get Rufus to walk along side To be, I am also in awe at such a remarkable sight. "This is beautiful! You can feel the power of Erastil flowing into everything here. Makes you feel proud to be one of his children, doesn't It?"
I also keep an eye open for this large bear, with sword in hand and shield raised. " You say you can commune with animals for a brief time, due to Erastils divine power, will you need aid in selecting the correct words to say to this bear?"
"Looks like it's been here for half of forever," says Ivo in a whisper. "Want me to scout out the cave?"
"It does." Tove smiles as she agrees with Theodore.
"Erastil will guide me in my conversation with the bear who lairs here. I would ask only that you be ready to come to my aid if I fail." The priestess raises her empty hands, then nods toward the halfling's raised sword before turning toward Ivo.
"The cave, if the bear is anywhere here that seems the most likely spot. Maybe it would be safer to draw the creature out into the open than confront it in the confines of its den." Tove's skin prickles at the memory of fighting underground. She still hadn't gotten over the derro's lair.
I realise the hostile intent on having my sword out, so I sheath it quickly. But keep my shield strapped to my arm. I look to To be to make sure that she is happy for me to keep my shield on.
I look to Ivo, "Bears sleep in caves, don't they?"
"Ivo, if you are to scout the cave, allow me to accompany you, in case the bear discovers you. don't worry I will stay far enough back to avoid detection, though should be able to come to your aid." Raz says in response to Ivos question, " the bear will be at an advantage wherever we encounter it, it lives here and knows the area."
I look to Razarak horrified, "Surely you don't mean to attack it without letting Tove try to speak to it first?!"
"I was merely offering backup to Ivo as he scouts in case the bear attacks without offering us the chance to parlay"Raz responds calmly, "I wouldn't wait to talk to it if it attacked us first."
Jacobus dismounts and lets the Erastil children deal with this situation.
As an a child of Abadar, he enjoyed lots of overlap with Old Dead Eye's tenents and was on friendly terms with his children.
He readied his shield, made sure his weapon was close at hand, and tried to see if he spotted the bear.
-------------------------
The party slowly moves forward, discussing the grandeur, or at least what might have been, of the shrine when Jacobus suddenly stops.
Jacobus called a halt to his companions, "I hear it, the bear. Inside and it sounds angry."
He looked at Tove, "Are you sure you can calm down an angry bear?"
Tove's eyes flash with doubt as the moment is suddenly upon her, but she steels herself.
"I will try."
She turns and faces the cave, bracing herself.
"Old Deadeye, hear me and guide my tongue this day, bestow upon me your gifts and help me bring peace to your sacred glade."
Ivo draws his small bow, just in case things don't go well.
Tove tries her best to speak peacefully with the bear, but it seems that mention of Erastil sends the bear into a rage as it come barreling out of the cave.
The bear squeezes past the stone pillars on the stair and begins to make its way toward the party.
Initiative Order:
Theodore & Rufus
Ivo
Torsten & Strauch
Tove
Jacobus
Razarak
The Bear
Tove walks forward confidently, keeping herself between the bear and the rest of the group.
She studies the bear carefully, trying to understand what could cause it to react so violently to the mention of Erastil's name.
She concludes one thing at least; speaking with the creature while it is in the middle of a rage will be a waste of her lord's gifts.
Instead of attempting to make contact and speak with the bear yet, she readies an enchantment to help calm the beast.
Raz dismounts and moves to next to to be, in case her attempts to calm the enraged bear fail.
Torsten dismounts as quickly as he can, unwilling to risk his horse in a fight.
Which still takes longer than he'd like. He then casts the spell which gives his features a foxy cast and sharpens his wits. Strauch trots up beside him.
I also move up beside Tove ready to protect her with my shield if things go wrong. Noticing the anger and roar at Erastils name, I suddenly become very conscious of the image of Erastil on my shields face, I draw my blade slowly and look to Tove, "If you are unable to calm it, would you prefer that I render the creature unconscious rather than kill it?"
Jacobus grit his teeth but decided to give Tove a chance.
He took out his heavy mace and readied himself for battle if the bear continued its rampage.
He looked at the bear and braced himself, "This is going to hurt..."
The bear, still growling and snarling, continues to make its way toward you.
Tove takes a few, slow steps forward. Tentatively she reaches out a hand and focuses her power on the bear.
"Let the calming grace of Heaven decend upon this beast's restless mind and wash away its rage."
With her calming spell cast, Tove invokes her ability to commune with the bear and speaks in a way it can understand.
"Noble creature of these woods, guardian of this temple, we mean you no harm. This sacred place need not be a site of bloodshed this day. "
Raz will move up parallel with Tove.
Tove casts her spell in hopes of calming the enraged bear. To the priestess's dismay, the bear shakes its head and snarls, seemingly even angrier than before as it loudly roars.
The bear's eyes narrow, seemingly focused on Tove.
Hearing the roar I step forwards beside Tove again and desperately speak to her, "Kill or render unconscious?" I then raise my shield and wait for the creature to come into my striking range.
Tove recoils as her spell fails to calm the beast and shudders as it roars at her.
"This beast is no friend to our god, it has no place in dwelling here. Fight as your code dictates, Theo. But don't hesitate to kill it if you must, for it means to kill us."
My intention is to move behind the bear when it is in range to set up a flank,
'No friend to our god' sounded like the code to kill the beast.
Jacobus nodded in understanding and brought his heavy mace forth as he stepped towards the beast.
He readied himself to strike when it came within reach. He called on Abadar for extra protection, his wounds if any would heal faster, almost instantly.
--------------
HP 30/30
AC 21, touch 12, flat-footed 19
Conditions: fast healing 2
Melee (heavy mace): +4 = +2(base) +2 (STR)
Melee Damage (heavy mace): 1d8+2, x2
-1 to hit / +2 damage with power attack
0/1 judgment with surge, 6/6 agile feet, 4/4 1st level spells
Ivo moves in closer, hoping to get into a flanking position on the bear when it gets closer.
I shake my head at the bear, "I will not let it defile this place any longer then, I shall not hold back during this fight." I turn mt blade in my hand so the flat is no longer the threatening side and raise my shield again.