"Rhiannon, we should get some people hauling on the rope from shore while you lift and push," says Celebeth. "When everyone's in position, I'll cast a grease spell on the wheel to dislodge it. You'll need to keep control of the wagon! Otherwise the river will try to cart it off, it'll probably flip because of the rope, the rope'll snap and the wagon will shatter to pieces."
"No pressure! Say when you're ready!"
While you do have some time to get into position, the rush of the river is hammering the side of the wagon pretty hard. You are not sure how long it will remain intact.
Knowing that she’s just as likely to hinder the group’s progress as help it if she stays where she is, Tove follows Rhiannon and the ponies to shore.
Once she’s safe back on dry land, she claps her companion on the shoulder and bestows Erastil’s blessing upon her.
Giving Tove a grin of thanks as she feels Erastil's blessing settle upon her, Rhiannon gives Kalaman a nod as he begins his incantation, feeling the world shift somewhat as the magic infuses her frame, increasing both her size and power.
Getting into position behind the wagon, she waits for Celebeth's magic as well, before lifting to raise the back wheels free and moving forward.
Pull as she might, Rhiannon is not able to make much headway with the wagon.
[dice=Strength Check]1d20 + 1
Azen attempts to help from the shore as well, instructing her unseen servant to do the same.
Azen attempts to help from the shore as well, instructing her unseen servant to do the same.
[dice=Strength Check]1d20+2
Kalaman will pull from shore as well,
Try as she might, and despite the aid of her friends, Rhiannom is unable to drag the wagon out of the river. The river continues to batter the side of the wagon, as you begin to hear the sound of wood cracking.
Celebeth reseats the grapple and pushes uselessly to try to get the wagon out, but provides no help at all.
Azen keeps pulling on the rope, hoping her continued effort would help these people.
Tove does her best to keep tugging on the rope but she can already feel her feet slipping in the damp earth of the bank as the river batters the wagon.
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Rhiannon puts her power to the wagon again, yet despite the help and the titanic amount of weight she should be able to effortlessly lift, she couldn't manage to move the wagon.
Azen isn't ready to give up yet.
Kalaman also pulls harder, trying to reign in the battered wagon
And has a little more success this time,
Rhiannon once again tries to lift the wagon wheels free.
Celebeth takes her crowbar out of her pack and starts trying to lever the wagon free.
Tove adjusts her footing and heaves on the rope with all her might.
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With the aid of all of her companions, Rhiannon gives a mighty pull on the ropes and finally drags the wagon and its cargo to the safety of the river bank. As she does so the gnomes cheer in delight.
"Well done! Well done, indeed!" the assumed leader of the group says. "Please come have a meal with us, it's the least we can do. I am Jubilost Narthropple, the leader of this little expedition. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking to and thanking for the assistance?"
Taking a moment to head back across the river and gather up her armor and the rest of the group's gear, while still enlarged, Rhiannon joins the others on the other side, drying off to the best of her ability, and donning her armor after returning to her normal size.
“Tove Hellstrom, Stag Lord and Baroness of Elkmark,” Tove introduces herself, then gestures to her companions. “And my council, or some of them.”
“Your ‘expedition’ you say? What is it that brings you to the Greenbelt then? Braving such treacherous waters and…” she looks to the dead kobold. “…other, greater dangers.”
"magister Kalaman Mar at your service"kalaman says to the gnomes
"Pleased to meet you both, and your more silent companions." Jubilost says.
"Elkmark, you say? I've heard rumblings of a settlement nearby - just haven't made it over that direction quite yet. Been too busy mapping out other areas. While it's certainly not a complaint, as you happened upon us at a quite fortuitous time, what brings you out into the wilds and away from you village?"
Azen still stands breathing heavily on the shore, wondering if she pulled something, while the Baroness handles the diplomacy.
"Well then, this is a fortuitous meeting indeed, we've been doing some mapping here as well. Perhaps we might compare some notes on where we've been, and what we've seen?"
Tove smiles warmly, hoping to secure these gnomes as collaborators rather than rivals, wondering who they might be mapping the area for.
"Currently, we're on our way to check on some of our interests further out from the fort. We've had word that they're facing some trouble with the local beasts."
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With the wagon and horses safely retrieved, Celebeth swims back to rejoin the group. She crawls out of the river looking like a wet cat and starts wringing out her clothes and hair as best she can.
"Have any of you by chance heard of a creature known as a hodag?" Rhiannon asks while writing out her hair.
"I can not say that is a very appealing idea to me, I suspect I'll make a fair bit of coin from my maps and tales of the Greenbelt." Jubilost says in response to Tove's thoughts.
When Rhiannon mentions the Hodag, the gnome scratches his chin, contemplating. "I've heard tale of such a creature in these parts, but have not had the displeasure of making its acquaintance."
Hmm. Do you know where it isn't? If you can rule out some directions where you know it doesn't have its lair, maybe we could find it faster.
Tove narrows her eyes, then sighs before standing back to see if they have a better answer to Azen’s question.
Surely you can share just a little information with us, since we just helped you out of a tight spot? We'll not be selling the information you give us, and it would be the neighborly thing to do, right?
She grins.
Jubilost scratches his chin, contemplating Azen comment.
"From what I've gathered, the Hodag's lair lies two day's ride west by southwest of here."
"As to anything else...I could be persuaded to exchange information in a like for like manner."
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“Sounds fair, Tove nods slowly, now entirely sure how this differs from her origin suggestion but glad that the gnomes seem to be on board with it now. “What have you got?”
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After lengthy negotiations over a meal or two while at the camp with Jubilost, an agreement is settled upon of exchange of information on a one for one basis. The fine folk of Elkmark detail on the gnome's map a few of the locations around the Temple of the Elk and points further north, in exchange Narthropple details areas on your map south and west of your current location, including a ruined keep west of the grove where you faced the scythe tree, a troll lair to the south of where you believe the hodag's lair is, a "dragon's" lair, a mysterious island tower in the middle of the Candlemere lake, and village of lizardfolk due west of the Candlemere.
Following the discussion, in which Jubilost wishes to see your fledgling settlement, you return to Elkmark to find that Garethane has returned with a wizard.
The wizard, Xegreus, has come despite his price not being stated to remedy the malady that Celebeth suffers from. Looking around at the ruling council of Elkmark, the wizard asks. "Shall we be done with this? I have many things to occupy my time beyond making half-elven women a bit less furry."
"Some people like furries."
"I suppose that is true, but there is no accounting for taste." the wizard says. "I ask again, are you ready?"
"Yeah, let's get this done."
"So be it." Xegreus says.
Handing Celebeth a vial he says, "Drink this." as he begins casting a spell. Some ten minutes later, the curse is broken.
"There that bit of business is done, now there is the matter of my fee. One member of your council will accompany me back to Brevoy. This will not be as my prisoner, but as my guest."
"I understand that your foundling nation was built with resources from the Swordlords, and as such I imagine you have a strong alliance with Restov. Restov is not on the best of terms with the rest of Brevoy, I would hope to show your people that Restov is not always on the right side of this...disagreement."
Kesten looks around, as does Oleg and Celeste before Azen speaks up. "It was my sister you helped, I will go."
Watching the proceedings with an interesting eye, Rhiannon breathes a sigh of relief, as the mage declares Celebeth free of the werewolf curse. She s both surprised, and not, when Azen chooses to go as envoy to Brevoy at the behest of the man that saved her sister's life.
"I'm sorry about your sister leaving, but glad that you didn't have to meet a grizzly end as a werewolf." Rhiannon says to the ranger, resting a hand on hr shoulder in support for a moment.
"I dunno, she might have made for a cute puppy," Terri jokes, though her smile fades as she sees the looks from the others.
"Er, sorry. That was funnier in my head," she mumbles as she looks away.