More than a little panicked by the massive beast charging at you with murder in it's eyes you shoot far wide.
The creature claws at you with savage passion:
that was not much better
The owlbear attacks again:
A man with a furious look on his face watches the battle from the cave entrance.
seems that first one wore me out a bit
-9hp
The relentless attack continues:
Don't like to use LOH until I am down 10-15hp, otherwise wastes the healing.
-19hp
Your hammer strike bounces harmlessly off the creature's thick hide.
It rips at you:
-38hp
You awaken inside the wooden cave, sore and beaten, with blood crusted at several points on your body. Your hammer and equipment lie a few feet from you, although you are curiously still in your armor. As you move to reach for your gear you realize that you are immobilized by thick ropy vines that have grown all about you, pinning you to several of the tree trunks.
A man dressed in rough fabrics stands next to the savage owlbear, looking over its slain mate. Their backs are to you and you swear that it looks like the man is actually talking to the owlbear. After several moments, the owlbear pads out of the cave and back into the forest.
The man turns and looks at you and in an anguished voice speaks-So paladin of Torag, tell me-what would the punishment be for an intruder that broke into one of your Lord's sacred places and slew a holy guardian?
“Death.”
He coughs out a bitter laugh-Yes, it would be wouldn't it. You simpletons. All you see is your hammer and something to hammer, never considering for a moment that something not evil and not harming anyone should be left to its own device.
~sighs~
I'm afraid that death is much too easy an answer for you. I have spent the better part of ten years raising this pair of owlbears to help restore balance in this part of the forest and tamp down the fecundity of the swarming goblin tribes. In a few more weeks these eggs would have hatched and I could have helped to make sure the chicks within would grow and spread to other parts of the forest doing the same. Not now though, oh no, not now.
There is no way I can play mother hen to the eggs, and although I've dissuaded papa for the moment, he's of a mind to find out what albino tastes like.
If you can figure out a solution to the mess you created I might, might mind you, be able to convince papa that you should live.
Well?
"Solution? I can kill goblins well enough if that's what you mean. As for these dangerous creatures, maybe you know something of raising them but I do not. Perhaps the gnomes could do it, I do not know."
The man opens his mouth and then closes, clearly biting off a salty retort. A few moments pass-You are a bold one holy warrior, and no mistake. Few would speak so brashly with death as their reward. However, your words ring true to me. Maybe you are not as much of an idiot as I first took you for. Which is no mean compliment, let me tell you.
If you give me your holy vow to convince the gnomes to rear the chicks within these eggs, then in return I will free you and vouch for your life with Kwyrm out there. Without his mate, Kwyrm will soon depart to look for another and the goblins nearby will begin to swarm. There is a chance if the gnomes can raise and release enough of the chicks that they will restore the balance and keep the goblins at bay.
You will need to find a way to keep the goblins at bay until the brood is hatched and grown if the gnomes of Umok are to have much of a chance to survive the coming storm.
“It seems I have little choice, by Torag I swear it shall be so.”
Hmph...a bit ungreatfull, but I suppose we will just have to see what the word of Torag's worthy is worth...
The stout vines that once bound you tightly let go of you and return you to freedom.
You have 5 HP.
Level up.
"My apologies for killing the owlbear, I realized they are not evil but I thought their proliferation in the area could threaten the gnome village. I understood them to be savage and indiscriminate killers."
Ang will channel energy to heal himself. He will stand near enough the dead owlbear to heal it on the off chance it is only unconscious.
Your channel fully heals your wounds but does nothing for the slain owlbear.
You understood correctly and they were savagely killing goblins galore until you intervened. The gnomes of Umok seem smart enough not to venture into the woods, too bad I can't say the same about you.
The man moves out of the cave and lets out a series of strange hoots and warbles. There is no sign of the massive owlbear.
Collect the three eggs and head back to Umok.
As previously noted, you are unable to move the eggs without some type of container.
If they don't fit in his backpack, Ang will place them in his bedroll and use it like a large sack.
The man looks at you dubiously-Obviously breaking the eggs would also break our arrangement. I'm not sure how Torag would feel about that, but I certainly won't be very happy. I'll be watching you paladin...
You struggle with the over-large eggs, but you think you have the warm and secure and set out into the forest back to Umok.
You make your way to the edge of the forest and see the rise of town of Umok a ways distant. Suddenly, a ring of fire appears in the rough cleared lands between the forest's edge and the town. From the center of the ring pours a roiling wave of flesh,; amid the fatty surge wriggle half-formed limbs and a dripping tumorous face.
[spoiler=DC15 knowledge arcana/planes/religion]
These are minor devils known as lemures. The lease of devil-kind, one is not much of a threat but en mass they may present a problem and something or someone surely summoned them into your path.
The man looks at you dubiously-Obviously breaking the eggs would also break our arrangement. I'm not sure how Torag would feel about that, but I certainly won't be very happy. I'll be watching you paladin...
You struggle with the over-large eggs, but you think you have them warm and secure and set out into the forest back to Umok.
You make your way to the edge of the forest and see the rise holding the town of Umok a ways distant. Suddenly, a ring of fire appears in the rough cleared lands between the forest's edge and the town. From the center of the ring pours a roiling wave of flesh,; amid the fatty surge wriggle half-formed limbs and a dripping tumorous face.
These are minor devils known as lemures. The lease of devil-kind, one is not much of a threat but en mass they may present a problem and something or someone surely summoned them into your path.
Lemures, seems I have made an enemy
How many are there? Do I have my spell, or do I need to rest/pray for it? If I have the spell cast it. Set the eggs down if necessary.
I only have the one: divine favor, +1hit/damage for 1 minute
There are five lemures coming towards Ang.
Stay as close to the eggs as possible and attack.
Your hammer smashes into the first devil to approach you, badly damaging it.
They swarm about you, clawing:
With a flap of fiendish wings, a whipping scorpion-like tail lashes at you, appearing from nowhere.
You are just able to connect with the wounded lemure, crushing it into pulp.
The fleshy horde continues to swarm without fear, happy to be free of their infernal homes:
The winged creature rips at you with the full fury of its arsenal of natural weapons:
As if you didn't have enough to deal with a volley of magic missiles blasts, originating from the distant field
Strike at the winged creature.
The creature releases a gasp of pain and a screech of surprise as your hammer bypasses the resistance it has built up from years of infernal experience. It disappears from sight as the remaining lemures continue to claw at you and another volley of magic missiles find their mark.
-1hp
With a puff of smoke the lemures disappear back, apparently, to their infernal home.
The area between Umok and the forest appears clear and quiet.
Pick up the eggs and head to Umok.
You make it back to Umok and the shelter of Zarbuzel's house. He eventually returns and expresses his wonderment-You impress all of us with your repeated trips into the forest Ang, much less the queer items that you return with. We have found out a few things about the strange green stone you left behind, but I'm not sure what we will learn about these eggs besides whether or not they are good for omelettes?
"They are owlbear eggs. I discovered that owlbears like to eat goblins. If you raise them and set them loose within the forest you would be doing me a favor and they should help protect Umok from the goblins. If you eat them you make me an oath breaker."
"What news concerning the stone?"
Zarbuzel-Well I'm not quite sure of the right preparation of owlbear eggs in any case. Of course I've never practiced being a hen either. I guess they would want some heat and we certainly wouldn't want you to break an oath. Although technically, I wouldn't be making you an oathbreaker, you would. He sets the eggs by one of the heating element rocks in his house. Guess I'll be talking to one of the farmers to see about eggs and nesting, but first, the stone! A few of the local mages and I have been studying this particular rock and as near as we can tell it appears to be alive somehow. It is not cut, of that much we are certain, rather it looks like it sloughed or calved off a larger piece somehow? Also, you are right, it is quite evil. Any prolonged touching of the thing and it tends to have a nasty effect on your mind. As a consequence we haven't touched it much so the studying has been slow. We have been able to determine that it possess powerful enchantments relating to charm and domination. Our guess is that you can use it to influence or control weak minded creatures like goblins.
"My thanks for taking the eggs and for the news on the stone. As for the eggs, I guess I should further explain how I came to possess them. I made a bad decision in killing an adult owlbear and the mate brought me down. I was saved by what must of have been a druid, he instructed me on the error of my ways indicating the owlbears were keeping the goblins in check. He only released me upon my swearing an oath to see that the eggs were properly cared for, though I'm doubtful he would have killed me if I had refused. In any event I can vouch that the creatures are quiet ferocious when grown so they should turn out to be formidable guardians for Umok."
"On my return to Umok I was attacked by another wizard, he ambushed me using summoned evil creatures and force missiles. He is still out there, my guess is that he probably is armed with another of these green stones. Someone seems hell bent on controlling these goblins. We need to discern their purpose in doing so. I'm off to the market to purchase some items, then back into the hornet's nest."
Ang is going to sell his loot at the market and purchase:
+2 belt of strength
+2 headband of charisma
slippers of spider climb
Zarbuzel-Owlbears, eh? I guess that explains the lack of serious goblin raids these last years. We will have to take great care of these eggs. I wonder if the beasts can be domesticated?
We will continue to study the stone and see if we can learn anything new about it before you head back into the goblin's nest.
It will take two weeks or so to procure the items you want. Any actions during that time?
Will try to learn more about the green stones and the larger stone that they may have come from. Is there a library?
Will write a letter to Korim. Let him know about the additional green stones. Ask how to destroy them.
There is no real library, but several of the local wizards and sages let you read through their private collections and you talk to many gnomes asking questions about the stones. You are able to find out that during the war many of the stones were found after large raids, usually held by more powerful goblins, half-orc mercenaries, and sometimes non-goblin mages and clerics. Most of the recovered stones were sold, although you do find that two were kept as trophies and they are given to you with worried glances by the gnome families that owned them.
Your letter is sent, but no reply is received by the time you have received your crafted items.
How many of these damn stones exist?
Head back out into the forest, try the area with the tunnels that were previously explored, perhaps enough time has gone by that they have let their guard down.
You have grown familiar enough with the woods to know that you are being watched. The sound of strange drums and whistles follow you as you move deeper towards the goblin caves.
When you arrive at the entrance it is guarded by a newly rough made palisade behind which stand several grey skinned goblins (which you have been told are hobgoblins) and a trio of the massive strange looking goblins (Zarbuzel said they are bugbears).
Sighting you, one of the bugbears steps up to the palisade wall and barks at you in rough common-Go home metal man. You come here again seeking death and if you stay you will find it; your own. He gives you a feral grin and clearly he is hoping you will try your luck against the assembled mob of goblins.
There has to be another entrance, I just haven't found it yet.
Back off to the city. Then try a different area, if the owl bears were to the south of the goblin caves then try the area to the north.
Zarbuzel is surprised to see you again so soon, but after explaining the situation he just laughs and agrees with your course of action.
You head North of the forested hills, making sure to stay clear of the areas you know to be watched by the goblins, and after most of a day of travel find yourself in a small valley on the back side of the hills. A river runs through the valley, originating from a waterfall that cascades from the goblin hills, and you figure that maybe there are some natural caves in that area that would lead you back into the goblin warrens.
Axe, smoke, footprints. I wonder if its that druid? Chopping trees? Probably not. And wolves, better be careful, almost died the last time I ran into wolves.
Try to get a view of the wood chopper without being noticed.
You move as quietly as you can towards the sound of wood being chopped and find a man with a half dozen good sized logs stacked and tied off with rope. It looks like he has room for a few more and appears to be very handy with the massive axe he is using to chop the felled tree.
After a few moments of watching him work, he looks up in your direction-Not much for conversation are yeh? Not very neighborly to watch a feller work without offering to help or at the very least offer to fetch a man some water. What are you doing in my valley stranger? These woods are full of wolves. Big, hungry, wolves. I'm surprised you've made it this far to be honest.