Sarainy heads with Solaria and Jark, commenting once they pass the guards "Nice work Solaria, kept their minds occupied on our approach. Then again the reaction wasn't quite as paranoid or hostile as perhaps we first thought."
----
As they near the man working the farm, and Jark makes his call of hello, Sarainy too calls out to him as they near.
"Ah yes, greetings to you and Old Deadeye. Jark, I do believe Elder is the correct title? We have business here with one of your councilmen... but before that an offering to your community."
Unslinging a quiver from her back, Sarainy hands it towards the gentleman. "Twenty arrows, heads forged of cold-iron, for the health and safety of your people."
Solaria nods to the man, "May the Starsong guide your through the night safely. I seek a moment to give thanks for the journey and give honor to the holy patron of this place." she smiles as she holds a symbol, a painted butterfly and touches it to her heart.
Derviec stops a moment from his picking and accepts Sarainy's offer, placing the arrows in a quiver beside the tree.
"Thank you for the protection. It will be well used by our hunters." He sets down his instruments and takes a look at all of you.
"I am Father Derviec. May Old Deadeye bless you in your hunts. Did you come only to give offering, or is there something I can help you with?"
----------------------
In the center of Iadenveigh atop a large hill is the biggest building of the town. It is made of wood and adorned with all manner of horn, antler and wooden carvings.
Inside you find a lone man wearing ranger's leathers, tending to some hunting implements. He smiles showing you red teeth. There are also
some simple beds and tables within the building along with a room filled with desks and chairs.
"Travelers. What is your business here in Iadenveigh? Are you looking for a place to stay?"
Dr Lendaro shrugs off his curiosity how they knew this man was holy man... and not a common farmhand.
He quietly vents to Linpul as the others buddy up with the elk god priest... "I must admit, I don't understand this vilification of progress. Without advancing ourselves from generation to generation... what is the point of... well anything really...?"
He catches Jark's eye and points toward High Home before heading there... to let him know where he'd be without intruding.
>At High Home
Dr Lendaro eyes the decor and forces a polite smile upon being spotted.
Though the red teeth do not escape his attention...
"Perhaps, good sir... My companions and I were sent by Khonnir Baine to meet with Councilman Redfang. In short, we've come to address the Technic League situation."
Linpul had remained quiet throughout most of the trip. She knew that her arm would be disruptive so she was trying her hardest to keep her mouth shut before she started going on and on about technology.
At High Home she finally did speak.
"Do you have any stables for my... well you've seen him, the very large beetle? I don't think he's ever stayed in a stable before."
----
"I am Councilman Iadrin, but you can call me Redfang, most people do. I'm not sure if I can trust you yet. I'll tell you what? If you help the town on a certain errand, I can trust you about it."
Redfang smiles again. "Your beetle is like your hunting dog or wolf, right? It may stay here in one of the rooms at High Home by your side, or I can arrange a nearby stable if that is what you prefer."
Solaria answers "Father Derviec, we will give thanks and a gift for our journey and will seek advice on the forunes the gods have in store for us. A friend of Iadenveigh in Torch asked us to help the village in whatever way we can. So do you or the village need any help? My friends and I will do what we can to strengthen the faith in the gods that protect the citizens here." She smiles and offers her hand in greeting. "I am Solaria Jesari, a traveler with Desna."
Father Derviec shakes Solaria's hand. "Other than the occasional wild beast, Miss Solaria, we don't have much problems here. Perhaps the High Home, the Deadeye Council will know about any problems going around in town. Most people here are wary of outsiders but we do get many travelers that come to Iadenveigh."
Seeing the Doctor's wave, Jarkralzak nods in understanding, then returns to the conversation with the priest. Once Solaria has introduced herself, he does so as well.
"Well met Father, I am Stonelord Jarkralzak of Janderhoff and this is our other companion Sarainy Malki. Blessings of the Forge Father upon you and your people. "
"Thank you for your kind words Father Derviec, may Deadeye make you hunts successful and your harvests full. If there is anything we can do to help you just send us a message and I am sure we will do our best. In the meantime, if I have a few days rest here, may I use your holy place to write prayers . May we also call on you, should we need restorative or other beneficial prayers to be said with Deadeye's blessing. I am sure once we know the mind of the Deadeye Council, we can count on your support." Solaria smiling at the priest, her head to one side. She takes one of the Father's hands and kisses it gently, in observance of his place in the town and appreciation of his welcome, "Once my companions and I are done here, we will follow your advice an go straight to the Deadeye Council at the High Home." Letting go his hand, she gives 5 gold pieces as an offering to Erastil and prays quietly for 20 minutes, before bowing and leaving the holy place, for the High Home.
Father Derviec nods. "You may use the church if you need to write prayers to your Goddess. Should you require my assistance, I will do what I can. Thank you again for your visit." The cleric returns to his orchard picking.
"Come Jarkralzak, let's find the others." says Solaria as she waits for the others before leading them to High Home. Once there she introduces herself as a traveler with Desna as usual, asks for refreshments and a place to stay for the night. Once they have settled in, she asks the rest of the party what they found out and have they met with Redfang yet?
"Very well. Perhaps we should wait for the others before delving into the particulars... I believe they are meeting with your religious leader."
Once the others arrive, Dr Lendaro introduces them to Councilman Iadrin.
You have time to talk and discuss plans. When you are ready, Councilman Iadrin will speak to you.
Linpul remains rather during the ordeal, like she had thought, technology might be frowned upon or beaten with clubs. Tetsuda gets comfy on the bed, as it was sized for a human there was plenty of room left for the tiny gnome. She sets her pack down before heading out to speak with the councilman, beetle in tow on his leash.
It has been a long day, hmm, I wonder if...
When near the others, she looks nervous and clutches her cyberarm while looking around.
"So, this councilman person, are we eating dinner with them or are they just telling us what to do without a meal and sending us on our merry way."
"One would hope they would break bread with us first... but no matter if not. You'll often find that simple communities like this can be rather cold and distrusting of outsiders, even if they come with good intentions," Sarainy remarks.
Solaria smells the bed linen, before turning bac to the councilman, "These beds will do us well, to sleep in fresh bed linen after such a journey is truly a great pleasure. Is there anywhere where we may find nourishing food and refreshment, it would indeed make the end of this day most memorable. Would you care to join us Redfang, I am sure there is much you would have us know, so we can honor the words of your friend Khonnir from Torch." the cleric says kindly to Redfang.
"The kitchen has provisions. Take only what you need. That's how this community functions, anyway. You'll find some food and simple utensils there, mostly excess from hunts and leftovers for travelers such as yourselves." Redfang says.
Inside the kitchen you find salted meats (mostly good) and tough dry breads, along with a stew filled with potatoes and greenery, a few barrels of mead and ale on the side.
Inside the kitchen and cafeteria you find the same food, along with freshly killed and cooked roasted capon, rabbits and apple cider and orange juice.
Jarkralzak gets up early and goes through his morning prayers before heading to the kitchen and making breakfast for the group. He looks a little askew at the ewer of orange juice.
"Anyone know what this is? Smells fruity, and tastes ... different."
Solaria gets on with her ablutions and making herself ready for the forthcoming day. "These people provide us with a fine spread, yet there seem to be very introspective, very untrusting of travelers. I wonder what we can do to gain their trust?" she speaks to Jarkralzak over the spread lid out for breakfast.
"This food is a great offering to us, we must find a way to repay them."
Linpul enters the kitchen area somewhat dirty with a bag full of something.
"Tetsuda needs some treats, so I was digging in the top of the compost pile. He likes over ripened fruits, so I figured that's the best place to get some. But breakfast was delicious. Oh Jark, that's the juice of an orange. Take an orange, cut it in half, squeeze it till it's dry. Can be added to champagne for a lovely breakfast drink."
"I have never seen such a fruit. It sounds like a cider..maybe?"
He takes a sip and his eyes widen.
"Well that is...different. Very sweet, and tangy! I think I might like it!"
When the party is finished with breakfast, Redfang beckons you over.
"If you want something to prove your are trustworthy, I have a small matter that needs looking over. One of our farmers, Jevik, has been complaining about monsters eating trees in his orchard. Last week it was bandits, the week before Technic League. Anyone, please check out his farm. It is about a mile to the west of Iadenveigh. He's a bit of a recluse, so try not to scare him. IF you do this for us, well, we'll talk about more things you can do to help, and what I can do for you."
"I'm sure that we can do that for you, we just take the road west and find Jevik's farm easily? Nothing we should look out for on the way?" Solaria confirms with Redfang, her voice sounding relieved that Redfang was at least starting to trust them. "Is there any sign or object that we can use to let Jevik know that we come with your blessing Redfang? It would help to reassure him and give him less reson to be fearful of our approach." she asks as she breaks some brown bread and pops a piece in her mouth.
Dr Lendaro responds to Redfang's request. "A worthy getting to know you task, Councilman. Consider it done."
He nods to note Solaria's forethought."Hmm... would not have thought of that...."
"Jevik's is the only farm out of the walls. He likes to keep away from the rest of town. Just tell him that I sent you, and he'll trust you-long as you don't threaten him in any way."
Gathering up her possessions, Tarvinda bids Redfang a farewell, thanking him for for his hospitality. She turns to her companions, "I need to spend a hour in contemplation as we journey to the farm. I will visit Erastil's holy ground to aid my prayer. If you want to meet me there in an hour, we can travel to the farm." She smiles, holding her symbol of the butterfly, "Without this I could not give you Desna's aid through prayer or healing." she leves and goes on her way.
Once at Estaril's grounds, if Father Derviec is around she asks about Jevik and if the Father has anything he wants them to take to the farmer, to help his harvest and give blessings from Old Deadeye.
She finds a quiet place in the orchard and prepares her blessings from Desna.
"Indeed, would not have thought of that either. Good thinking"
Once Redfang leaves she asks of the group, "I find it odd that we come here to help these people with the Technic League, yet before we can help we have to prove ourselves. Perhaps they are afraid of reprisal from them, should they try to stand up against the Technic league?"
Unused slots can be used after 1 hours prayer.
After separating and regrouping, the party meets outside of the western exit of Iadenveigh and heads to Jevik's farm.
About an hour of travel, you see a dilapidated farm, with broken fencing and a torn apart path through the orchard. The front porch of the dwelling and the animal pens are covered in blood.
Now out of the city, Linpul can be back to her old self, for a moment.
"That place gives me the creeps without the technology, but to each their own. On the other hand, that is a lot of blood, I have no idea whose. Perhaps we should be cautious when approaching? I can sneak up if we need to and look around."
Jarkralzak will detect for evil out as far as he can, and will continue to do so as they approach the cabin.
Dr Lendaro nods grimly to Linpul...
"Yes it is a lot of blood. Right behind you."
He taps a brief sequence of tattoos, and creeps up to the dwelling with her.
"Come Tetsuda, with all this blood, surely some terrible evil has befallen this place." She is about to call out Jevik's name, but stops as she watches Linpul slowly creep towards the front porch. She whispers, despite herself, "Is that human blood?" at Linpul.
Solaria very slowly moves forward, letting Linpul get further ahead, so the gnome hunter has a chance to look around, before Solaria draws ny attention.
Inside the farmhouse there is the smell of spoiled vegetables and meat. It looks like it has been abandoned for a few weeks, but there doesn't seem to be any trace of Jevik. Farming implements are strewn about as are soiled clothing.
Jark senses evil coming from somewhere in the orchard.
Linpul looks around before shrugging her shoulders.
She looks around for footprints of any kind. Her hammer in hand, she stares at the clothing.
"Looks all clear to me. But, if I can find something, maybe footprints of any kind, maybe I can determine who... or what, we are dealing with here."
"There is evil in that ochard. I advise caution."
Jarkralzak starts to move towards the orchard.
Solaria watches as the Jarkralzak begins to move towards the orchard, from her vantage point on the edge of the farmstead. She looks into the orchard to see if she catches the glimpse of whatever creature might be there.
Forgot to add Domain Spells to list earlier
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 6th; concentration +9)
0 - Create Water, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Mending
1 - Bless, Obscuring Mist, Prot Evil ... 1 slot unused
2 - Burst of Radiance, Silence, Spiritual Weapon ... 1 slot unused
3 - Prot Energy, Summon Creature III ... 1 slot unused
Domain Spells
1... Expeditious Retreat
2... Remove Paralysis
3... Fly
Linpul notices very large bestial footprints in the ground, something like a bear-but they don't seem to match.
Peering through the foliage of the orchard, you can see a huge bear? in the "woods". It begins to rip out whole trees using its claw and tentacles, spikes protruding from its chest and back stabbing through trunks as it throws them into a makeshift nest.
Solaria taps Tetsuda's carapace, "See, large unnatural bear, best wait for Linpul eh?" she says quietly, hoping the creature will look and understand. Solaria waits not moving, almost holding onto her breath as she watches the creature, whatever it is?
Coming back to the party she looks at the creature making the nest.
"Well... that makes a lot of sense. Found one of those things footprints in the house, but almost nothing of the farmer. We... might want to put that thing down or else it could pose a problem for the town."
Once he sees the beast, Jarkralzak stands still and watches it while the others talk. He has placed himself between the monster and the party...almost daring the creature to attack him.
Dr Lendaro draws his flintlock, and darts down the nearest path between the trees... trying to remain unnoticed.
Moving up to behind Jark, Sarainy tries to get a good look at the creature. Hooking the bow off her back, she strings it and ensures her quiver is position correctly on her back for quick draws.
Knowledge (arcana) +8
Knowledge (dungeoneering) +6
Knowledge (engineering) +6
Knowledge (geography) +7
Knowledge (history) +6
Knowledge (local) +6
Knowledge (nature) +6
Knowledge (nobility) +6
Knowledge (planes) +11
Knowledge (religion) +11
All gain +2 to identify alien monsters' abilities and weaknesses.
"Let Jark and Sarainy go up one channel, I'll follow you and Tetsuda up the other." says Solaria quietly to the gnome. Her resolve to hold their own against this large creature, whatever its strength.
1. Jarkralzak and Linpul
2. Enemy
3. Everyone
Jarkralzak moves forward until he is clear of the surrounding trees and can see the beast clearly. The entire way he has been swinging his Dorn Dergar, building momentum, until he stops and hurls the iron fist at his enemy.
Attack Melee:
Confirm Crit:
Damage:
Crit Damage:
Dr Lendaro wills a round into his pistol, moves up, and fires as the creature reels from Jark's blow.
"Unfamiliar with the creature myself... safe to assume it's not local livestock, eh?"