Belladonna lets out a squawk of dismay as Eluvias barrels into her, nearly knocking her clean off Sugar Loaf's saddle. Righting herself, she puffs a lock of blond hair out of her eyes and glares at the lizard, her face darkening in outrage at being so assaulted.
Lowering the tip of her lance, she lets out a bellow of sheer, unadultarated hatred and urges Sugar Loaf into a charge, leaning down low over the lance as she powers it into the monster's hide.
The charge carries her clean past the foe, whereupon she wheels around, Sugar Loaf chuffing as his paws scrabble for purchase, preparing for another attack.
That's a odd beast., Jethro barely has time to think as the monster barrels forwards, swiping the calm, somber faced man with its thick tail. "Git!", he shouts out, Antlers' heavy hooves sending tufts of leaves and dirt passing by him as he stampedes forwards, lance raised. The greenwood spear follows the path of Belladonna's charge, the tip aiming for the creature's heart, as it leaves a deep gash on its side.
The Queen gazes upon the beast, seeking to understand it - and see the strands of fate around it.
"Hodag! It's smarter than it looks!", Amadeen shouts, and then releases a sudden burst of cackling.
Effect: The witch can cause a creature within 30 feet to suffer grave misfortune for 1 round. Anytime the creature makes an ability check, attack roll, saving throw, or skill check, it must roll twice and take the worse result. A Will save negates this hex. At 8th level and 16th level, the duration of this hex is extended by 1 round. This hex affects all rolls the target must make while it lasts. Whether or not the save is successful, a creature cannot be the target of this hex again for 1 day.
The Queen gazes upon the beast, seeking to understand it - and see the strands of fate around it. "Hodag! It's smarter than it looks!", Amadeen shouts, and then releases a sudden burst of cackling.
Belladonna lets out a squawk of dismay as Eluvias barrels into her, nearly knocking her clean off Sugar Loaf's saddle. Righting herself, she puffs a lock of blond hair out of her eyes and glares at the lizard, her face darkening in outrage at being so assaulted.
Lowering the tip of her lance, she lets out a bellow of sheer, unadultarated hatred and urges Sugar Loaf into a charge, leaning down low over the lance as she powers it into the monster's hide.
The charge carries her clean past the foe, though it's jaws do snap at her, whereupon she wheels around, Sugar Loaf chuffing as his paws scrabble for purchase, preparing for another attack.
Johund moves forward and finds a weak point in the creatures scales.
That's a odd beast., Jethro barely has time to think as the monster barrels forwards, swiping the calm, somber faced man with its thick tail. "Git!", he shouts out, Antlers' heavy hooves sending tufts of leaves and dirt passing by him as he stampedes forwards, lance raised. The greenwood spear follows the path of Belladonna's charge, the tip aiming for the creature's heart, as it leaves a deep gash on its side.
”Damned beast caught me off guard.” Eluvias said with murderous intent. Now it was time to see how well they worked together. He moved to flank it with Johund. The creature falls after his first blow.
A magic spear is found in it's lair, possibly used be a would be hodag slayer previously. Keen Spear.
Two days later as our heroes explored further north they found something quite odd...
A ruined, circular keep looms out of the forest, surrounded by towering, ancient trees draped with hanging moss. Four circular towers sprout from the cracked walls like the trunks of great trees, at least one crumbled into rubble. Twisting vines and thick moss cover the walls in a coat of verdant green, blending the ruins almost seamlessly into the surrounding woods. The overgrown remains of a path lead to an open, arched gateway gaping in the keep’s eastern wall, its doors long since rotted away.
You recognize the ruins as being of ancient elven construction.
Jethro's eyes glance over the looming walls, covered in verdant drapes of moss and vines. "Looks like a solid fort. Just look at those curves on the arches.", he harrumphs, "Sure built them to last, whoever done it.", he adds, before letting out a nod of approval, as he runs his hand over the stones and the moss, as if feeling the centuries, even millennia that've past. "I say we go and see what's inside. Best case scenario, a couple of foremen and a good working crew we could get a nice outpost for y'r kingdom, government." He chuckles. "And worst, I learn a thing or two for when you want a palace commissioned."
He sighs, rubbing a hand across his almost permanent stubble. "It sure's a sight, too." Rubbing a friendly hand over Antlers' fur, he leads the wagon into the archway.
”A sound assessment. I would expect something to inhabit it though. Places like this are excellent shelter for animal, monster and outlaw alike. Be on you’re guard.”
As you move through the there is a slight clicking sound before the portculis begins to fall down on top of Jethro and Eluvias.
DC25 Strength check to lift the Portculis[/dice]
Eluvias nimbly leapt out of the way, rolling as he hit the ground and coming to his feet with blade in hand.
Amadeen looks about, clearly fascinated.
Too quiet for Eluvias and Jethro to hear straight away, she thinks out loud:
"Hmmm. Elven. Definitely elven..."
She is shaken out of her reverie by the sound of the collapsing portcullis.
"BLAST! Are you two okay!? This is old elven construction, gods know what traps are woven in - or what's about to collapse."
She looks about, trying to spot more obstacles.
The portcullis collides into Jethro and Antlers with a heavy crash, nearly sending the man off the elk's back. The elk's neck strains to lift the heavy metal gate, but fails. "Darnit! Should've expected some wear and tear with the ages, elves or not!", he shouts back towards Amadeen, waving to indicate they're both alright, if a little bruised.
"Well.", Jethro scratches his head, as the elk struggles to lift the gate once more. Patting the beast's back, Jethro claps his hands together, as if preparing to lug a heavy load, then shouts out something in an unfamiliar language, putting his hand onto Antlers' back. His muscles start to bulge through his shirt, and the already massive bull elk practically acquires the proportions of a bull. "Let's give it one more try, then." , he starts saying, but even as he steps towards the portcullis, a loud bleat from the elk and a violent thrust sends the portcullis flying across the courtyard, the elk rising to his back hooves.
A faint smile of satisfaction crawls on the man's face as he takes his place on the back of the elk, lance in hand. "I don't much like feeling trapped too, big boy." Clomping happily in the courtyard, the elk bleats a hushed reply. "Reckon you're right, Miss Queen. Ought to keep my eye out on what's here now, and not how it was all that time ago."
[ooc]
Belladonna snickers from the back of the group, not bothering to hide her amusement as Jethro gets sent flying by the falling portcullis.
"I was going to say 'watch out' but then I didn't," she says. "That and I knew Antlers'd be fine. Right?"
She digs her heels into Sugar Loaf's sides so that he ambles forward, her lance held easily across her lap. "What'd make elves abandon a place like this? Other than it being all over grown and broken down and stuff? Ha! I just answered my own question. New question instead: why'd they even want to live in such a dump in the first place?"
Dusting himself off Eluvias replied ”One would imagine that it was less run down in its heyday. But you do raise, most likely inadvertently, a good point. We cannot discount the possibility that something drove the last inhabitants of this tower away, and that it might not have been anything as mundane as orcs. Let us enter cautiously.”
Amadeen notes that the chain keeping the portculis up was still intact, it seems more like a deliberate trap than just wear and tear.
Sugar loaf picks up some strange scents it doesn't recognize.
A graceful tower rises out of the keep’s central courtyard, now overgrown with bushes, undergrowth, and several sizable trees. Like the outer walls, the tower is draped with vines and creepers, and several small plants have taken up residence on ledges and in cracks along its sides. This overgrowth will make the area more difficult to traverse.
”Druid. Can you do anything with these overgrown plants?”
Despite the complex roots and thick undergrowth, Sugar Loaf slips into the courtyard without any difficulty, sniffing here and there as he goes.
Bella frowns up at the tower, visoring her eyes with one hand before sighing and looking about herself once more. "Whatever drove the elves out is probably at the top of the tower, right? That's where evil wizards and stuff like to hang out. Or in the basement if it's some kind of massive sentient slime. With bones floating inside it, giving off a really sick green glow. Can we just bring in some royal catapults and demolish the whole place instead?"
”That would negate the point of owning said tower. And would destroy any artifacts within. There might well be something relevant to my research, and I would not see such an opportunity wasted.”
Amadeen grins.
"Oh, we're taking this damn tower. And everything in it! We're going in."
Just as she walks on, she adds:
"That does remind me, we really should work on an army at some stage. With catapults and all."
Jethro ponders for a while, before realising that the elven swordsman's addressing him. Giving his head a thorough scratch as he regales the plants, he shrugs. "Oh. I reckon I could ask 'em for help, if we're being attacked, Mr. Eluvias, but I don't feel I got anything to make them move. Takes a lot of time and patience to get nature to move, once it's claimed something for its own.", he answers with a light expression, before noticing that the response probably isn't the one Eluvias was expecting.
Seemingly taking in Belladonna's worries to heart, the labourer grasps his yardstick harshly. "Sounds possible. Would hate to encounter any evil wizards, that's for sure. But if the slime's sentient, no reason why we would bother it."
The talk of catapults, though, really sends Jethro into his thoughts. "When you really think about it, a catapult isn't all that different from a crane, Miss Queen, and I've assembled a few in my time. It's all about mathematics and physics." A loose vine tangles itself into Jethro, however, and he once again seeps into his quiet self.
This wide chamber has an impressive vaulted ceiling. Though obscured in places by earth and undergrowth, the hall’s floor is crafed of smooth stone tiles in multicolored pastel hues. The walls of the chamber are decorated with faded frescoes of sylvan life, showing scenes of beautiful elves engaged in hunting, feasting, dancing, singing, and a bewildering variety of other idyllic pursuits. To the west, a graceful, filigreed stone staircase, garlanded with flowering vines, climbs to the level above.
Belladonna spots a faint shimmer about the entrance almost imperceptible. Though she doesn't know it's nature she suspects a magical trap has been placed on this area.
Doing his best not to be lulled into complacency by the beauty, Eluvias
Halting first to admire the frescos depicting elven frolicking, with Belladonna's warning Amadeen concentrates.
There is an enchantment aura, likely once discharged it will affect several people.
Belladonna sits back in her saddle, lips pursed as she focuses intently and scratches letters into the ceiling with the tip of her lance.
BELLADONNA WAZ HERE!
She's clearly not interested in what's going on at the portal.
"Hmmm. A mass enchantment of some sort. I've got a plan though. I summon critters and send them right at the trap to get it to fire."
Unless anyone pipes up, the sovereign will...
...start coughing, then vomits a stream of spiders onto the ground. Wiping her mouth, she gestures to the trap's location and the spiders start moving as one swarm towards it, clambering up walls and ceiling if needed.
Bella raises an eyebrow at Amadeen's behavior, clearly weirded out, and urges Sugar Loaf to retreat out of the room before the spiders hit the portal.
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Seeing the halfling’s reaction, Eluvias said coldly ”Our Queen’s generosity is only matched by her ability to inspire terror. If I could, I would feel pity for her enemies.”
"You said it brother..." Johund mumbles, a little green, watching the spiders skitter about.
He lifts his dagger in the air, invoking a prayer to his water god.
protection from evil (6 min)
The swarm of spiders enters the room before discharging the spell and starting to turn on each other... but now the way in is clear, and the stairs upwards lie waiting.
Amadeen pipes up.
"Job done! Let's get going!"
And starts to walk forward.
The stairs end in a circular room featuring wide windows draped with hanging vines that offer panoramic views of the keep’s overgrown courtyard and the forest beyond. An open circular skylight in the ceiling provides glimpses of the forest canopy overhead. The walls between the windows are carved with exquisite, delicate nature motifs highlighted in gold and silver leaf. A riot of flowers, plants, and bushes sprout from the thick loam that carpets the hall’s floor, as if one were walking in a fantastic glade elevated high above the forest floor.
A graceful elven woman waits her, an alluring woman with alabaster skin, golden hair, and emerald green eyes and wears a flowing white gown
of archaic elven style, tied at the waist with a blood-red scarf. She is dancing with an otherwordly beauty and skill... perhaps a specter of a forgotten time...
You are dazed...
As she dances vinces spring forth from the stones of the tower, grasping at you.
Baobhan sith (bavaan shee) are evil female fey that feed on the blood of living creatures. By entrancing creatures with their dance, they lure men to their deaths. Baobhan sith are always female; no males of this race are known to exist.
These creatures are generally found in remote locations such as unclaimed forests or overgrown and ruined keeps, castles, or the like; always a secluded location, but close enough to a populated area that the baobhan sith can feed when hungry. Their lairs are typically clean; the monsters have disposed of the rotting corpses of past victims. They are solitary creatures and never work in groups. Baobhan siths each have their own hunting ground and to intrude on another’s is certain death.
When they die they will place a curse upon their killer.
Eluvias
Belladonna
Amadeen
Johund
Jethro
Elven Dancer
"I, eh...." Johund grows slack-jawed, a line of drool trailing down his armor from his lip.
Amadeen shakes her head swiftly to clear it and then rapidly starts talking as her hands start gesturing.
"Baobhan sith! They want our blood! And whomever kills them get cursed! F&%!"
And in a flash, she throws a handful of sparkling dust which launches itself towards the dancer!
"Yes, Miss Queen, but...", the glazed look in the druid's eyes indicates he, too, has fallen under the spell. "But I don't think it's kind to attack a lady like that.", he adds in his quiet voice, as the tendrils and vines seemingly choose to ignore him. "I reckon that's bad manners, it is."
Eluvias just stood there, staring. Even with his curse, he could deny the beauty of the dancer. Nor his longing. Not so much for company, but for his own people. As one of the Forlorn, he had grown used to the transient nature of the human world. But this elf? In her archaic clothes, in these ruins, and with the beauty of her dance? He hadn't realized how much the lure of a culture denied had on him. His sword was held loosely in his hand, it did not allow itself to be dropped, despite the lack of will to even hold it.
Perhaps from a presence of mind, or the will of the blade, Eluvias easily sidestepped the plants.
A thorny weed takes a swipe at Johund's boot, but the lovefool staggers clumsily and avoids the verdant magic.
Amadeen doesn't spend overly long stepping out of the path of the encroaching vines.
Bella stares, slack jawed, at the surreal and beautiful elven lady, completely unable to understand what is going on, or why she's so mesmerized...
Sugar Loaf whines, however, understanding even less than his rider.
As the vines try to snag the dire corgi, he simply sidesteps and prances around them, evading them with ease.
Eluvias just stood there, staring. Even with his curse, he could deny the beauty of the dancer. Nor his longing. Not so much for company, but for his own people. As one of the Forlorn, he had grown used to the transient nature of the human world. But this elf? In her archaic clothes, in these ruins, and with the beauty of her dance? He hadn't realized how much the lure of a culture denied had on him. His sword was held loosely in his hand, it did not allow itself to be dropped, despite the lack of will to even hold it.
Perhaps from a presence of mind, or the will of the blade, Eluvias easily sidestepped the plants.
Bella stares, slack jawed, at the surreal and beautiful elven lady, completely unable to understand what is going on, or why she's so mesmerized...
Sugar Loaf whines, however, understanding even less than his rider.
As the vines try to snag the dire corgi, he simply sidesteps and prances around them, evading them with ease.
Amadeen shakes her head swiftly to clear it and then rapidly starts talking as her hands start gesturing.
"Baobhan sith! They want our blood! And whomever kills them get cursed! F&%!"
And in a flash, she throws a handful of sparkling dust which launches itself towards the dancer!
"I, eh...." Johund grows slack-jawed, a line of drool trailing down his armor from his lip.
"Yes, Miss Queen, but...", the glazed look in the druid's eyes indicates he, too, has fallen under the spell. "But I don't think it's kind to attack a lady like that.", he adds in his quiet voice, as the tendrils and vines seemingly choose to ignore him. "I reckon that's bad manners, it is."
Just as graceful and now glittering like a sunset on a lake the elven woman clutches her eyes. "How dare you! I will have my revenge." Turning she seems to climb through a section of solid wall.
Life-sized alabaster statue of a nude, dancing elven woman (worth 900 gp, but weighing almost 500 pounds)
Masterwork harp
The Lady’s bed is covered with a snow-white bearskin coverlet (worth 50 gp)
A fnely carved, wooden wardrobe beside the bed holds a royal outfit (worth 200gp), two courtier’s outfts (worth 30 gp each), and several other tasteful, once-expensive articles of clothing (heavily stained with blood and now worthless)
A small wooden coffer atop a rosewood table contains a vial of exotic perfume (worth 100 gp)
Gem-studded tiara (worth 250 gp)
A nearby chest holds 211sp and 130 gp in leather sacks.
Amadeen shouts towards the patch of wall.
"And in the meantime, we'll take your stuff! Get lost!"
Shaking her head at the antics of her companions, the queen starts rummaging.
Finding the tiara and royal outfit, a wide grin crosses her face, and she stuffs them into her haversack as a priority.
"Anyone have room in their packs for that statue? One for the cart otherwise!"
Breaking free of the enchantment, Eluvias still marveled at the tower. ”This is still a place of beauty. We should recreate it in our capital.”
Johund leers at the statue, touching the smooth stone of its thigh. "Aye, beauty, aye..." This would be a fine addition to their museum.
"But who were that foul temptress? We'll be seein' 'er again. Next time, she won't sway ter Warden with rosy lips 'n flutterin' eyelashes, no! Bah!"
Amadeen is in cheery form, having both beaten off a foe and looted their stuff in short order.
"Don't worry about temptresses living in ruins, folks. We're good at covering each other's backs! I'm thinking that we hunt her down first, have done with her, and seize the whole bloody place!"
Belladonna slowly shakes the bewitchment away from her mind, and then scowls, face flushing in anger.
"Yeah. I second that plan. I want to find that elf and make her eat her own innards. Slowly."
Jethro sighs quietly as the woman disappears, sheathing his lance at his mount's side. Guess new nobility needs proving in battle., he ponders for a moment, before nodding at Eluvias. "Hrm. I reckon I can take a dozen of good workmen and a mason or three... You don't want to move marble if you don't gotta. Maybe one of those artist folks, too, to keep it like it was in here, in case we mess up a seam or two.", he nods, pacing around. "And if you want the greenery, too, shouldn't be too hard to replace with some less rash species. Give your throne room a real feel of being one with nature, and if we keep the plants, some antiquated elven motif, Miss Queen." The discussion about the murder seems to carry past his ears as if he consciously deems it irrelevant, much more focused on the artful scene of the place.
Jumping off of Antlers, he gives the beast a pat, before nodding at the statue. "Now, lift with your legs, not your back. No time to be brash about it.", he hesitates for a moment, seemingly unsure where to grab the statue's curves to lug it along. "And on three!", he barks.
As you begin to sift through the wealth upstairs you hear a voice downstairs. The fey creature has returned but this time is not alone. This creature looks like a hairless elf, slender and graceful, with long arms that end in sharp claws. Its skin is brown and woody and resembles tree bark. It wears clothes made of leaves and vines. "The fools are still here, now they will rue the day they crossed me. Kill the she elf first!"
The grimstalker or banaan (as they prefer to call themselves) is a fey creatures that does not share the beauty and goodness of its kin. Whereas other fey creatures have come to represent the beautiful of mischievous side of nature, the grimstalker most certainly reflect nature at its worst. They are dark creatures, their hearts tainted with the foulest of evil. Unfortunate souls that wander into the a forest guarded by grimstalkers are never seen again–except for their skulls, which the grimstalkers hang from the trees as a warning to those that would dare trespass into their domain.
Eluvias
Belladonna
Jethro
Amadeen
Fey
Johund
Without saying a word Eluvias moved down the stairs. His sword exploded with electric energy that danced along the blade. He swung it at the ‘elf’ with neither anger or sadness in his eyes. She was an enemy, and logically speaking, she had to die. That was all he needed to know to end her life.
Amadeen raises an eyebrow.
"Nah, you're trespassing, and with a bloody grimstalker to boot! And that's attempted regicide, so it's your head!"
Oh, she won't like this!
Since she can see the rogue elf, Amadeen starts gathering shadowy energies in her hands - and launches them at her!
Gloomblind bolts, Reflex DC 19 to avoid blindness for a round
"There she is! There! Sugar Loaf, KILL!"
Belladonna digs her heels into the corgi's flanks as she leans forward, dropping her lance as they charge at the elf, her face mottling with fury as she lets out a low roar that turns into a shriek just as she connects the charge with the elf and then charges on by.
Without saying a word Eluvias moved down the stairs. His sword exploded with electric energy that danced along the blade. He swung it at the ‘elf’ with neither anger or sadness in his eyes. She was an enemy, and logically speaking, she had to die. That was all he needed to know to end her life. The dancing lady is left as scorched meat bereft of life.
"There she is! There! Sugar Loaf, KILL!"
Belladonna digs her heels into the corgi's flanks as she leans forward, dropping her lance as they charge at the elf, her face mottling with fury as she lets out a low roar that turns into a shriek just as she connects the charge with the elf and then charges on by.
Jethro unable to use his mount takes a little longer to get downstairs but manages to get within reach of the surviving fey.
Amadeen raises an eyebrow.
"Nah, you're trespassing, and with a bloody grimstalker to boot! And that's attempted regicide, so it's your head!"
Oh, he won't like this!
Amadeen starts gathering shadowy energies in her hands - and launches them at the surviving fey!
The last fey starts to flee but finds his retreat cut short by Belladonna' blade.