Eri looks around as well, trying to help them figure out which way they should go.
Working together, you all determine that you are most assuredly in Caer Bryr. A forest home to the Iraen Tribe, a barbaric human tribe that worships the spirits that haunt the forest.
Eri points out the tracks to the others, "Maybe we should follow them?"
Gio nods. "It's better than wandering around."
"Onward then!" Aleister says pointing off in the distance where he thinks the tracks lead, which is the complete wrong direction.
She laughs and reaches out to grab his hand, "No no...not that way silly. This way." She says as she points in the direction of the tracks she already found.
Gio takes a second glance as Aleister points.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Ravan laughs, genuinely amused by the group's interactions so far. This promised to be entertaining at the least, though the fact that they would be dealing with barbarians meant she had to be at her most irresistible before violence broke out.
That and stand behind Eri.
With the expert skills of Eri and Gio, you manage to follow the tracks to a particular part of the forest where the light grows dimmer and the air becomes heavier. Soon, webbing began to appear on the ground and in the trees.
Looking around she remarks, "Well....this looks like spider people territory to me. Shall we see if anyone is home?" She moves forward cautiously, looking for traps as she goes.
Gio nods, looking around as well.
Gio silently signals to the group and points upwards.
She shrugs and looks up while mouthing the words, what is it?
Her eyes get pretty big and mouths the words, creepy spider things.
Suddenly, five large spiders and a dozen men dressed in furs and tribal masks emblazoned with spider motifs drop down from the trees. The men point drawn bows at you, but have yet to fire.
She holds up her hands, "Okay....now wait a minute. Let's not be too hasty. We were sent here to look for you actually. We were told to come talk to you about overthrowing the mitran dogs kingdom. What do you say? Up for some mayhem?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"We have come bearing gifts," Gio says, presenting the box. "We wish to speak with you about joining forces against the Mitrans."
There came a rattling sound that eerily echoed through the forest. Bowstrings relaxed as the men parted revealing a very large white spider with a very priestly looking figure riding it. Getting down, the figure steps up to Gio, the rattling sound jingling from the dangling bones on the staff, and holds out a hand.
Gio hands the box to the figure.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The figure takes the box and opens it. Inside, you see a collection of 12 quarts crystals, perfectly uniform and identical.
The figure raised the staff and rattled it. All of the men and their pets vanished into the trees. Removing the mask, the Priestess asked, "Fire Bird falled?"
"If you mean the old man with a staff bearing a green flame, then he has passed on," Gio says.
Placing a hand over her heart and bowing her head, she then said, "Fire Bird talked four flames carry box, this you. Need favor. Queen taken. Shiny man took."
Gio nods, pushing back his discomfort with the woman's broken Common. Best to keep this simple. "Where?"
The woman pointed east. "Taken days two. Hurry"
Raising the staff, she made three precise gestures. Two large spiders dropped down behind her, each with a leather saddle. Pointing to them, she said, "Take you fast."
"Thank you," Gio says, approaching one of the spiders. "So, who wants to ride with who?"
Stepping up to Gio as she sees him nearly cringing at the woman's use of language she asks, "Do spiders know where they go?"
The woman nodded.
"I don't care. I'll ride with whoever wants to ride with me as long as I can shut my eyes."
"I'll ride with Giordano." Aleister says.
She nods, "It's you and me then Ravan. You can go ahead and get on first and then I'll sit in front of you." She says as she tries to avoid looking directly at their mounts.
After everyone is on their respective spiders, the priestess placed the box in the bag at her side and pulled out two squirrels. With very fluid gestures, and a chant in some strange language, the small animals glow for a brief moment before being fed to the spiders.
The woman looks at all of you and says, "Hold." With a single word, again in a language you can't understand, the spiders then begin climbing up the trees with little effort. Getting to the top, the spiders hunch down, pulling their legs as tight as possible to their bodies. Anticipating something about to happen, you each grip tightly to the saddle.
With unbelievable strength, the spiders leap high into the air and spread their legs. Miraculously, they appeared to be flying, and fairly quickly at that. Once they landed on another set of treetops, they scurried down the trunks to the ground.
Once down, you hear people talking, but it's too far to make out what they are saying exactly.
Looking at Aleister she says in a whisper, "I think as the smallest of us and most quiet, you could get close enough to hear them without being seen or heard. Do you think you can get close enough to hear them without being detected?"
"Is the ride over already?" Aleister asks.
He nods to Eri. "I'll return when I have something to report. Wait here." He says before slinking off toward the voices.
She nods and stays put while keeping an eye and ear out for trouble.
In the cage is a beautiful woman adorned in fine furs and a pristine bone headdress. Her hands are bound and her mouth gagged. This must be the Queen.
The voices die down not long after the Halfling departs.
She doesn't like how quiet it's gotten, but she does as she's told and stays put.