I got no clue what any of this is, but no sense staying quiet. Hey, wisps! We come from Trunau, on behalf of Silvermane. Any of you here, come on out! We need to talk...
Lorn tosses a pebble that bonces off Arian's face as Nerak speaks.
"Oh yes why don't you let everything for a mile know we are here. It's not as if just about everything in this land wants to kill us. Orcs and beast are stupid not deaf. Best hope that's all their is, someone or something had the power to curse our little friend with madness after all."
He draws his crossbow and keeps alert while scanning the area.
Arlan gets hit by lightning that appears from no where.
Then, everyone hears a pained, disembodied voice scream, No one sees where the voice originates.
Arlan = 34/52 HP & AC 21
Beltzer = 40/40 HP & AC 16
Lys = 44/44 HP & AC 18
Nerak = 32 HP & AC 14
Varin = 51/51 HP & AC 20
Lys looks around, seemingly on edge. The crossbow jumps left and right, before she realises how more reasonable it is to wait and see. She lowers it, looking nervously at Beltzer, and muttering. "You better explain how he's the one who sent us here, and quick!", she hisses, once again trying to pinpoint the attackers.
Gah, we're not enemies! Arlan says, throwing down his spear in a state on the edge of rage.
My name is Arlan, and we're from Trunau. Silvermane is the Guardian of our Hopespring, and a friend! He told us about this place, and sent us here with a Ghost light lantern. We seek help from a Wisp.
Arlan gets shocked by a lightning bug that appears from no where.
Then, everyone hears a pained, disembodied voice scream, No one sees where the voice originates.
Arlan = 32/52 HP & AC 21
Beltzer = 40/40 HP & AC 16
Lys = 44/44 HP & AC 18
Nerak = 32 HP & AC 14
Varin = 51/51 HP & AC 20
"Ugh... don't we have one of those?" Varin asked, swinging his hammer back and forth, yawning to himself slightly, as he stood over the bound and gagged Dwarf. "When are we gonna do something about Wulfrumella by the way?"
Show 'em the damned lantern! One problem at a time, Varin!
Arlan holds up the lantern.
Arlan holds up the lantern.
The voice whimpers, "a ghostlight lantern. Silvermane..." No one sees where the voice originates.
Arlan = 32/52 HP & AC 21
Beltzer = 40/40 HP & AC 16
Lys = 44/44 HP & AC 18
Nerak = 32 HP & AC 14
Varin = 51/51 HP & AC 20
Lys hears the whisper, then her mouth starts moving rapidly. "Our hometown is in danger and Silvermane said that we need some things from the Vault of Thorns and he sent us here with the lantern and he said that we'd need to ask you to help us and he said that one of you'd need to sacrifice himself to help us get in there and we're sorry, but our home's in danger!" The words leave her mouth in a rapid, nervous tone, as she looks around, sad look on her face. I'd hate to have to get a husk in any other way..., she thinks, gripping the crossbow.
"As Lys says, we are friends of Silvermane, he entrusted us to come here on his behalf to look for aid. He has stayed home to protect it while we have ventured here to look for you." Beltzer is not entirely sure how to convince the voice but hopefully there is a start as opposed to the shouting earlier.
Calling on his magical energy he enhances his normally brash manner slightly.
"Who else but Silvermane could give us the lantern and tell us it's purpose. As well as to ask your aid in making the orcs pay for their crimes while protecting the land we have claimed against them."
"Yeah we are here to kill some of them Orcs, clear up some trouble and take out some big names!"
We've come a long way, and we need your help.
The aberration ceases its attacks, and the ghostly image of a venerable human with a bushy beard appears within the creature’s glow (think Obi Wan in Empire & Return). The will-o’-wisp introduces itself as Mossmoon, a former member of the Council of Thorns, and asks you for the reason for your presence within the swamp.
Arlan = 32/52 HP & AC 21
Beltzer = 40/40 HP & AC 16
Lys = 44/44 HP & AC 18
Nerak = 32 HP & AC 14
Varin = 51/51 HP & AC 20
Lys takes a deep breath, letting out a quiet prayer in Dwarven. "Well, Mr. Mossmoon. As I explained earlier, eloquent as I am, we're from Trunau." She pauses, patting a piece of drying up dirt from her boot with her crossbow. "Us bunch of foolishly reckless or recklessly foolish individuals found out that the orcs and the hill giants are working together, which I'm sure is wonderful news for their foreign politics, but they're out to raze the town to the ground." She pauses, waiting to be zapped for her manner of speech.
"There's a giantess lady or something,", she continues for reasons unknown "that's pretty much out to kill everything we hold dear. I proposed we send her a fruit basket and politely, but firmly refuse her offer." She chuckles nervously, looking at the somewhat charred Arlan. "And that suggestion is the reason why they don't let me in for the planning, and Silvermane and Beltzer's mum decided to instead ask for some artefacts here that might help us persuade her to turn from her folly ways. That's about it." She flashes another nervous smile. "Sorry. They don't usually let me do the negotiations, but I started it."
She takes a deep, non-electrified breath. A serious note goes in her voice. "Look, we know it's a sacrifice you're not obliged to do. But we're asking you, for our sake, and our hometown's sake. I'm sure you understand how much someone could be attached to a place. You defend yours even after your death. We honour that, I assure you."
Arlan nods as Lys speaks.
They will raze everything to the ground, everything that we all hold dear. You sacrificed your life once to stop such a thing. Will you do it again?
Mossmoon is excited to learn about your plan to invade a fort filled with orcs. "The artifacts are in the Vault of Thorns deep in the heart of the marsh, but the lantern will show you the way. Follow me."
He disappears as an image of an old man and reappears as a floating ball of light and takes off in a direction where you haven't been.
Arlan = 32/52 HP & AC 21
Beltzer = 40/40 HP & AC 16
Lys = 44/44 HP & AC 18
Nerak = 32 HP & AC 14
Varin = 51/51 HP & AC 20
Nerak taps Arlan on the shoulder.
"Why would we need it's dead body to have the lantern show us the way when it can do so willingly."
Anyways being able to strike invisibly makes it very dangerous.
How the hell should I know? Now shut your gob before you attract more monsters that you need me to kill. Singed from the lightning and not pleased at the prospect of stomping into the "heart" of the bog, Arlan is clearly in no mood for Nerak's rancor. He follows the ghostly man.
Varin shrugs and swings the Dwarf up on to his shoulder before following along. When Arlan snaps at Nerak, he grins. "You to kill? That's cute!"
Arlan tries to keep his sour mood but can't, a smile breaking across his face as he looks at his big friend. Arlan laughs merrily, shoving Varin good-naturedly.
Varin begins to laugh before shoving Arlan back and grinning around. "This is s@@&ty work guys, it is hot and dirty and just horrible but let's stay positive. It could always be worse, we could be at home. Anything we find out here is not half as terrifying as our parents are! Especially Bels mother!"
Nerak snorts at the lot of them.
"You two scream like banshee's at everything. By now the monsters know your call. Which is good, only the big ones will come after you and I'll get to tell you I told you so."
Lorn pats a pebble making up his body toward Arlan. You get the strange sense that it is what currently passes as his rear end. The little creature may be provoking you or mocking.....it's hard to tell.
Lys' eyes widen with feigned horror.
"Especially Bels mother!"
"Quiet, Varin!", she whispers. "If you say her name three times, she will appear and start shouting!", she chuckles, tapping Beltzer on the shoulder. "And you don't have to worry about monsters. Nerak's going to critisize them to death!"
Grinning, as the moods seem to go back to normal, Lys takes a closer look at her surroundings.
Mossmoon leads you to another clearing in the marsh containing a strange collection of pale, spongy spheres 1 foot in diameter.
In a solemn whisper, Mossmoon informs you that this is the resting place of the fallen members of the reincarnated Council of Thorns. He then instructs the bearer of the ghostlight lantern to gently place one of the spheres into the lantern.
Arlan = 32/52 HP & AC 21
Beltzer = 40/40 HP & AC 16
Lys = 44/44 HP & AC 18
Nerak = 32 HP & AC 14
Varin = 51/51 HP & AC 20
Anticipating danger Beltzer heals Arlan as they walk further into the marsh.
Arlan puts in a leaf of Shoanti chew as Belter heals him. He approaches the spheres slowly, nodding his head in respect as he places one carefully into the lantern.
For Trunau.
Nerak whispers to everyone.
"In case your wondering those are dead will-o-wisp."
He found it a bit interesting really. But he was not about to provoke the very much alive will-o-wisp.
A circle of monolithic standing stones surrounds a central menhir covered in a layer of thick, thorny vegetation. In all, eight formations surround the central stone: five intact trilithons and another three that have crumbled and partially sunk into the swamp’s soggy floor. A large pool gently bubbles to the northwest of the standing stones.
The standing stones are constructed of rough-hewn granite. The vertical posts are approximately 8 feet tall, and each weighs approximately 15 tons. The horizontal lintels that rest atop the posts weigh upward of 5 tons each. The central menhir stands 12 feet tall, with another 6 feet buried beneath the mud and earth. The bubbling mineral pool to the northwest is a natural hot spring.
As soon as a dead will-o’-wisp is placed within the ghostlight lantern, the lamp emits a beam of light that points to the central menhir.
Arlan = 46/52 HP & AC 21
Beltzer = 40/40 HP & AC 16
Lys = 44/44 HP & AC 18
Nerak = 32 HP & AC 14
Varin = 51/51 HP & AC 20
Lys covers the rear, cautiously looking around the ancient site. "Man. The world was weird once, druids and all-mighty wizards ruling everything. I don't really want to know how this place was when the druids were at the prime of their power...", she says, her voice respectful, with an undertone of fear, as her imagination draws bloody rituals, sacrifices, the primal fear everyone has of nature.
Her eyes catch the hot spring, however, and she groans with annoyance. "Desna, I'm this close to throwing everything away and going for a nice, warm bath. I bet I smell almost as much as Varin does on a sunny day...", she pokes the big man with her crossbow.
Lys covers the rear, cautiously looking around the ancient site. "Man. The world was weird once, druids and all-mighty wizards ruling everything. I don't really want to know how this place was when the druids were at the prime of their power...", she says, her voice respectful, with an undertone of fear, as her imagination draws bloody rituals, sacrifices, the primal fear everyone has of nature.
Her eyes catch the hot spring, however, and she groans with annoyance. "Desna, I'm this close to throwing everything away and going for a nice, warm bath. I bet I smell almost as much as Varin does on a sunny day...", she pokes the big man with her crossbow.
Then she hears something near the marsh, she looks right into a pair of cold, black eyes staring out from a fish-like face of a hideous green-skinned, web-fingered, and obese giant. Then poof, you are all engulfed in a Fog Cloud.
Arlan = 46/52 HP & AC 21
Beltzer = 40/40 HP & AC 16
Lys = 44/44 HP & AC 18
Nerak = 32 HP & AC 14
Varin = 51/51 HP & AC 20
Lys screams, then lifts her crossbow. "Nerak, got a way to remove that?", she shouts at where the wizard was a split second ago, then readies herself to shoot anything non-friendly she sees.
Arlan follows the beam of the lantern, using the light to escape the fog.
Over here! Get out of that blasted fog!
Beltzer hunkers down and follows Arlan's voice.
"Nope, best back up and regroup."
Is his reply to Lys. He moves out of the fog, slapping Arlan after drawing his crossbow.
Varin, who still carried the Dwarf woman on his back, began to swear silently to himself. He moved out after Lys and set her down carefully at his feet, Varin drew in upon himself, wielding his weapon defensively and hopping the smoke would just go away.
A hideous green-skinned, web-fingered, and obese giant lumbers toward Arlan and swings a large gaff at him, which whistles over his head.
Arlan = 46/52 HP & AC 21
Beltzer = 40/40 HP & AC 16
Lys = 44/44 HP & AC 18
Nerak = 32 HP & AC 14
Varin = 51/51 HP & AC 20
Lys jumps out of the fog, standing behind Beltzer. "Desna's perky t&%$, that's a big one!", she exclaims at the sight of the giant, and pops a shot towards the big bastard.
The bolt lands into the gut of the giant with a wet thud, letting out a streak of dark ichor. "Yeah. I'm not collecting my bolts this time around...", she says with a disgusted face.
I guess you could always get more later, maybe the fort we're going to has some for you to pilfer?" Beltzer jests.
He then life links with Arlan giving up some of his own health.
Ha ha ha ha...yes! Looks like we've got a fair fight now, huh big boy?
Arlan bellows, jabbing the giant in the face.