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Even surrounded by the Pathfinders, the skeleton admirably defends himself against his attackers! Eventually, he loses sight of the nimble fox that comes around and unleashes touch of positive energy. Coupled with another bomb from Wilen, the skeleton blows to smithereens.
With the immediate threat taken out, the team now looks towards the ever menancing rift, and knows they must do something to close it permanently!
~~~
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As soon as she sees the skeletal threat taken care of, Atronia stops singing. She quickly glances at her companions, worried about their health, but figures she won't be able to help much until this portal is closed and this fog gone. She rushes to the altar and starts chanting things she has heard in stories that are supposed to undo magic or close gates, unsure what it is she needs to say.
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"Oh great. A puzzle. It just had to be another stupid puzzle. How about giving me something I can shoot, eh? Like that drake. That was something I could shoot. Shot it down good, I did. More things like that would have been nice. But no-oooo. It had to be skeletons, and then another dumb puzzle..."
Shiv grumbles to himself as he tries his best to work out the necessary rituals.
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As Medda and Anok join the group of Pathfinders around the stone circle, she assists them with the binding ritual. Medda thrusts Ivvora’s hilt into the portal, calling on Vildeis for aid. The shadow rift shrinks and closes, releasing a massive shock wave that knocks the Pathfinders, the Twinhorn warriors, and Medda to the ground. A field of dark, rippling energy remains, suspended above the stone altar. As Medda reaches out to pick up Ivvora’s hilt—the already broken blade now spider-webbed with new cracks—a supernatural silence descends. Only the telepathic rage of some unseen menace cuts through the quiet. “You dare to shut me out?” it rages. “I see you, but I do not see her. Where is the dwarf woman, Ivvora, who fought me so long ago? Has her mortal body failed at last? Has the realm of the
living at last lost its protector? Know this: when the long shadows reach out again, I will grasp them and claw my way back into your world to see your flesh devoured by my children.”
Sound returns to the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, and Medda cautiously stands. “It seems that Eshimka still lives and has even left this foul scar on our world,” she declares. “If we are to believe its promises, the fiend will attack on the next winter solstice. If we are to survive, we must be ready. Nearly a millennium ago, Ivvora held the key to defeating Eshimka. By following her legends and discovering her fate, we may harness the same holy power that banished this fiend—and together end the beast entirely.
“When we set out, it would be the privilege of this following to have the Pathfinders at our side. But that is a trial for another day. Tonight, at last, we rest.”
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Celebration and preparation have filled the last two days. The Twinhorns are both relieved to have thwarted the villain Eshimka and resolved to help the following’s spiritual leader, Medda, retrace the paladin Ivvora’s millennium-old steps. After hours of considering and retelling ancient stories preserved by oral tradition, Medda gathers the Pathfinders. “The holy warrior Ivvora came to us in pursuit of Eshimka, whom she vanquished and banished with the Twinhorns’ help. However, she would not rest for long, and she insisted on seeking out other evils in the area. At that time, the most fearsome threat was Grathatonhakis, an immense white dragon that lurked in the Tusk Mountains and would strike our camps. Ivvora learned what she could, left her dagger with us, and departed to slay the dragon. She never returned, and neither did the dragon. Exactly what transpired is unclear from our legends.” Medda cradles the fragile remnants of Ivvora’s dagger. “This blade kept Eshimka at bay for so many generations, and now it is ready to fall apart. Ivvora held the key to defeating Eshimka, and by learning her fate or communing with her spirit where she fell, we might harness the same power. Then we shall not just reseal the shadow fiend but destroy it once and for all! From our tales we have learned where the wyrm Grathatonhakis laired. Let us set out together to learn what happened—and who might have taken the caves since.”
The trek is long and cold, taking the group first across the tundra and then into shadow of the frigid Tusk Mountains. As the trail winds around a frozen lake, the snap of a snare echoes over the ice, and a Pathfinder is whipped into air by a cleverly laid trap. Medda scowls and announces, “Pathfinders, we have kobolds. Keep within earshot and spread out. They aren’t just a threat; they may also be our best better to finding the dead dragon’s lair.”
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You and the many other Pathfinders on this expedition disperse and begin exploring the frozen terrain. Soon, you descend a gentle slope toward a frozen lake to the west with the mountains rising to the north and east.
Through the trees, you hear and observe a very hostile exchange. A bunch of kobolds, one dressed a bit fancily holding a greatsword, presumably the leader, and four regular looking ones carrying spears and slings. Across them, a humanoid that looks like a representation of a coniferous tree. A lot of shouting can be heard with strong gestures to suggest a strong and growing dislike of one another. Caught up in their own power struggle, they are unaware of your approach.
What do the Pathfinders do?
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Being especially studious with all rounded knowledge, Naruda immediately recognizes the creatures for what they are and their nature. Thetree-person to be what is called a Dryad. Dryads are tree-fey who prefer secluded woodlands far from humanoids in need of lumber. To everyone's surprise, they don't have any special attacks, abilities or defences. They rely on their thick barks and mundane weapons made of parts of trees.
On the other side of the quarrel, the fold of minions are nothing but good old regular kobolds, with nothing special to mention about them. But the strong looking leader is a barbarian by trait, refered to commonly as a Kobold Dragon Herald. He has no special attacks, but can be intimidating when he rages.
Ayla attempts to see what the commotion is all about, and is able to tell that they aren't communicating very well and use over exaggerated gestures indicating each to leave! With one speaking sylvan and the other draconic, the conversation is frustrating to watch, but even more frustrating to listen to.
In a tough, feminine voice, the Dyrad tells "Бул жер биздин үйүбүз болуп саналат! Сен биздин токой жок болот! Мен сени өтүнүп калтыр!"
Fiercely replying is the Dragon Herald, "Ki pwoblèm ou! Poukisa w'ap rele? Si ou kontinye nou pral koupe ou, epi fè ou bwa dife! "
But soon enough, the dragon herald's acute senses picks up creaking ice from Ayla's direction and he spots the Halfling through the trees! And shouts even angrily, indicating a resolve that can only be solved by bloodshed. "Pye bwa a mete nou moute pou yon pèlen! Touye yo tout! "
You think perhaps you can convince the tree person to assist you in the kobold attack!
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@ Shiv: The answer to your question is in there:
Ayla takes a double move down the path and draws her crossbow. She calls out to the tree lady:
To her friends she calls out, "Hey, does anyone speak dragon?"
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Through the trees, Shiv is able to fire a shot at the nearest Kobold, and it lands right in it's knee! The pain is so unbearable, that it falls over unconscious.
The Kobolds start to scurry themselves across through the trees to engage the pathfinders!
The Dryad stands around and observes what is about to happen.
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"Ayla! Draw that one towards us. The tree person will be okay"
Wilen moves up where Makon disappeared into the trees and stands under one at the boundary of the clearing.
He watches the opposite line of trees, waiting for the group of kobolds to break through as he starts to thumb around his belt-pouch for his next bomb.
"Patience everyone. Let them come to us."
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Naruda finishes her chanting and having gathered enough energy for her spell, she aims the burst so that it will effect the two kobolds that are closing in on Ayla.
Naruda moves forward, sliding carefully over the frozen creek bed and then through the snow towards Shiv.
They're too far away; and in the trees. I won't be able to hit them with my frost. Good thing Shiv is here; I can help him out at least.
Naruda reaches out and touches Shiv, granting guidance to the kitsune warrior.
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The Pathfinders demonstrate why their not a force to be reckoned with! Ayla and Shiv focus their efforts on the presumed leader of the group of the group of kobolds. An arrow in the back, and a quick stab of the rapier is enough to put the injured Dragon Herold into a state of unconsciousness.
But soon after, his allies start crawling out of the woods to retaliate against the pair in the front lines of the fight! They prove to be decent fighters, but with weak strength they are unable to create a big impact on the Pathfinders.
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The Red eyed nimble Kobold gives the Pathfinders a run for their money as he dodges both Makon's swing, and Naruda's ray in a fluid motion. The little kitsune though, manages to blend in the trees avoid his gaze and throws his club knocking it hard in his head. This gives the kobold a concussion, stumbling, and eventually collapsing.
Atronia's anger causes her to swing with great might, taking out another kobold in a single hit! Finally Wilen ends the last remaning threat with an accurate throw of his bomb!
The fey creature approaches you and begins to speak with a deep but feminine voice, surprisingly in the common tongue. "Good day, I am Enzial. I am in gratitude of your assistance, you see, we are at a sensitive situation. The white dragons from the mountains have hatched a new clutch of wyrmlings. This has spurred the kobolds who serve these dragons to hunt a staggering number of local animals for meat. This has caused a great deal of hurt to our white forest."
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"Well Leaves, it's a good thing we came along when we did then. So happens that we're trying to follow the path of some paladin that killed a really big white dragon some years ago. Sounds like we're headed your way and are gonna be culling some of that white dragon population anyway. You wanna come with or just point us in the right direction? We already bagged ourselves a drake the other day, but if we're gonna be fighting true dragons, we could probably use an extra combatant."
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As the black dragon falls, Ayla laughs and spits on him. "Yeah! Showed you, ya' big jerk!"
In a flurry of attacks and explosions suddenly everyone's dead.
Ayla laughs.
And laughs.
Eventually she pulls out a potion and drinks it.
"Whoo! That hits the spot!"
She gives a shake of her head and begins looting corpses of the kobolds while the others talk with the tree-lady.
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"We Dryads are peaceful creatures, and I intend not to break our oaths in such sacred lands. Although if you plan to fight the dragon you may want to might speak with Vallahk and Quiselle, the protectors of the forest. Although they are difficult to convince of anything, if you were persuade the two to aid your cause, the pair could provide considerable assistance. If not, I would still be able to help point you in the direction of the wrymling." Enzial suggests.
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"Very well, I'll lead you to the fey court." The Dryad response.
Enzial thenleads you into a nearby cluster of birch trees so dense that it seems not even a sparrow could fly between them. As she approaches, the trees seem to leap aside, clearing a short path. Traveling this path causes the scenery to blur, as though each step were carrying you several miles at a time. After walking what feels like a few dozen feet, you arrive in a clearing surrounded by a living palisade of birch trees. At the center stands a lopsided oak tree with green leaves, and two regal fey sit atop the roots while holding court before several dozen other First World beings like dryads, pixies, satyrs, and awakened animals.
As you approach, the fey king, a creature with birdlike wings covered with pine needles instead of feathers extend from the back of this regal, elf-like humanoid. And the fey queen, a dryad but, resembling an ancient oak who’s branches twist and bend, creating a throne whenever she begins to sit. This elf-like woman wears a dress of pine needles and crown of geraniums. They are locked in debate, they are discussing the “dragon problem” and seem to be considering all-out war. But there is clear concern about the safety of those under their protection and if they lose and upset the dragons, that no one will remain to protect the forest. The king seems to advocating for eradicating the threat, while the queen wants a gentler approach that still deals with the problem.
"Well Enzial you've brought us guests!" The king says in a friendly tone that doesn't seem to match his somewhat intimidating presence. "Welcome friends of Enzial, I am Vallahk and this is my queen Quiselle. Now who are you and why have you come to my court?"
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Ayla speaks in Sylvan...
Ayla gives a chipper little bow to the royals. Then she looks up and grins.