Theod nods "I agree, we seem ill equiped to harvest these berries. Let's mark the spot and return when better equiped. Let's be on our way, we only have a few more days before we need to be back at Oleg's."
Deciding to leave the fangberries for a later trip the party moves off once more, swinging their travels in a more northwesterly direction. They stop at dusk to make camp and the night passes without event. The morning comes on day four of their journey and the day is bright and warm. They continue to record landmarks that they pass and make a swing a few miles north of Bokken's home, not ready to pay the eccentric man another visit just yet. The party notes a herd of wild horses as the fourth day comes to a close, more than thirty of the noble animals moving in a group, keeping a good distance between the herd and the group. Another notation is made about this rare sight. Dusk comes and brings an end to an otherwise uneventful day. The night passes once more without any interruptions and the dawn brings another lovely summer day.
Theod looks down at the map he has been scribbling to try and get a better feel for how much more area they likely have to explore.
Before heading to sleep that night, Castor channels positive energy a second time to get rid of his wound, in order to sleep better.
The next morning, before his prayers to the Song of the Spheres, he inspects his hand to get a feel for it, see if the poison has worn out.
He's pleased to find out that, indeed, he seems to have regained full mobility.
After his morning prayers, he sets out to take a look around camp and see if he can find some food for breakfast and for the road.
The party breaks camp and makes their way west, heading towards Oleg's. At some time shortly before noon they spot another group to the west, which Theod quickly identifies as the other members of your party, Brom with his massive hammer being hard to miss.
After Dendarial secures his own gear he will take a quick look at the gear if others to make sure he sees nothing that will cause a problem. What do Kobolds eat? he asks. {b]Sees like we should bring them some gift if we want to make nice with them. [/b]
Winifred ponders the thought, "A peace offering wouldn't be a terrible idea."
You aren't really sure about the specific tribes of this region, but you are pretty sure that kobolds share a kinship with dragons, and love shiny things and bits of pretty treasure.
Toilday, 9th of Erastus, 4713 AR
The party heads east and travels for the majority of the day without issue. Those in the group who were part of the exploration east recall the route easily enough and after about seven hours of travel by foot you once again come across the bushes that make up the smallish patch of fangberries. The day is starting to draw to a close and Dendarial estimates you have about three hours of daylight left before the sun begins to set.
Snorting slightly at Karse's comment, Rufus makes his way to the Fangberry patch, tightening the straps on his new gauntlets as he does so. "If I recall correctly, he said we'd need at least twenty. Unbruised & unsoiled. I'll see what I can do." Carefully & surprisingly patiently, he sets to work.
"Good thing we didn't bring Cappi then. Kobolds do have a liking for shiny objects like gems however, possibly even shiny worthless glass." Winifred adds to the conversation.
Dendarial will stand watch as he stands and watches.
Dendarial will stand watch as he stands and watches.
"Well not exactly near here, it was around this location, but not this exact spot." Winifred responds, taking out her crossbow and looking around over a loaded bolt.
If possible, before heading out Dendarial will secure a large portion of dried meat in a bundle, thinking that the kobolds might like that. As the group approaches the berries he asks the group I am not familiar with these fruits. What do you know about them, other than they have dangerous thorns?
"The mad-man wanted them for some potion he was working on & offered to tell us more about the area if we got some for him. After seeing the damage they did to Castor, I'm not surprised he wanted someone else to procure them for him..." Rufus replies absently, his attention still focused fully on neither crushing the berries in his grasp, nor allowing the thorns to poke through the few gaps in the plates of his gauntlets.
As Rufus sorts through the berries, carefully picking them as to not damage the fruits, he notices movement coming from inside the patch. Suddenly, a writhing mass of spiders emerges from the inner bushes, swarming over the vegetation and heading straight for the group.
"It was bad enough that the berries had 'fangs' now we have to deal with these!" Winifred asks herself, moving to the other side of Sir Karse and loosing a bolt at the spiders.
But things go awry with her aiming apparently.
Dendarial, realizing that they are up against a swarm retreats 30' to the Southeast as he puts away his bow. Anyone have splash weapons? he calls out.
"Yes, but if I use them the berry bushes burn!" Rufus replies. "Unless...
He calls out as he does so himself.
The party backs up away from the swarming mass of spiders, falling away from the bushes. The swarm scurries forward, catching up with Sir Karse as he stands to protect Winifred, who could not move as far as some of the others...
Dendarial cringes to watch the paladin being swarmed by the spiders. Eying the distance to the swarm he diverts his gaze to retrieve a tinder box and works to light a torch.
Splash weapons...splash weapons... "Found it!" Winifred shouts, pulling out a flask which she then promptly hurls over the paladin's shoulder onto the swarm of spiders.
Sir Karse hammers at the swarm with his flail, but the weapon seems completely ineffective against the creatures, smashing a few but doing no noticeable damage to the writhing mass of arachnids.
However, Winifred's flask seems to do the trick, creating a burning mass of spiders which quickly burn to a crisp and die, filling the air with a reeking stench that reminds the party of burnt hair. Yet the giant carpet of spiders continue their assault.