As he scrubs his eyes clear Urram manages to make out, blurrily, what is going on. Leveling his spear he jabs over Kari's head. "Step back Kari - we fight for you!"
As the spore cloud dissipates, Kurvis looks on as Hrolf, Fenna and Urram are tearing the bizarre plant creature to death. He rushes in, fetching his holy symbol and praying again to Abadar. Another wave of healing energy washes over you all, halting Kari’s profuse bleeding.
”What was that thing?" the priest asks, as he offers more healing.
Kari had her first good look at the plant creature. "I'm not sure, but it certainly was nasty!", she replied. "Let's see if we can clear the last field before my spell runs out."
"A larger ankheg you said?" Urram asks as they move across the village to the final field. "Perhaps we should deal with this one at range?"
"Well that was weird. I hope my rose bush isn't going to try to murder me after I plant it here."
"The adult ankheg is in a different spot to the north, away from the settlement," Kari replied to Urram as they walked. "It burrows underground, bursting forth to ambush it's prey, so shooting it from a distance could prove difficult."
”For efficiency's sake, let’s take care of the last field down here,” Kurvis says, looking north toward the settlement.
You come upon the last field dug in the south section of the settlement. It’s the largest yet, the fence has an entrance on the southeast corner of the garden.
Kari moved into field though the gap in the fence, and scanned for signs of unwelcome creatures.
Hrolf moved up beside Kari, sniffing for danger.
Fenna moves cautiously into the field but stays close to the fence to begin with. She switches to her bow and looks around the field carefully for burrow holes or plants that look like the previous meat-grindery type.
"If there are any more of those plants, the blinding cloud they put out is a real problem. If we spot it before we're right on top of it, maybe we can prod it into puffing before we're too close. Or maybe we can burn it. I have some oil. I doubt it's quick and dodgy."
Urram doesn't say anything, simply readies his spear for the moment the bug inevitably appears and tries to eat his feet.
The vegetables in this garden look rotten and fed upon, like the first two fields you encountered. The dirt begins to stir as you step onto the soft dirt. A trio of nymphs burst forth.
Round 1
Fenna <- UP NEXT
Kari & Hrolf <- UP NEXT
Urram <- UP NEXT
Kurvis
Nymphs
Fenna aims and looses her arrow at the bug emerging near the fence.
Urram, getting practised by now, steps foward and jabs with his spear - straight into the dirt, which brings him up with a jerk as the spear butt nearly hits him in the face!
"Here they come!" Kari shouted as the nymphs came into view. She took aim at the nearest one and let loose a water blast.
"Hrolf, defend Fenna!", she commanded, moving up beside him as he advanced.
Hrolf moved up beside Fenna, ready to protect her.
Fenna fires at the nymph nearest the fence; it scuttles sideways deflecting most of the harm from the arrow. Kari’s blast sends the bug sideways into a pit; she forces more water at the bug, drowning the thing in thick mud. Urram clumsily strikes at the dirt from the edge of the field.
Kurvis fires his crossbow at the same target as Fenna.
The little insects charge at Fenna and Kari, the (green) one charging Fenna draws attacks from Urram and Hrolf.
The insect charging Fenna is ripped to pieces.
Kari dodges the bug biting at her feet.
Round 2
Fenna <- UP NEXT
Kari & Hrolf <- UP NEXT
Urram <- UP NEXT
Kurvis
Nymph
Kari side-stepped around the charging insect, commanding, "Hrolf, flank!" She conjured her ice blade, and once Hrolf was in position, she struck.
Hrolf moved between the two bugs and attacked the same one as Kari.
Fenna casts her bow aside and draws her sword as she moves within striking range of the nymph between Kari and her wolf.
”An excellent display,” Kurvis calls out. He lowers his crossbow. ”Very efficiently handled. I see why you were picked for our expedition.” He gives a slight bow to the ladies.
”Not that you aren’t a welcome addition, sir elf,” he backpedals.
”Well, I was asked to comb the gardens so that the farmers might start their work as soon as tomorrow,” Kurvis stows his weapon safely. ”If we might recheck these fields, I should think a midday meal might be ready when we are done.”
Kurvis leads you back through each field in turn, poking the big holes and rotten vegetables. Luckily, there are no surprises, but you have an opportunity to better know the Abadaran. Just before midday, you hear a bell from inside the colony announce the meal.
"Thank you," Kari replied. "Your healing was very helpful as well."
As they walked back, rechecking the fields, she said, "One thing I wanted to ask you, Kurvis: how much do you know about poltergeists? As you may be aware, there's one in the chapel that we need to do something about!"
Urram's expressionless mask turns to Kurvis and stares at him for a long moment, before nodding to his colleagues.
"Pol-ter-gist?" Urram asks, "What is that?"
”A poltergiest…” Kurvis stops his poking around for a moment to think.
”Well I know they’re undead, specifically the incorporeal some kind. They are very hard to get rid of, even if you eliminate their form, they usually return. There is usually something specific keeping them from the Boneyard, maybe something they need to know, or something a loved one needs to know.”
Kari replied, "Fenna found a body stuffed into a small space in the alter. When the apparition appeared, it said, 'Why, Father Adran?' I can only assume that it was someone who had been murdered. I don't know much about such things myself, but I would think we would want to get the body out of there, and give it a proper burial."
"Yeah, the body is still there" Fenna adds. "We figured it would be best to get some advice from you before doing anything. It seems like something where mistakes could be very bad."
“How dreadful,” Kurvis shudders. ”I shall speak to Eamon on the matter. It is to be our chapel after all. I certainly prefer to assist you rather than be in your debt for it.”
For the next hour, your group moves systematically through each of the homes south of Talmandor’s Bounty. Kurvis gives the inside a brief look, and each field gets a thorough pat down. Kurvis takes meticulous notes at each locale. At the Levin farm, he takes a peculiar note of the dead choker in the backyard. He is complimentary of your work, and very thankful for your assistance. ”I’d say this is all pretty safe,” he finishes his notes at the last farm; the furthest west. ”Let’s see how things are going in the colony.”
--------------------
As you’ve marched about the southern hill all morning you’ve seen the colonists from afar bringing loads of goods in from the ship. As you walk into the fledgling village, you receive kind words and gestures from all those hard at work. In the center of town, Ramona assisting a slight dwarven woman of grey hair and tan complexion. Fenna and Kari both recognize Alba Divenvaar. They seem to have set up large stewpot near the center of town. They’ve brought out a big table from the large home that Kari and Fenna used as a resting place during their nights alone in the colony.
”You can’t make like, a potion, or anything?” you hear Ramona ask the dwarf as they catch their breath.
”Very sorry, madame,” Alba smiles regretfully. ”If I haven’t got the formula, then I just don’t have it.”
”Well, at least we have the good news patrol here,” Ramona welcomes you all with a wide smile. ”Anything to report?”
Before any of you can speak, Kurvis very curtly steps forward with his notebook. He gives Ramona a succinct report of everything you found and did that morning. You note his report lacking in description, and certainly isn’t said in any order that makes sense to you. He lists the total beds found, how many had lack curtains or doors. Ramona just nods. Kurvis finishes quickly before he bows to you all and takes off immediately for the storehouse.
”Anyone can read a list,” Ramona rolls her eyes at the odd, strictly factual report. ”Let’s start cooking and you can give me a proper report.”
Kari listened to Kurvis' dull account, and then added her own comments. "We've gotten rid of the all the dangerous insects in the vegetable gardens, plus a very nasty animated plant! That just leaves the adult ankheg to take care of! We last encountered it in the pitted land north of the settlement.
"After that, there's the poltergeist in the chapel. How much do you know about the previous colonists? Any information on a Father Adran?"
She helped with the cooking, although her techniques were rather rustic and improvisational.
Urram listens, and nods along, but has little to add to the Father's admirably factual account.
Still somewhat uncomfortable with the humans of the new settlement, Urram keeps himself to himself unless Perrell comes and seems interested in talking to him, in which case he opens up with some conversation.
"Salve. Sicut locutus sum in conspectu tuo imperio movet, ad Vetus lingua. Quam ut bene sit vobis dicam?"
After Ramona has been brought up to speed, Fenna goes to find Faedwyr and Harcourt. She checks in with them to see how they are feeling now they're ashore.
She also finds Antona and speaks with her since it was never done before.
Finally Fenna finds Lyra Heatherly to catch up with her since they haven't talked in a few days now.
When the meal was ready, and people arrived and sat down for lunch, Kari joined Eamon Caranth. She was hungry after the morning's activities, the stew really hit the spot. After some friendly small talk, she said, "As you know, we've got a situation in the chapel: an angry spirit, which I think is a poltergeist. When it appeared, it said, 'Why, Father Adran?' We found a body stuffed into a small space in the alter.
"Do you know if there was a Father Adran among the initial colonists? I was also wondering if you would have any suggestions about the identity of the remains; perhaps they belonged to an acolyte. Maybe a name would help us in dealing with the spirit."
@Kari
Ramona and Alba take the lead on the meal, and after accepting Kari's help preparing the fish, they seem to need the company more than any real assistance.
"Knowing what we know now, I wish I knew a few of the colonists from the first trip," Ramona sighs. "I met Rayland Arkley once...a stern man. A retired Eagle Knight! To be honest, I was a anxious about telling him I'd be taking over command of the colony."
"I know Fenna still has a lot of the books," she continues. "I was going to have a look with her after sundown. I can look for Father Adran. I was hoping Alba had a remedy for fighting an invisible ghost, but she doesn't have the formula, apparently. If you can take care of the giant bug problem, I may be able to find another volunteer for you. That will Give me time to rethink the ghost issue."
-------
"Father Andren Felton," Eamon sets down his bowl to ponder Kari's words. "He was sent ahead to prepare the settlement in the traditional way. He seemed kindly enough, though we only wrote back and forth a few times. It's my understanding Ramona has given the state of the chapel a high priority. I have little practical knowledge of the spirits I'm afraid, but if I can lend a hand, let me know."
@Urram
The colonists start trickling in for lunch where Urram is able to observe a most peculiar human behavior. Each colonist approaches the table where they take up a bowl. They groan about the lack of bread, but proceed to eat their meals standing, or maybe sitting on the ground.
As the line begins to dwindle, Perrell appears from the storehouse, accompanied by Kurvis. They spot the elf sitting alone and wave him over.
"If you wait until the line has depleted, you waste less time standing around," Kurvis smirks at his own personal brilliance as you approach.
Perrell smiles and happily speaks with Urram as they enjoy the food. She explains her background in history and studying languages. She has read a great deal of material on exploration, but this is evidently her first foray into such and expedition herself. She speaks Elven, Varisian and Osiriani, in addition to her native Taldane, but only recently learned Azlanti to better assist the colony.
-------
"Quod mulier, cum rosa coloratum capillus unus," she points across the triangluar settlement. A half-elven woman is in the middle of a cheerful conversation with Fenna. "A Vetus illa loquitur vt bene. Non multum exercitati in itinere a mari. Studiosus est et historiae. Bonus eris amicus."
@Fenna
Ramona enjoys the report from you and Kari much more than the bizarre list Kurvis had read. The fantastic listener Fenna is, she lets Ramona vent about her boring morning of delegating tasks to the colonists. She seems to be keeping a positive outlook, despite knowing more of the sorted details of the disappearance of the Liberty's Herald wave.
-------
As the colonists descend on the square for lunch, Fenna finds her half-elven companion and they start catching up immediately. She marvels at the Azlanti gladius resting on your hip; even calling Leutin over to admire it as well. He seems to be in a sour mood until he looks over Fenna's prize, and offers to give it a proper polish before he takes off for his own lunch.
Lyra is mostly curious about the details of the hike from the settlement. She is eager to get as much work done as she needs to in town so she might join Fenna and the others on an expedition.
Kari replied to Ramona, "Can you see if there are any names of acolytes mentioned? I'm trying to figure out the identity of the body. Perhaps that might help somehow with easing the spirit."
She was a bit disappointed with Eamon's lack of helpful insights, but that was probably to be expected. "We're going to focus our attention on the chapel tomorrow. This afternoon, we have a fully grown ankheg to deal with!" She finished her meal, and returned her bowl to the kitchen.
"Tibi gratias ago Perrell scholar. Ego loquor apud suos, cum sim. Quare non venisti ad hoc incertum sagittam dirigens? Longum iter est nobis ex libris tuis."
Despite the explanation Urram still finds the human custom somewhat confusing. He takes his lead from Kurvis, who strikes him as one of the most sensible humans, and waits until the line is gone before attempting to claim some food. He eats using a slender object with a flat head, with which he ladles small portions under his mask to eat.
Fenna agrees with Lyra bout the sword. "Yes, magical is one thing, but it's hard to imagine actually touching something this old huh? It was just tucked up in a hole under a floorboard." Fenna points. "That house over there. I mean what? Was it just laying around on the ground? Or maybe they found actual ruins here?"
Fenna thanks Leutin. After he's gone she asks Lyra "any idea what's bothering him? He's in a rather off mood."
Fenna also tells Lyra about the waterfall. "We'll be going back as soon as we can to give it a look. Maybe tomorrow or the next day. See if you can come along with us?"
"There should be some records of the faithful flock that Father Adran tended to," Eamon tells Kari. "If it hasn't been found, perhaps in the chapel itself."
-----------------
"Stultitia, non putant," Perrell turns a bright red in her cheeks. "Tot libris legisse me, sed dixit mihi mater mea mei mihi experiri scribo unus. Et signatum ut hanc expeditionem nostram esse recordkeeper de generum. Narrare fabulam exploring, 'Ipsosque Rupto Continens'." she grins and waves her hand as she finishes her sentence.
"Foolishness, I suppose. I have read so many books, but my mother told me I should try writing one of my own. I signed on to this expedition to be a record-keeper of sorts. Tell the story of exploring 'The Shattered Continent."
-----------------
"Oh he just cleaned up before coming to eat," Lyra says with a grin. "I guess the smithy had some goblin residents that he had to clean up after."
Lyra seems excited at the prospect of exploring the island further, but the moment is interrupted by Ramona ringing the bell again. She stands on a chair to address the crowd.
"Thank you everyone for your hard work this morning," she says with a grin. "We've got a lot of light left, and we lost a couple days in the bay. We need to The Peregrine back home as soon as we can, but the hard work won't stop there. But that's why you all were chosen: not just for your skills, but for your willingness to put in the work. Have a good rest of the day, and remain clear of the chapel, please. Thank you!"
Most the crowd disperses back to their tasks, and the rest line up to Ramona who gives a handful of folks a new assignment. She pulls aside a bald Shoanti woman (link) to the side, and calls the four of you over.
"Urram, meet Anya Sandstrider," Ramona says as the bald woman extends her hand to meet the elf. "I mentioned the problem with the big bug, and she jumped at the chance to lend a hand."
"Hiha," Anya offers a greeting in her native tongue. "I am eager to see this creature."
"Glad you can help out!," Kari said to Anya. "Be careful what you wish for! I got a closer look than I wanted when it grabbed me!"
She looked around at Fenna and Urram. "Ready to go and take on the big one?"
"Hi Anya, good to have you with us for this" Fenna says.
"This is the tough one. Not only is the ankheg tough and dangerous, but it's sneaky. We know it's in the field, but since it's underground and has several exit tunnels we don't know where it will pop out from. It can be right on top of us in an instant. I wish we had something to draw it out with first, like maybe a thunderstone."
”No thunderstones, but I did pick this up of these in Almas,” Anya fetches her pack, her longbow and a massive two-handed blade. Then she hefts a large metal bear trap (link) into her arms. ”Haven’t gotten a chance to see how it works. But if you say this thing is big, we might get some use out of it? You all just let me know how I can help.”
Kari considered how to draw the ankheg out. "I wonder if it would be possible to tiptoe forward and set down the trap, without alerting the monster. Then I could try shooting a water blast at the ground next to the trap."
As they approached the area where they had previously encountered the giant insect, she said three prayers in preparation.
"Perhaps Kari could set the..." Urram waves towards the bear trap. "She is most quiet. Then Anya, or Fenna makes much noise and tries to make big bug step in... tarp?"
You all make your way north through the unbuilt pallisade and into the pitted land. As you near the spot Kari and Fenna know, you reach a meadow with a series of large holes dug in at an angle. Piles of dirt surround each hole. A large copse of trees grows due east of this location. The ladies call a hault, Kari and Urram cast their spells. Anya sets the bear trap down with a chuck, and attempts to arms the contraption.
"No offense Kari, but I might move a little quieter than you," the Shoanti woman proposes. "I'll creep out there, you tell me when to stop." with an axe in one hand, she creeps out a ways, and looks back for a signal.
vs Ankheg 18
Anya moves a few steps out into the field, before stumbling prone, and dropping the trap, setting it off.
Round 1
Fenna <- UP NEXT
Kari & Hrolf <- UP NEXT
Urram <- UP NEXT
Anya
Ankheg
Kari mentally face-palmed as Anya tripped and fell. The gnome moved up and readied to shoot when the ankheg appeared. "Hrolf, heel!"
Hrolf moved up next to Kari.
Fenna moves around to the other side of Anya, faintly hoping that multiple detections will make it more difficult for the ankheg to home in on a particular person. She draws both blades as she goes.
"Quick Anya! Back on your feet! There isn't much time!"