His heart jumps into his throat and his voice falters as the tiny, invisible crawling thing calls forth...something. An Illusion? Something else? Can any of his friends see the forest that has appeared before him?
Kryolani is getting the strange feeling that he should study up on whatever language they were speaking before.
To cover for his lapse, and his trepidation, he tries addressing the thing on his shoulder, "Hello...Tyg? Or is that your friend above? It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. I am at best an average amateur musician, but I'll gladly make one more attempt, just for you fellows."
He clears his throat and wracks his brain for another tune. Something simple that he might not make a fool of himself with...
He decides on an old ballad, about travel, and the feeling that you can never really go home again.
"When I was young, my home was dear
I never really traveled so far from here,
The cold of winter sank into my bones
These nights I find myself, far from home.
I treasured my mother, and my father too,
I treasured my sisters, and I treasured you,
Now I treasure the road that I walk alone,
A path no one follows, so far from home.
"I miss you all dearly" I hear them say,
Merchants in the inn from so far away,
I night I dream peacefully of the hills and loam,
The smells of the places that I once called home.
Never again shall I see that place,
Never shall my mother cast her eyes on my face.
I hope that they're ok but I'll never know,
I wish that I'd have stayed,
but instead I go'd.
So dance with me friends, Spin me about!
Call me a churl and name me a lout!
I miss my home but I'd miss you all more!
Dance round till we're drunk and we fall 'pon the floor!"
With the final line, Kryolani collapses onto the ground next to the campfire, snatches up his waterskin, and takes a drought, hoping to forestall any more requests, for his skill has surely been more luck than practice.
Serolt laughs and hums along - shocked that there are so many. His instinct is to reach for his bow, but he quickly realizes the futility of that.
Now what? he wonders as he rolls with the crescendo of Kryolani's skillful playing.
The creature on Kryolani's shoulder sings along with him as the noble man Tunes his song about travel. "You're awesome! Awesome!" she screams, both touched and amused. "Yes, my name is Tyg. And my friend over there is Perlivash! You're an amusing bunch of bigginses!".
The creature becomes suddenly visible: she is a cat-sized fey with the upper body of a waifish humanoid and the lower body of a cricket. A few seconds after, also Perlivash becomes visible: he is a small, butterfly-winged dragon with shining eyes and a quick wit. He does a loop in the air as he continues flying around.
"Yes, my name is Perlivash! You're quite interesting indeed! Can I ask you something, kind bigginses?". His tone is a bit haughty, if a tiny dragon's voice can be haughty at all. "Please, would you mind telling us which one of the many pranks we played on you was your favorite. The one totalizing the highest number of votes wins!" he says looking confidently at Tyg.
Tyg smiles and shakes her tiny elf-head, with long silver hairs: "I've challenged him to a small wager to see which of us could pull the most jokes upon you bigginses without getting caught."
Perlivas does another loop in the air and adds: "Oh no my dear, it was my understanding that the one to have played the best prank would have won". He perches atop Serolt's shoulder. "Now, my dear Mr. Big, please tell her that my pranks were not only more inventive, but also more successful and amusing then hers" he says to Serolt with a rather confident tone.
_________________________
The noble man clears his throat, eyes dancing from one fey to the other, "Do note, I've no idea which of you pulled off which prank, and all were skillful. But if I had to select my favorite? The best of all? I would choose the lovely hair color bestowed on my friend Serolt here. It brought out the color of his eyes quite nicely."
With a grin, Kryolani sketches a gentle bow, careful not to dislodge his passenger, "My name is Kryolani Surtova of Brevoy, by the way, since we are being formally introduced."
"I think the dire bear noises on the first day. That was surprising, but after that we sort of watched out for it. They were all pretty good." he pets Regin on the head, "Well, almost all of them anyway." he grins forgivingly.
"I'm Serolt, this is Regin, and that there's my horse Misty. Welcome. Hungry? I think we've got some extra food, though there are a lot of you..." he trails off after realizing what he's offered. Still, he makes good on that offer as best he can with what they have.
Jacobus smiles, "Finally! I get to thank someone for what you all did for my friend's hair! It did look better but I still think orange would bring out the wild in him."
He bows to both fey, "My name is Jacobus and I am a very helpful biggens."
He then asked, "So where exactly is your home?"
Roksana loves dancing. She really does. After all her years training to hone her body for combat, she discovered that many dancers held similarly rigorous training sessions to keep themselves fit and prepared, and though she'd never considered herself a great dancer she loved to try.
This was different. Not of her own volition she was compelled to sing and dance merrily. While on the outside she may have appeared jubilant, on the inside she was frothing mad.
The sight of so many fey was the only thing that kept her from lashing out. If just one of them could force her to dance, what could an entire host of their kind do?
When she finally is done dancing Roksana sits and quietly watches the events unfurl before her saying nothing. When the sprites ask which of their pranks was the best she holds back a growl, realizing that she has to humor these creatures, at least for now.
"The hair." She knows it will win either Tyg or Perlivash the argument and it's the only reason she says it, having not really appreciated any of the experiences they were put through.
“Formal introductions? I like formal introductions!” cries out Tyg. “I’m Tyg-Titter-Tut and my friend is Perliv…” The tiny blu dragon loops in the air once again, leaving Serolt’s shoulder to reach Tyg. He roars in the attempt to scare Tyg, but he manages to be intimidating just as any small, blue, tiny dragon with butterfly wings can be―that is, not so much. “My name is Perlivash the Magnificent and I know how to introduce myself without my friend’s help” he says as he walks pompously, his tail wrapping around his body and his wings opening as a mantle as he bows in front of you.
---
“They have chosen. My prank is the best one” remarks with a mischievous smile Tyg to his companion. “They have no attitude towards pranks, and they cannot judge them appropriately”, argues Perlivash rising his head proudly. “Ahah, I was sure you would have said it. Don’t be a bad loser, Perlivash!”, protests Tyg. “I’ll leave you this irrelevant victory, Tyg. I don’t care for such trivial competitions…” says the small dragon with a disregard fit for a king. Tyg smiles happy, satisfied.
---
“Anyway, it’s a pleasure to make your acquiescence bigginses. We’ve seen what you’ve done with those mean bigginses and we did like it. We suppose you’re here to kick out all of the mean biggenses from these lands, isn’t it?” says Perlivash with his royal tone.
“And we would love to help. We know several locations around here” says Tyg as she draws a sketched map in the dirt. She points so an area where she has drawn the symbol of a trap, “A mean huntard place several traps here. Beware of them”, she warns as her tiny legs points to another area, this one well far off the areas you’ve explored until now. “Here, at the source of the Skank River, there are two hot springs”. “And here” adds Perlivash landing on the map and perching on the area he’s talking about, “There’s a strange and large clearing in the woods, with an enormous elk-rock”. “We hope that helps” says the two in a chorus.
Then, after spending a little extra time with you, the two take their leave: “We’ve been honored to play our pranks on such noble bigginses. We wish you good luck” says Perlivash. “Yes, good luck! And should you need us, you’ve already encountered our home: that nest high atop that tree in the Narlmarches. Come and see us at anytime!” adds Tyg. Then, the two turn invisible: “Goodbye!” their high-pitched voices calls out in the wilds.
________________________________________
Jacobus waited a few seconds, hoping that this was not a prank.
When nothing happens, he breathes out again, "Well, that went better than expected. We got some new friends and some more information."
He points to the map in the dirt, "What do you think they meant by an elk-rock?"
Serolt transfers their information to the main map. He's smiling, but he says nothing for a long time.
Some time later, he agrees with Jacobus "That did go better then I feared it would. And there are more of them then I've ever seen before."
"Elk-rock? I dunno, could be worked stone, maybe a statue. A Rock Elk. Or just some natural stone that looks like an elk? Worth checking out though I think."
"We'd better get back to Oleg's. We need to take in some supplies to keep moving at this pace."
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
— Starday, Pharast the 18th, 4609 AR
— Dawn to Evening
— The Kamelands
— Clear and temperate
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
The next day, you wake up early in the morning and hit the road quickly. The whole day of exploration is uneventful and you easily manage to map out the area you’ve been exploring without difficulties.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
— Sunday, Pharast the 19th, 4609 AR
— Dawn to Evening
— The Kamelands
— Clear and temperate
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
The next day, you wake up early in the morning and hit the road quickly, as usual. The whole day of exploration is uneventful once again and you easily manage to map out the area you’ve been exploring without difficulties.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
— Moonday, Pharast the 20th, 4609 AR
— Dawn to Afternoon
— The Kamelands
— Clear and temperate
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
You spend almost the entirety of this day traveling back to Oleg’s Trading Post, passing through the area near to Bokken’s hut. It’s a 6 hours ride, spaced by a few pauses to allow you to eat and drink.
In the afternoon, a few hours before the sun drops, you reach Oleg’s Trading Post. Upon your arrival, you’re greeted warmly by both Oleg and Svetlana. “We thought you were dead!” says Svetlana breathing a sigh of relief. “These guys are strong and hardened, aren’t you? They won’t succumb to these lands predators so easily, I’ve told you!” laughs Oleg as he shakes hands with each of you. “Well met again, travelers. I hope your travels have been fruitful” says kindly Johd Kavken. Kesten Garess climbs down the walls to greet you personally: “Welcome back. No problems to report here” he says concisely before getting back to his duties.
---
“Oh, Serolt!” calls out Oleg after a few minutes from your arrival. “Come here boy”. As Serolt reaches Oleg in his house, the man produces two wands: “These are yours. They arrived two days ago.” Oleg smiles approvingly. Then, he also hands to Serolt a rather heavy tinkling pouch. “This one is from the Swordlords. You know, for defeating the bandits and such. One of their emissaries came here three days ago and delivered this reward for you. They send their compliments for your actions.” After a brief pause, Oleg ensues: “Have you got anything interesting to sell? I’ve managed to refill my pockets in the last week. And thanks to you, I’ve got no bandits to fear now, so I dare to say things are turning pretty well for us here. Should you need anything, you just ask.” Then, after another short pause, Oleg’s eyes turn downward as the man asks: “Any news about Svetlana’s ring?”
---
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
______________________________________
--- ---
---
---
Kryolani takes a moment after setting away his gear to pull Kesten aside and have a word with him. "We found something during our exploration, about that friend of a friend's brother wizard you wanted us to keep an eye out for."
Kryolani pulls a spellbook and wand out of the saddlebags, and hand them to the guardsman. "There was a tree with a cache of goods at it's base. These were among it. Do they happen to look familiar?"
---
Later that evening, Kryolani is buying pints of Oleg's ale for Kesten and the off-duty guardsmen and exchanging stories of home. Jokes, anecdotes, and tall tales fly into the night as Kryolani tries to work his way into their confidences. He knows more than most that it always pays to have friends among the guards.
Jacobus was very pleased with the news, both wands and reward money.
While he was no stranger to money, it was hard not to recognize that they were doing very well. Very well indeed.
He patted his companions.
"Well done everyone. I think we deserve a decent warm meal and rest."
Jacobus calls his companions over to take a look at the map and plan their next foray.
"I think we can go a little further this next time. How about we head out west and then come around to Oleg's but exploring the areas a little further out than last time?"
Jacobus spends his time with the Erastil priest, conversing about how their two faiths are aligned in trying to bring community to lawless lands.
Kryolani peruses plan F, thinking about spending that long in the woods. "That's ok, I suppose. After that, I'd like to check out the grasslands to the west the traps and the hot spring. But on the next trip. No real urgency to that."
He looks over the terrain, and thinks back to the cache they uncovered on their last trip. "As we start going out farther and farther, we might consider making hidden supply dumps, in case we get caught out in a storm, or something happens to our mounts, or something. Maybe drop a few dozen man-days of rations in a concealed pit somewhere near fresh water access. The rations are cheap enough, and it may be a life-saver if things go spectacularly wrong. I've marked a spot on the map that might be a likely place if you guys like the idea."
The next few days of quiet travel do a lot to improve Roksana's mood. She loves traveling and exploring when not having to worry about invisible pranksters around every corner. She is however, also relieved when they return to Oleg's, happy for at least one night in a real bed.
"No word on the ring yet Oleg, but we'll keep looking. It's bound to be somewhere in the belt and after all the hospitality you two have shown us I won't give up until we find it."
After looking over Jacobus' proposed plan Roksana looks to Serolt who seems to be something like the party provisioner. "Do we have enough rations for this? Or are we low, if we are we should stock up, with as much extra as we think we can handle, if we're staying out here for even longer we need to prepare for the worst."
She also confers with him on weather predictions. "As far as I can tell our clear skies will continue, what do you think?"
The half orc spends the free time at the trading post keeping mostly to herself. She practices her forms and stances and generally just relaxes while she has the chance. She does keep her ears to the ground, hoping to hear any more rumors or places of interest.
Serolt has no idea what the weather's going to be like, and he's fine with that. He spends the day doing precisely nothing. He slums around Oleg's just being lazy... and enjoying himself. In the afternoon he does manage a little romp out in the open with Regin - but that's just for fun, he doesn't actually go far.
"No word on the ring yet Oleg, but we'll keep looking. It's bound to be somewhere in the belt and after all the hospitality you two have shown us I won't give up until we find it."
"Actually Oleg, we did find this ring..." he holds up the ring they found. "Is this it?"
"Oleg, I have a few other things for you as well, if you'd like."
"Oleg, we're also going to need supplies. We need, at least, a ton of rations."
Olegs shakes his head "Unfortunately it's not it..." he sighs.
"A ton of rations you say? How many precisely? Two hundreds? Woh, slow down Serolt, let me see what I have in stock..."
The next two days are very cold. Several precipitations, including hail-storms, occur. As a result, you're forced to stay at Oleg's.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
— Fireday, Pharast the 24th, 4609 AR
— Dawn
— Oleg’s trading post
— Clear and temperate
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
After three days in total spent in Oleg’s trading post, the weather finally turns clement again.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
"Sorry it's not the right ring Oleg, but yes, we'll take all the rations you have, and please lay in lots more as we'll buy them too when we get back from our next trip. Gotta feed ourselves well right?!" he laughs.
"Oleg, I don't suppose you have any sunrods do you? If not please order me 10 or so of those as well."
I have no other purchases. Ready to head back out into the fields and the proposed route looks good to me! Eager for second level...
Nope, I have no idea...
Serolt has a lazy streak in him, and continues to bide his time as the weather is bad. He stays warm, works on tricks with Regin, and generally just hangs about. Time does not grow heavy on his hands however, he seems content with the pace.
"I have three of them Serolt. I will place an order for more of them. Would you like to buy these ones?"
Jacobus will spend his next couple of days trying to make both Johd and Kesten friendlier.
Kryolani will spend another day hanging out with the guards, and Kesten in particular, during their off hours.
Roksana spends at least some of her time trying to get to know Svetlana a little better. [b]"Bit of a boys club around here isn't it? How did you and Oleg come to work the trading post anyway?"[b] She comes off as stiff but she is genuinely interested in talking to the other woman.
The remaining day is spent once again training. She trains outside in short bursts, trying to get herself used to the biting cold so she can learn to compensate for stiff limbs or numb fingers. She never stays out too long, opting to spend the time between sessions sitting in some corner and listening to everyone else talk.
These rainy, cold days have allowed some of you to make new friend.
Roksana has managed to strenghthen her relationships with Svetlana, who has told her the story of how Oleg decided he had enough of civilization and decided to live as a pioneer on a frontier. Now the tastiest bits of meal are reserved to Roksana, and the half-orc has a friend ready to listen to her, even though she does not speak too much herself. But knowing that someone would be there to listen to her, even if she does not feel the need to do so now, it's comforting.
---
In the meantime, Jacobus has spent several hours discussing with Father Kavken about the common grounds between their faiths, and has found that Johd is a kind and not too strict individual, allowing for many compromises in the way he reads his faith.
---
Also, Roksana managed to overhear an interesting rumor from Vekkel Benzen : Breeg Orlivanch, a foul-mannered trapper, has been missing for some time—they say he gave up trapping and joined the bandits!
---
As Kryolani tried unsuccesfully to breach through Kesten Garess' gruff demeanor, Serolt has spent most of his time resting and taking care of Regin. That was at least until someone new arrived at Oleg's. An old retired hunter with a missing leg, covered in cold weather outfit and barely recognizable beneath the multiple layers of bear fur keeping his body warm. The man has stayed at the Trading Post for all three days, departing the same day as you. He showed great familiarity with Oleg, and the latter has welcomed him warmly.
While he was staying at Oleg's, the man has introduced himself as Vekkel Benzen, and told the story of how he lost his leg to a particularly cruel boar known as "Tuskgutter". He has also affixed a wanted poster with a picture of Tuskgutter on it, offering his bow and several of his "magic arrows" to those brave enough to hunt down the beast and bring its head back to Oleg's.
Vekkel spent a lot of his time telling his "hunting stories", and showed quite an appreciation for the silent company of Serolt. He has tried several times to discuss with him about hunting techniques, and has shown a genuine interest in the hunting ways of the Shoanti.
______________________________________
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
In his spare time, Kryolani also decides to take up a new hobby befitting his status as an adventurer and woodsman. Borrowing some of Oleg's artisan tools, specifically some of the finer files, Kryolani spends part of the morning looking for a likely stone, and the afternoon beginning to polish and shape it.
The result is decidedly amateurish, but the work was fun. By the end of the day Kryolani is in possession of a serviceable, if somewhat shiny, stone brick. Upon consideration, he's certain that with practice he could advance into the production of actual art.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
— Fireday, Pharast the 24th, 4609 AR
— Dawn to Evening
— The Greenbelt
— Clear and temperate
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
It’s time for you to depart again. Stocked and with your bellies filled with Svetlana’s nourishing breakfast, you greet everyone at Oleg’s and start traveling in the wild again.
---
It takes you about three hours to reach the first are you have planned to explore. Once you’re there you’re forced to go on foot for a short trait due to the thick vegetation. And it’s exactly when you’re walking in the forest, dragging your horses by the bridle, that someone steps on something unexpected.
---
Sharp jaws spring shut around Kryolani’s ankle. A bear trap! The noble man cannot hold back a painful shouts as he falls unconscious, his leg bleeding badly.
______________________________________
--- ---
---
--- ---
--- ---
--- ---
Jacobus was alarmed at the deadliness of the trap.
He quickly lets of his horse and leaps towards the wounded sorceror.
"Rok! Serolt! Give me a hand to open this!"
Whipping out their new wand, the inquisitor is able to coax forth its healing magic. He smiles as the leg muscles knit back together.
"None of us can open this immediately, we'll need to work together. Hang in there Kryolani..." he notices the man is unconscious from the pain. Probably just as well.
Roksana rushers over to help Serolt free their friend from the bear trap.
"This is not a good sign for the rest of the trip!" She growls as her muscles bulge, fighting against the strength of the trap.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
— Fireday, Pharast the 24th, 4609 AR
— Afternoon
— The Greenbelt
— Clear and temperate
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Kryolani comes back to consciousness as Jacobus uses the healing wand for the first time. He’s still badly wounded, and his ankle keeps bleeding. It takes everyone a great effort to free him from the bear trap, but eventually, after two minutes spent trying to force the trap open, you manage to open it enough for Kryolani to free his leg from it.
Once the noble man is free from the trap, Jacobus uses your healing wand again, to make sure that Kryolani can get back on his feet again and continue the exploration along with you.
---
It takes you about three hours to reach the first are you have planned to explore. Once you’re there you’re forced to go on foot for a short trait due to the thick vegetation. And it’s exactly when you’re walking in the forest, dragging your horses by the bridle, that someone steps on something unexpected.
---
After the unfortunate accident, your mind is able to piece together the information you got from Tyg-Titter-Tut and Perlivash and realize that you’re currently in the area filled with traps they pointed out for you. As a result, you spend the remaining hours exploring this area keeping your eyes out for other similar traps. Luckily enough, you’re now entering a glade, thus you can mount on your horses and speed up your exploration. Regin jogs along behind Serolt’s horse, to prevent him from being harmed by the traps.
---
After three hours, you stumble on another bear trap: this time, though, Jacobus notices the trap that would have harmed (and most likely killed) his horse before it’s too late, and manages to avoid it, pointing it out to all of his companions.
---
After two more hours, you stumble over another bear trap, but again this time Roksana spots the trap before it could harm her horse. She avoids the bear trap and points it out to everyone, preventing anyone else’s horse to step on it inadvertently.
---
---
At the end of the day, you’ve finally explored this trap-filled area. You’re sure that whoever placed those traps should have been a somehow misanthrope individual, because the hunters are used to generally point out the position of their traps so that intelligent humanoid can avoid them. Of course, you’re also sure that there are many more traps than those you’ve found in this area: you were lucky enough not to stumble over each of them, but they’re still a threat to anyone walking through this glade.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
______________________________________
--- ---
--- ---
"No sign of the careless hunter?" Jacobus asks not expecting a positive result.
He looks at the traps for any sign of its maker, "What do you guys want to do with these? At the very least, we should somehow disable or break them so no one else gets caught in them."
"I'd say we should see if we can set them off by dropping a large rock on them or something, then drag them somewhere and bury them. I don't want whoever set this place up to be able to reset their traps too easily. Regardless, we'll have to clear this place sooner or later. I'm fine if we want to make it later, but it needs to be on the to-do list."
Kryolani is still a little pale from the remembered pain of the encounter, and absentmindedly rubs his calf where the teeth of the trap bit through, from time to time.
"Do you boys see any more traps? We should probably try to avoid this area from now on, we shouldn't risk losing the horses." Roksana picks up the bear traps they already recovered and stashes them in the saddlebags of her horse.
"In any case lets take it slow today, I'd really hate for anyone else to get hurt. How are you holding up Kryo?"
"I think we should search this region one more time for these damnable traps. This is not good, and a horrible way to treat nature, let alone explorers like ourselves. I agree with Jacobus, let's disable the traps, and further bury them off the trail so they're not found and let them rust."
Serolt is obviously angry, and does not like this method of 'hunting'. He will not abide the party using the traps and would see them destroyed and hidden.
He shrugs. "Not sure what the weathers going to be, but we've lucked out so far."
Kryolani keeps his eyes plastered to the grass. The grass, he has found, has teeth. It's his hope that he doesn't find anymore with his feet.
The sorcerer looks up to Roksana and gives a wan smile, "I'm alright. A little shaken up perhaps. It was a tremendous shock of pain, but very brief. I feel fortunate, if that is the word, to have passed out almost immediately. Thanks for prying me out of there."
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
— Starday, Pharast the 25th, 4609 AR
— Dawn to evening
— Trap-filled glade
— Clear and temperate
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
You spend the wholeness of the next day searching for traps, disabling them and then hiding them somewhere no one would find them. It’s a quite exhausting task, and the days passes by slower than usual, but eventually you have done what you regard as a good job in cleaning this area from those dangerous traps.
---
It’s afternoon, and you’ve almost completed your exhausting task, when Kryolani, Roksana and Serolt spot something unusual. Hidden behind some tall bushes, a group of majestic beasts, standing the height of a man at their shoulders. A many-tipped rack of proud antlers crowns their heads. These creatures are clearly elks!
All of the creatures in front of you are bull elks, their antlers in plain view. The elks are at a distance of about 100 feet from your current position.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
______________________________________
--- ---
---
--- ---
Kryolani, impressed by the size and majesty of the Elk in their midst, speaks in barely more than a whisper, "We're not here as hunters. We should leave these creatures for those who are."
Remembering something, he continues, "besides, Didn't those fey mention something about an Elk Stone? I don't believe in coincidences. Better to leave them be." The nobleman, city-born and unused to seeing creatures in the wild, kneels in the grass, slowly as to not startle the animals, and watches them, enraptured.
"This is one of the reasons I came out here. To see things like this. I like my creature comforts more than most, I'll be the first to admit it, but being able to see the Wild, first hand..." he again rubs his calf, where the terrible wound from the beartrap has shrunk to little more that a faded scar, "...This is an experience that cannot be had in a city."
Jacobus nods at Kryo, "I hear you city-boy. Born and raised in new Stetven so I didn't get to see too many of these while growing up."
He tries to stifle the noise from his armor and just gazes at the elks. he shrugs and looks at Serolt, "We are not hunting these big guys, are we? I mean most of the meat would spoil anyway. if we were closer to the Post, I bet Svelana has some good recipes."
Serolt instinctively draws his bow, but slows when Kryolani expresses a different view. He chuckles, "You've not had the experience of fire roasted Elk either have you? Quite tasty, but sure, we can let this pair go their merry way."
He stows his bow and walks cautiously up to them. He takes out some fruit, and tries to befriend them (link)...
If they seem peaceful and calm, he'll motion for Kryolani, and slip him some fruit, "Here, you feed them."
Damn weather... Will I ever know? I'm going to start taking 10 so I can at least detect the next day. Ahh well, tomorrow.
If they are indeed friendly, Kryolani walks up to one of the creatures, and slowly holds out an apple at arm's length. He keeps his eyes mostly trained on the points on the antlers. They look as sharp as daggers and have the length of small swords. He has been around men who could kill him just as easily as these creatures, but men are predictable. The wild...less so.
He backs off after feeding the animal it's apple, and mutters "That was fascinating, really. And I'm glad I did it. But from now on, I think nature and I are going to try for a more respectable distance."
Roksana watches excitedly, expecting Serolt to bag them some dinner but when he puts his bow down she shrugs.
"Sure, I guess we can just hang out with them too."
She doesn't make any attempt to get closer to the beasts, opting instead to watch with a growing smile as Kryolani attempts to become one with nature.
"What an odd group we are."
"Don't linger too long, looks like snow tomorrow and we should find somewhere to camp before it hits."
Serolt pricks his ears up, "Snow? Cold? Can we make it back to Oleg's in time, or should we shelter here? I suppose here makes sense. Let's prepare now so we're not caught out tomorrow."
Serolt will spend the rest of the day working on a lean-to for the horses to give them protection from the elements and keep them as warm as may be. They should be fine. They live in this stuff!
He'll spend any remaining time he has reinforcing their tent. Piling a little dirt around the edges with his shovel, tying off the seams extra tight, etc.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
— Starday, Pharast the 25th, 4609 AR
— Dawn to evening
— Trap-filled glade
— Clear and temperate
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Serolt is capable of befriending one of the elks and also to allow Kryolani to interact with the animal for a short time.
---
At night, while you’re still preparing for the bad weather to come, a familiar figure riding a horse approaches your camp. It’s Johd Kavken, and to his side rides Vekkel Benzen. The two quickly dismount as they reach you. “I fear you won’t need them. There are bad news” anticipates the Erastilian priest. “Yes, bad news indeed. A snowstorm’s gathering. You’d better come with us back at Oleg’s” explains Vekkel with a serious expression. “We have come here to warn you. Please, come back with us” asks Johd hoping that your wisdom is enough for you to hear him. “We should travel at night though. Prepare to depart. We’ve brought several torches with us. Here, take some” suggests Vekkel as he hands several torches to each of you.
______________________________________
--- ---
Serolt sticks his shovel into the ground. "Gonna be that bad is it? We knew something was coming."
He looks at the makeshift shelter they have and shrugs. If this lot is so concerned about us they came all the way out here to warn us, might be something to their concern.
"OK, we'll head back with you. Here, help me take down this tent. Watch the poles, I've dug them in a bit."
Serolt starts disassembling everything he just built - assuming the party agrees.
Jacobus ties his horse to a nearby branch and starts helping out.
"I guess if we're this close, it makes sense to go back then."
He looks at the newcomers, "Any idea how long this storm will last?"
"You can keep the torches, I'll ask Abadar to light our way."
With that, the inquisitor lights up a feather and sticks it behind his ear.
Kryolani nods at the decision to head on back. Their first time out in the cold was nothing but misery, and he is in no mood to repeat the experience. He also reaches out to accept one of the torches.
"I trust in Abadar's light to guide the way, but I wouldn't mind the torch for a little heat. It's liable to be a chilly evening."
"We only left yesterday, it's not going to take long to get back." Roksana rolls her eyes and wonders not for the first time how humans every survived without being avle to see in the dark as she helps Serolt take down the tent.
"I'm sure we'll be feasting on Svetlana's dinner long before we feel any chill."