While Frankie's and even Brayden's good-natured attempts to calm the pigeon only seem to set it to squawking more loudly, Meredith finally steps in and instructs the pair on the finer art of pigeon-holding. And though the pigeon still doesn't seem terribly happy about being held by Frankie it does quiet down somewhat...though it occasionally pecks at his hands, seemingly out of spite for having its' own meal interrupted.
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Once packed all of you, including the Skorlovs, set off for Mishkar as quickly as you’re able to go. The trip that originally took almost three full days to make you’re able to make in half the time as a result of repeated trips between the city and the old Farheaven village as well as from pushing hard on the first day of travel. By dawn on your second day you can already see the thick smoke rising high into the sky from the northwest and the air grows progressively more smoky and hazy the closer you get to your destination.
It’s just past noon when you finally reach the outskirts of Mishkar, coming to a brief stop near a sign that bears the city’s name. As you gaze on Mishkar you’re greeted by the sights and sounds of a town in turmoil. Roiling clouds of smoke from a massive forest fire darken the sky and dim the sun’s light. Utter chaos reigns as humans and goblins dart back and forth between the fire and the outskirts of town, carrying buckets of water to douse buildings or stoking fire breaks to keep the massive conflagration from spreading further. The signs of recent battle mar the buildings and many of those fighting the conflagration bear the marks of conflict in the form of bloody bandages or pained limps. Across a large field from the village’s southern edge, a hastily erected encampment bustles with the clopping hooves of numerous centaurs.
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Frankie stuffs the bird into his backpack and gives it a chunk of stale bread some one left on their breakfast plate "Sorry Bear, just chirp if you need something ok?" Frankie cinches it up and away they go!
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As they reach the outside of the city Frankie's eyes go wide at the scene "Woah... those horses look like people? What are those green things? Are these things friendly? Let's go find out!" Frankie starts to sneak in to get a better idea about what's going on. He turns and whispers to his backpack before he starts "Gotta be quiet Bear, we going sneaking! Shhhh"
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"Frankie, those are goblins, they aren't friend... Frankie?" Meredith has no idea where this kid has snuck off to.
"There's some kind of fighting going on with the firefighters. See their bandages?" She points out. "Denair, get over there and tell them help is on the way." Meredith draws her longspear and casts Unfetter on Denair.
Denair nods. "We should make sure the centaurs are alright, though! They would know more about the fire's impact!" Huge, leafy wings emerge from her back and she flies towards the city's firefront.
With all the smoke and her efforts to not be a flying target, Denair has trouble keeping track of Frankie.
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"I'm not certain I can believe my eyes, but are those goblins actually helping the villagers fight the fires?" Fascinating.
"Wait, let me cast message on most of us, so we can communicate over the noise of the bedlam and, if we split up, over greater distance."
"I'm going to try to find Nelket and see what she needs and how we can best help."
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"Goblin!?!"
Jan knows that his ability to magically create water can be of immense use to the people of the town.
"First we deal with the fire and then the Goblins!"
Jan pushes himself (as in marching or running) towards the town with all do haste.
"Remember... there are legends that the blood pines of Finadar were carefully cultivated in a past age by cyclops conjurers who used the trees as fuel for rituals designed to bring immense beings of elemental fire into the world... hopefully this is not what we are seeing here!"
As the group quickly realizes that the situation is even more dire than they'd originally imagined, Frankie quickly ducks out of sight and begins creeping towards Mishkar while Denair takes to the skies to see if she can spot Nelket or anyone else that might have some authority and can explain what's going on. The Skorlovs look around anxiously, hands on their weapons.
"Goblins fightin' fires instead of startin' 'em? This supposed t' be Opposite Day or somethin'?" Kenner asks, shaking his head with disbelief. "Well whatever's goin' on, it looks like we need t' get into town an' see what we can do t' help out. Me an' my girls'll cover you from behind in case them goblins or those centaurs try anythin' funny, okay?"
When the rest of the group begin to approach Mishkar, the thundering sound of hooves can be heard as three centaurs break from their encampment near the forest’s edge and approach you - their weapons drawn. Once they get a bit closer you can see that each of them bear a sigil, carved to depict a tall, red pine tree. Two of them appear to be sporting minor wounds, much like the injured citizens Mishkar and some of the goblins that you saw.
This is the crest of the Redpine centaur tribe. You know that returning one of these sigils to the centaur’s chieftain or other tribal leader is considered a sign of respect after a just combat.
"You! More miserable pests here to help the forest-burners!" one of the centaurs bellows out in spite of her rather ragged-looking state. "We will not allow you nor those filthy goblins to drive us from our homes!"
Reacting more quickly than anyone had anticipated, Green begins to cast a spell...
It's Entangle.
...and suddenly the entire area surrounding the group is filled with reaching, grasping vines that attempt to slow you down!
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Round 1
Green
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Denair
Meredith
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Blue
Red
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Lazarus
Frankie
Yorad
Brayden
Jan
Active Conditions: None
Meredith & Denair are UP!
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What was that? Meredith's mind is too slow to comprehend the magicks...
The grass quickly grows and wraps around Meredith's legs. She calls out to the centaurs. "Wait! We're here to stop the fire! We're on the same side here!"
"Let's calm down- I can heal your injuries." She pulls out her wand of Cure Light Wounds and tries to crawl out of the weeds. "Denair! I need your help!"
Denair hears her Boss yell and turns right around.
"Oh! Centaurs!" She continues to fly over the weeds.
"Oh, she's right. We didn't start the fire! We don't want to fight!"
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Frankie watches the grass start to grow around his ankles, lucky for him a bunny decides it'd make a great lunch. Oh he's so cute, thanks Fluffy! He pauses to think about adding another pet to his zoo but decides against it when he hears Meredith and Denny. Oh they really know how to talk to these.. centaur/horse people!
He sneaks out of the grabbing underbrush and remains quiet for now, drawing out his trusty mithril dagger just in case!
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Jan tries to make sense of this turbulent situation.
"Lazarus is right! The spell will cause plants to wrap around your feet... it's not a damaging spell... perhaps they aren't trying to injure us."
Jan shouts at the Centaurs, "CEASE YOUR ANGER! WE ARE SERVANTS OF NATURE AND I COME IN THE NAME OF GOZREH HIMSELF! I HAVE NO WISH TO HARM YOU BUT IF YOU CONTINUE TO ACT AGAINST MY FAMILY AND THESE FELLOW ADVENTURES, I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PUT YOU LOW!"
As the weeds begin wrapping around everyone in the area some of you, like Lazarus and Frankie and Jan, are able to shimmy away from them, for now. Others, like Meredith, find themselves all tangled up and vulnerable. A series of surprised shouts and curses from somewhere behind you would indicate that the Skorlovs are faring about as well as Meredith is against the centaur's magic.
Although Meredith and Denair plead with the centaurs to back down, Meredith even offering healing as she attempts to crawl out of the weeds, the centaurs do not slow their assault. Both Blue and Red heft spears as they move to the edge of the entanglement spell; Red chucks hers at Meredith while Blue angles on trying to skewer Brayden...
...but luckily, both of them have pretty poor aim.
"Pretty lies," Green sneers. "Why should we believe you? You just happen to arrive out of nowhere, right when we begin to consolidate our position here? A likely story! You even have spies in the air and in the grass!"
And Frankie suddenly has the feeling that he might not have been quite as sneaky as he'd hoped to be...
Jan also attempts to convince the centaurs to see reason, invoking the name of Gozreh. At this, a flicker of uncertainty flashes across both Red and Blue's features; they throw questioning looks back over their shoulders at Green.
"They seem...persistent in maintaining their innocence," Red calls out. "Don't most humans have trouble lying under pressure?"
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Round 1
Green
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Denair
Meredith (Entangled)
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Blue (Injured)
Red (Injured)
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Lazarus
Frankie
Yorad (Pending Reflex save)
Brayden (Pending Reflex save)
Jan
Active Conditions: Entangle (Red Hex)
Lazarus, Frankie, Yorad and Brayden are UP!
Denair wracks her brain, trying to think about Centaurs.
But all she can think about is how to pluck Meredith out of there.
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This...THIS...is why I HATE the outdoors! Just let me get these overgrown donkey asses in a city alley and we'll see who comes out on top! Yorad struggles against the bonds uttering several curses loudly, clearly in no mood to use tact here, instead deciding to duck under whatever cover he can find.
While the majority of the group finds themselves struggling against the vines, Lazarus attempts to divine the truth of the situation and implores the centaurs to explain their side of the story - especially since neither he nor anyone else can recall much about centaurs beyond their status as monstrous humanoids.
"Those damnable goblins," Blue snarls, "they're the cause of all this! And those humans are sheltering them!"
"Hush! We don't owe them any-" Green breaks in, only for Red to suddenly whirl about and level her longsword at him. "Maybe we do! They've yet to raise their weapons against us! We should report back to Chieftain Koraag and see what she thinks of all this!"
As the trio of centaurs seem to lose interest in the group in favor of arguing among themselves Lazarus feels certain that they're being quite sincere in their belief that the goblins are responsible for the fires. After a few moments, Green sighs. "Very well! We will return and report this to the Chieftain."
He snaps his fingers, dismissing the tangle of weeds and plants that were inhibiting the party's progress. Without another word, the trio of centaurs turn and gallop back towards their encampment. It's difficult to tell for certain but Lazarus suspects that it might now be possible to approach the encampment themselves without risk of further reprisal. On the other hand, the way into Mishkar is now open and you've yet to make contact with Nelket or Dolok or anyone else that might be able to explain what's going on.
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As the horse-men retreat a small, blonde head pokes up out of the tall grass and looks around for the others "Oh hey, we won! Good game guys!"
He stands back up and dusts himself off and heads on over to the group. "That sure was a short game. Maybe they want us to go play at their place? Let's go talk to their Chief, she's probably the best hide n seeker of all of them!" He pulls a few clingy bits of grass out of his hair and combs it nicely to the side once again.
He hollers up to Denair "You are the biggest cheater around now! FLYING? Not FAIR!" He picks up a pine cone and throws it up at her uselessly, stomping towards the centaur camp.
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Meredith keeps her wand held and tries to get a word in, but the centaurs are off.
Meredith quickly tends to her immediate wounds. "It seems like both the centaurs and the Mishkars are working on incomplete information. I don't blame them, with the fire."
"I don't mind visiting the centaur camp, as long as they don't try to gouge me again." She rubs her side where the javelin hit. "Everyone needs to work together, anyway. I guess we're the peacekeepers."
Still kind of nervous about meeting Nelket again.
He hollers up to Denair "You are the biggest cheater around now! FLYING? Not FAIR!" He picks up a pine cone and throws it up at her uselessly, stomping towards the centaur camp.
Denair lands next to Frankie, then carefully places the pine cone atop his head. "It's only cheating if we're playing, silly!" She pauses. "Or I need to climb something." She shrugs.
She claps once when Frankie and Meredith both suggest the Centaur camp. Centaurs didn't ruin the land like the civilized folk did. With their wooden buildings, metal forges, and excessive hunting. Denair would love to save everyone, but if she had to choose a side-
"Yay! Let's go help the Centaurs. But you know me, I agree with the Boss. I'm just happy she didn't strangle the centaurs with a bramble of rose whips." She grins.
Deciding to take a risk and strike while the iron is hot, you follow the retreating centaurs back to their encampment. Located along the northern edge of the Finadar Forest and just south of Mishkar, this makeshift encampment shows the signs of being hastily erected. Leather tarps hang from the trees, providing some shelter from rain and ash, and the southern edge of the encampment is bordered with a deep, water-filled trench. As you reach the edge of the encampment, two centaurs slowly approach you - this time, their weapons remain at their sides.
"Our Chieftain said that you would come. Follow us; we will take you to her," one of them says, slowly raising his empty hands. "She wishes to speak with you but doesn't mean you any harm - as long as you remain respectful and keep your weapons sheathed."
Assuming that you agree to this, the pair of centaurs lead you to the center of the camp, where you see a command post partially covered by a tarp stretched across four long poles that have been hammered into the ground. Standing at the command post, as though awaiting your arrival, is a tall, powerfully-built female centaur. She regards you with furrowed brow for a moment and then speaks.
"So, you've come just as I figured you would after my scouts told me of their encounter with you. I am Kaana Korag, Chieftain of the Redpine Tribe," the centaur greets you. Her tone is tense, stressed, but carries none of the hostility that her subordinates had earlier. "Who are you and why have you come here? What is your business with Mishkar?"
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After the rousing game of hide n seek with the centaurs, Frankie quickly rehides his dagger up his sleeve in its wrist holster before heading with the others to the horse man camp, picking the cone out of his hair and scowling a bit at Denair for cheating YET AGAIN "Yorad you're going the wrong way silly! We're going to play with these horses first!" He skips along, happy as heck to meet some cool new creatures.
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Frankie's mouth hangs open as the Chieftain greets them "Woah.. you're a horse-lady! Before today I didn't know there were even horse-MEN, never mind horse-LADIES!"
He smiles and waves to introduce himself "Heya Kaana, I'm Frankie! We came to help stop the fire, and meet our friends that live in Mishkar. We were worried about them with the fire so we came as quick as we could!"
Frankie bats his eyes and is as sweet, kind and gentle as a little boy can be.
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Meredith does a double take when Denair describes torture. Was that really me? She shakes it off and proceeds to the camp.
Meredith's glad to at least have a chance to explain herself. Frankie butts in like usual, but everyone loves the kid.
"Thank you for your time, Chief Kanna. I know time is short. Our friends in Mishkar sent a request for help. We represent the Pathfinder Society. We saved one forest a while ago from a fungal infection, and we'll do everything we can to stop this fire. Mishkar's as dedicated to stopping this fire as you are. We even saw goblins trying to put the flames out, and they usually love this stuff. Everyone can put aside their differences to handle this before it becomes a crisis."
"I offered to heal your scouts when they encountered us, and we will extinguish the source of these flames. Any hints or clues you can give us would be very helpful."
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"Namaskar, I am Lazarus Logos, priest of Desna, the Mother Moon." Lazarus says with a slight bow, his slender blue hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to his chest. "Strange events indeed, a devastating forest fire, goblin-sheltering villagers, fire-fighting goblins, and your clan, Chieftain Kaana Korag, in the thick of things."
"We would like to help fight the fires and get to the bottom of this mystery. With your blessing and cooperation, if it's offered."
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Jan waits, somewhat impatiently to make his own introduction...
Jan nods towards Namaskar,"I am Jan Eriksson, servant of Gozreh and devotee of the Green. There are many strange things going on here, as my friends have already alluded to. If you will allow us to help protect the forest, which is your people's home, you will not regret it."
Clutching his holy symbol, "May Gozreh guide us all."
As she takes in everyone's introductions - well, except for Yorad's - much of the tension seems to melt away from Kaana and she visibly relaxes.
"I see. Truth be told, it's actually a bit of a relief to see that you have come to help and not hinder," Kaana admits. "Our resources are stretched thin as it is and potentially fighting a battle on multiple fronts on top of dealing with the fires...I don't think it would have gone well for us."
Kaana pauses, her eyes flickering over each of you once again. "Especially considering how strong and capable each of you seem to be. Even you, Little Squirrel," she adds with a small but wry smile at Frankie.
"That said, we still have a problem. As I said, my scouts told me of your refusal to raise your weapons against them and your words just now ring pure to me. I believe that you're here to help just as you say," Kaana continues, her expression darkening. "But I know for a fact that those goblins are the cause of this fire. I don't know why the people of Mishkar shelter them; perhaps the goblins have grown wily enough to fool them into taking pity on them."
The centaur chieftain begins to pace, slowly trotting back and forth in front of you. "I'm willing to forgive their actions but under one condition: Mishkar must turn over the goblins to us so that they may face proper justice. If they do, the Redpine tribe will join its' forces to theirs and help them fight the fires and protect their homes."
"If they persist in harboring them...then we will have no choice but to consider them accomplices and just as guilty of wanton arson and destruction as the goblins themselves," Kaana finishes, her tone deadly serious. "Go and deliver this message to them; my scouts will stand down and allow you pass freely," she finishes, her words sounding much less like a request and more akin to an order.
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"Thank you, Chieftain Kaana of the Redpine tribe." Lazarus bows again, taking his leave. "We will deliver your message to the villagers and learn what's behind the fire and these strange events."
Heading for the village, the samsaran states the obvious, "We need to find Nelket and figure out what's going on."
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"Damned Goblins..."
"We will meet you again soon Chief Kaana... the Goblins will not trouble your forest again."
As the party leaves the Centaur encampment, Jan turns to Lazarus and asks him, "Have you ever heard of such a thing as CIVILIZED Goblins? Surely they are keeping them as slaves... or maybe even pets?"
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"But if the goblins started the fire, why are they putting it out?" Meredith ponders. It doesn't make sense to her. Still, Chief Kaana's orders are clear. And they need to stop the fire, first.
"Thank you, Chief. We'll do everything we can to stop the flames and ensure the goblins get what they deserve."
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Denair buzzes back and forth, waving hello to the villagers, inspecting the plantlife around here and coming to attention when Meredith calls her.
"Bye! Thanks for not trying to fight us too much!" She gives a friendly wave goodbye. Meredith's worry is obvious to Denair.
"Cheer up, boss. Back when you were the Queen you would have attacked the town first. The Centaurs would probably ask you to give them mercy!" Meredith responds with a face of bewilderment and horror. "B-but now you're nice!" Denair stammers quickly. "See? You're changing too."
"And I thank you, people of the Pathfinder Tribe, servants of Mother Moon and the Sky Father," Chieftain Korag replies as she returns Lazarus' bow as a sign of respect. "We will hold our position here until you return. Take care against the flames and goblin treachery!"
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Now free to come and go from the centaur encampment as you please - at least for now - you quickly turn your steps back towards Mishkar. More than ever, each of you are burning with unanswered questions and the hope that someone within the town will have the answers to those questions.
"First a plague of slime an' disease an' now centaurs an' fire-fightin' goblins!" Kenner Skorlov suddenly speaks up, both him and his daughters having been quite silent during your negotiations with Chieftain Korag. "Is this sorta thin' uh...just another day's work for you folks? 'Cause I gotta say, y've all handled things a lot better'n I would've!"
Both Adula and Klara nod, shooting nervous glances back over their shoulders at the centaur encampment. "Yeah, we'd always heard centaurs were prickly an' hateful t' humans," Adula chimes in. "But she heard y'all out, just like anyone else with a bit o' sense woulda. Maybe they're not so bad after all, huh?"
"I don't know but I'd like t' get to town soon as possible," Klara replies quietly. "Once we all know what's goin' on we can figure out how t' help!"
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The town of Mishkar is a primarily human town built of stone and wood in a mixture of Varisian and Taldan styles. Based on your previous visits you know that Mishkar is not aligned with any of the powers in Iobaria, and that its people value their independence and self-sufficiency. Currently the town is in a frenzy of activity as goblins and humans scurry back and forth throughout the edges of the town. They're throwing buckets of water on smoldering embers or wooden buildings and hurriedly digging trenches between the town and the burning Finadar Forest. From out of the corner of one eye you suddenly recognize the form of a massive, muscled bear with a mantle of rainbow-colored feathers as it stalks the edge of the town, keeping a watchful eye on the centaur encampment to the south of the village - it can’t be anyone or anything other than Dolok Darkfur, the god of the Farheaven clan.
The bear-god’s mighty voice cuts clearly through the crackle of flames and bustle of the busy townsfolk as he calls out, "Who goes there?"
"Oh! Hi Dolok!" Denair waves to the fellow guardian. "We got your summons. Well, then some centaurs mistook us for enemies, but we calmed them down and spoke to their chief. She thinks the goblins started the fire." She glances at Meredith. "And she wants Mishkar to turn the goblins in for... justice or something?"