It takes two days of careful maneuvering to escape the Glenebon Hills with Tamary and the other rescued women in tow---after all, hundreds of Armag's Tiger Lords are encamped in scattered hillsides about the small canyon where Gozrek lost his life. But once past that immediate danger, the journey to Wyverstone Bridge is swift across the empty plains.
Facing John is less easy.
Despite the heavy blow, the man is stoic as ever, and you are soon again on your way. You reach the now-fortified town of Tatzylford on 30th Desnus, just in time to hold council for Sarenith two days hence. In the meantime, the reunification of Tamary with her sister Kisandra and her father Terrion is a sorely needed source of joy.
Taranis opts to meet with John in private. The conversation is heavy, not because the Duke feels guilt, but because the young boy's story may or may not be over. John, who has already lost so much, has lost yet again... This time though, the Duke is here with options. [i]Taranis can, given time, reincarnate Gozrek. Given a location with someone holy enough, we could raise him...
Taranis also spends some time connecting in order to give a complete update on Kisandra’s Plea
Jhod Khavken approaches Taranis in Tatzylford. "I offer my condolences, my Duke. To see so young a soul snuffed out! I have prayed for him. I may... I may be able to help, though I know not if I have the strength."
Taranis also conferences with the Numesti family. The defeat of Baron Drelev has done much to bring peace and stability to Fort Drelev, but the threat of the Tiger Lords---and the vengeful Armag in particular---still hangs over the city. Fort Drelev will not be truly liberated until that threat is removed.
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Slaying Armag would seal the deal.
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Taranis returns to the Huntsmen. "Gentlemen, Gozrek's fight is not yet over. We need him, and he deserves another go around. John has agreed to help as he can. The Fletcher family has suffered enough. Just as a tiger licks its wounds, so must we. We pushed too hard and too fast. Let's turn our attention inward."
Indeed, the petitioners soon gather in Tatzylford's town hall for this month's courtly business.
Upkeep Phase
Step 0 - Ruler: Declare the Duke's modifiers (Economy, Loyalty, or Stability).
Step 1 - Stability: Roll Stability Check. If successful, reduce Unrest by 1 (to a minimum of 0).
Step 2 - Consumption: Consumption has been deducted from the treasury. See "Ledger" tab.
Step 3 - Magic Items: .
Varnhold: Fochlucan Minor Wondrous Ioun Stone, Dusty Rose Prism
Solasgaard: Green Faith Temple Minor Potion Greater Minor L2, CL3 Common Potion of Resist Energy, Electricity
Solasgaard: Luxury Store Minor Wondrous Slotless Greater Minor Singing Bell of Striking
Solasgaard: Green Faith Temple Minor Potion Lesser Minor L1, CL1 Common Potion of Reduce Person
Step 4 - Modify Unrest: Roll Loyalty Check to reduce Unrest, if desired (cannot be reduced below 0). Failure incurs permanent -1 penalty to Loyalty.
Edict Phase
Step 0 - Spymaster: Declare Spymaster's modifier (Economy, Loyalty, or Stability).
Step 1 - Assign Leadership: Assign new leadership or fill vacancies, if desired.
Step 2 - Claim Hex: Claim up to 4 new hexes of territory, if desired. All hexes must be fully explored to be claimed.
Step 3 - Abandon Hex: Abandon any number of hexes of existing territory, if desired.
Step 4 - Build Terrain: Pay for up to 7 terrain improvements in existing territory, if desired.
Step 5 - Settlements: Found up to 2 new settlements in existing territory. A site must first be prepared for settlement. Additionally, pay for construction of up to 10 new buildings in your existing settlements. The construction of a single house, tenement, noble villa, or mansion does not count against this limit, but must still be paid for.
Step 6 - Army: Raise up to 2 new military units (less any new settlements founded this month), or upgrade or repair existing ones, as desired. Pay any recruitment costs.
Step 7 - Edicts: Issue any new edicts as desired.
Upkeep Phase Summary
Edict Phase Summary
Income Phase Summary
Income Phase
Step 1 - Withdraw from Treasury: Withdraw resources from the treasury for personal use, if desired.
Step 2 - Deposit to Treasury: Deposit personal resources into the duchy's treasury, if desired.
Step 3 - Sell Items: Sell up to 2 personal magical items to benefit the treasury.
Step 4 - Roll an Economy check for tax collection.
Event Phase
No event
The Duke convenes the Hunstmen.
"Let's make haste with Gozrek. I also want you to each use some funds to shore up either your will power against magic, or swarms... or both. I'm going to see if I can commission an upgrade to my cloak. Then I suggest we look within for a bit. We can spends some time living up to our namesake hunting either manticore, giant flies, or giant slugs. What say you?"
"Let me drop these quills off. Then we're headed to the swamps boys."
Iosis is overjoyed by the quills. "Just what I need! Now this epic will practically write itself." As promised, he hands over a rare book of ancient halfling poetry, worth about 3,000 GP to the right buyer.
As Taranis passes through town, he notices that a new poster has gone up on the Wanted board.
More curiously, what appears to be a boggard is standing in front of the board, staring intently at it and looking very out of place. Even more curious still, Taranis realizes that he has met this boggard before.
"I remember you. It takes a tight cloaca to come into these lands my friend. Can I help you?"
Taranis notices that the boggard is holding what appears to be a large piece of thin tree bark. He spits on the bark and slaps it onto the Wanted board.
There is nothing written on the bark.
"REE-venge!" the boggard croaks. "Sepoko! M'botuu! Head, for slurk. Have maa-gick BUG!"
Taranis returns to the same basic language and gestures (replete with the bit of food) that he used last time.
It takes a bit of painful back and forth, but eventually Taranis is able to glean enough to understand that the agitated boggard wants revenge on (and the head of) someone or something named Sepoko, or perhaps M'botuu, and is offering a "magic bug" in return. He keeps pointing to the west.
Taranis does the best he can. He also, before retiring for the night, seeks out a scroll of Share Language.
With the Duchy on a war footing, you make efforts to wrap up your courtly duties quickly, and gather on 4th Sarenith to plan your next move.
"We are headed to the swamps my friends. I can make our travel easier then last time. Though you may want some vermin repellant. I picked some up while recharging my wand of curative magic."
You arrive at the edge of the swamps of the Hooktongue Slough in the evening of 5th Sarenith. The locale is, if anything, even worse in the heat of summer than it was in the cold wet of early spring. The mosquitos, midges, and gnats have multiplied almost beyond belief, and the rank smells and heat of the bog is nearly unbearable.
None of you relish the idea of making camp here.
The Huntsmen make slow progress---the Duke's spell certainly helps, but the famous sinking bogs make any work beyond those hours nearly impossible. Still, after four days of effort, you feel the area has been thoroughly explored.
Nothing here but swamp.
You discuss your next plan over breakfast on 10th Sarenith.
The company climbs back out of the swamp to map the narrow stretch of plains wedged between the Narlmarches and the Slough. The firmer terrain is welcome and speeds your progress; you have the work completed by the end of 11th Sarenith.
From there you plunge back into the swamp a little further south. While still wet, hot, and miserable, the marshy terrain is fortunately a bit better than it was to the north---at least, there are far fewer sucking bogs that threaten to swallow you whole.
As you explore the region, you stumble into a wide glade surrounding a deep pool. The glade teems with dragonflies of all sizes that buzz and flit through the air, making a remarkably beautiful scene in an otherwise dreary swamp.
While most dragonflies are probably harmless---with wingspans as small as a few inches to as large as a couple feet---several true giants seem to identify you as a potential meal.
+2 if Surprise
+2 if Surprise
Round I
1. Augrym
2. Dragonflies
3. Bytor, Unrak, Taranis
Augrym draws his sword and casts Heroism on himself. He then studies his closest two targets.
Eager for a meal, eight giant dragonflies descend on the Huntsmen. Four home in on Augrym at the front, while four others each picking another target.
MISS
MISS
HIT
MISS
MISS
MISS
MISS
HIT
Round I
1. Augrym (91/106 hp)
2. Dragonflies
3. Bytor (82/93 hp), Unrak, Taranis
With a series of sharp words, Taranis summons a fire snake! It catches all but the dragonfly south of Bytor:
The closest dragonfly tries to gnaw on Taranis as he casts but misses.
Round I
1. Augrym (91/106 hp)
2. Dragonflies (red @ 33 dmg, orange @ 16 dmg)
3. Bytor (82/93 hp), Unrak, Taranis (Toth)
As a move action, Bytor uses his bardic performance to inspire courage in his companions.
”Rise, huntsmen, and let these dragonflies know that we are not food to be eaten, but a mighty dangerous foe!”
Bytor follows up by striking the Dragonfly to his south with his longsword.
Unrak roars out as he rips his sword from its sheath You don't eat me...
attacks v RED
<--THREAT!!
Normally something of an effete swordsman, Bytor strikes a telling blow! Not to be outdone, Unrak summarily chops a dragonfly in half.
Round I
1. Augrym (91/106 hp)
2. Dragonflies (red @ 33 dmg, orange @ 16 dmg, grey @ 11 dmg)
3. Bytor (82/93 hp), Unrak, Taranis (Toth)
Toth snaps at the giant dragonflies, almost like a normal house cat and normal insects.
for
for
for
for
Proving himself quite the effective hunter, Toth swats down three giant dragonflies in quick succession.
Round II
1. Augrym (91/106 hp)
2. Dragonflies (orange @ 16 dmg)
3. Bytor (82/93 hp), Unrak, Taranis
Augrym 5ft steps and takes aim at the dragonfly in front of him.
”We are surrounded, but we are TOGETHER!! Today is not the day we day, my friends. Today is for glory!”
Augrym pounds the dragonfly within an inch of its life. It has only the energy to retaliate before it succumbs.
HIT
The three survivors flit forward to nip at Augrym, Unrak, and Toth.
HIT
MISS
MISS
Round II
1. Augrym (64/106 hp)
2. Dragonflies (orange @ 16 dmg)
3. Bytor (82/93 hp), Unrak, Taranis
While maintaining his inspiring courage, Bytor moves back behind Augrym and casts a Cure Serious Wounds on him.
Unrak takes out the dragonfly trying to nibble him. (if the first one drops, take Augrym's next
<-threat!!
Bytor stitches Augrym back together as Unrak rips another dragonfly apart in two quick strokes.
Round II
1. Augrym (92/106 hp)
2. Dragonflies (orange @ 16 dmg)
3. Bytor (82/93 hp), Unrak, Taranis
Taranis opts for a mundane attack while hoping Toth continues to eviscerate the insects:
for
ROAR!
for
for
for
for
Toth moves to the final one if he drops the first.
Taranis struggles to get an angle without hitting Toth. The tiger makes up for it, crushing the dragonfly twice between his jaws.
Round III
1. Augrym (92/106 hp)
2. Dragonfly (orange @ 16 dmg)
3. Bytor (82/93 hp), Unrak, Taranis
Augrym tumbles around the bug to get in flanking position and strike.
The dragonfly is much quicker than Augrym expects, and tries to nip at him on the way by.
MISS
It then offers blow for blow.
MISS
The half-orc's armor proves sufficient.
Round III
1. Augrym (92/106 hp)
2. Dragonfly (orange @ 40 dmg)
3. Bytor (82/93 hp), Unrak, Taranis
Unrak unloads on the last dragonfly!!
With Unrak, the insect never stood a chance.