Taranis keeps an eye on the sphere of flame, and lets it do its work
Seeing Grimstagg struggle, he calls Toth off for the time being. The druid then speaks and whistles some words of druid power and summons forth a ball of flame into his hand and hurls it at the top of the tree!
for
Augrym's precise cut slashes the rest of the way through the scythe tree's trunk, and the great plant crashes down and becomes still.
"Outstanding! Augrym that was a mighty slash! Brother, such precision. We've done well."
Taranis begins a search of the area, eager to find anything of interest. Before leaving though, he takes an identifying branch. "Such evil in a plant is unnatural. Tis proper what we have done."
Take 20 search.
Unrak grunts in satisfaction Pretty good job everyone. Quicker next time, alright?
Aid the search, take 10
You search the bones of the dead in the clearing. Scattered about you find 6 gold crowns, 55 silver pieces, and 42 copper coins, as well as a plain silver ring worth 65 gold crowns. Under the tree's own roots you find 3 pieces of amber, which could be worth 100 gold crowns each. Zed also notes a bundle of cloth that radiates magic.
What can Zed determine of the magical item upon exposing it to the harsh light of day?
Zed analyzes the cloth's magical properties and announces that it is a Robe of Bones!
"Zed, such an item carries with it heavy metaphysical questions. I trust you to use the robe responsibly such that you balance the toll with the goal."
Once everything is backed up, Taranis recommends mapping the area before returning to the fearful fey.
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"Oh I've had a few of these in my day. I think I can find a judicious way to employ the darker arts that created it in a way that brings us into the light of victory." Zed starts getting warmed up though...
"Speaking of metaphysical hazards associated with necromancy, I'm reminded of the Jubrangi Treatise, and I can recall several stimulating discussions with my colleagues over his treatment of the undead as simply constructs. Now this is simple undead mind you..."
Zed continues in earnest for longer than anyone would have liked. About a half hour longer to be precise. At the point he was wrapping up his interrogative-cum-monologue, he had donned the Robe of Bones.
Unrak's guffawing insistence on adding an 'R' was certainly annoying, but Zed carried on undeterred. He was an Academae Graduate and would not allow himself to be sucked into such juvenile banter.
spoilsport...huhuh "robe of boners" huhuh
Over the course of [color=teal]24th & 25th Abadius[/color], the Huntsmen map out the area around the slain scythe tree. Already, life seems to be returning to the clearing where it lived.
[color=teal]26th Abadius[/color] dawns bitterly cold, overcast and dusted with light snow.
Upon hearing Taranis call him brother, you see tears well up in Augrym's eyes. He swiftly takes a knee and buries his head in his arm in salute.
"This is truly an honor great leader friend Taranis. On this day, I have proven myself in battle to the point that you have made me an honorary Redleaf. I will live up to this name with every battle going forward."
Upon getting up, Augrym goes off in the corner and starts carving a leaf into his shield. It's crude, but he smiles at his work and then cuts his hand to allow his blood add some red to this leaf. Muttering the whole time about what an honor this is.
The druid's smile pierces through his beard, now a half hand shy of a foot, "Indeed Augrym. You've proven yourself many times over, and I am proud to call you as such."
The druid's eyes light up like his smile as an idea strikes him. He hustles back to his pack horse and gives it a carrot while fishing through a pack. He pulls out a patch of cloth.
"Here, take this. It is yours and can be a template for your carving. The crown is for blood, but the tree is for this family here!" He hands the cloth over with a hearty slap on the back.
-----
Once the mapping is done, Taranis suggests that we return with the good news of the Scythe tree's destruction.
Augrym takes the cloth, full on ugly crying now, and uses all of his artistic skills of drawing maps over the years to carve this into his wooden shield.
Returning to Tiressia's pool consumes most of the day, and the journey is unpleasant as an icy wind cuts through the forest. Still, the wind dies around the dryad's pool and she warmly receives you -- the news having already traveled to her ears on the whispers of innumerable woodland creatures. She introduces a satyr by her side, whom you note is bearing a partially healed wound on his abdomen, as her faithful lover, Falchos, and thanks you profusely for rescuing the pair from their inevitable fate.
In gratitude, she provides you the following:
Goodberries x5
Potion of cure light wounds x2
Scroll of summon nature's ally
Wand of cure light wounds (26 charges)
Feather token (tree) x6
Further, although your barony does not (yet) encompass this area of the Narlmarches, Tiressia pledges herself to the guardianship of the forest on your western border and promises to notify you of any major threats that might arise there.
The big man rumbles You're very gracious, lady. It pleases us that we are doing right by each other! I'm sure we'll speak again. He bows his head to Tiressia & Falchos in turn.
"Tiressia, this is the beginning of a mutually fruitful relationship. Falchos, that wound is not yet healed. We can help you with that. Was that a 'gift' from the Scythe tree?"
Once we have a contented good-bye, Taranis will turn back to the party, "We have these feather tokens, so we can build yet another relationship. We need to return to Melianse. Perhaps we can also map that part of the forest."
Goodberries x5 One each, and we eat them today. This will save our rations. I'll track.
Potion of cure light wounds x2 Unrak
Scroll of summon nature's ally II Taranis
Wand of cure light wounds (26 charges) Augrym or Marc
Feather token (tree) x6 We're cashing these in to complete a quest.
----------
We head back to Melianse.
The Huntsmen reach Melianse's pool in the late afternoon of [color=teal]27th Abadius[/color] and plant the feather tokens around the grove near the stumps of each tree. Melianse watches quietly from her pool, and emerges when the deed is done.
"Thank you. You have upheld your end of the our agreement. Unusual for ones such as yourself. I shall be certain to alert you if any similar troubles arise along the rivers of the land you call the Greenbelt."
"I promise that we shall do what we can to make our mode of life less unusual. Melianse, we are looking to understand the lay of the land, and we'd be remiss if we accepted your help ignorant of what that entails. Might we spend a day surveying the area?"
"For what purpose? Not for logging, I hope. If you commit to doing the forest no harm, I see no reason to deny you."
Taranis suspects that mapping such dense forest will likely take two days, not one.
"No. I'll not lie to you, logging will occur, but not near your home. I have a commitment to those men whom we relocated. I promise, as Gozreh as my witness, that natural balance is paramount in the Marchlands."
Once we bid her good day, we go about mapping. "The animals are carrying enough food for us to go a week before hunting. It'll take us two days to map here, and then I recommend we return to Solasgaard to attend to matters of State."
Melianse allows you to make camp nearby, and you have a fruitful day of mapping on [color=teal]28th Abadius[/color], with more mapping tomorrow. By the end of the day, you are chilled to the bone and settle in again for a nice warm meal by the fire.
You are just about to spoon the first mouthful of soup when a cry goes out from the darkened woods behind you. "Help!" The snarling of a wolf immediately follows...
Augrym drops everything and sprints off towards the cries for help, shield in hand but have not drawn my sword until I see more.
"Toth! Seek!" Taranis follows too.
Augrym jumps into action! And stumbles right into the face of a wolf. The wolf looks at him and... smiles?
"So nice when your dinner comes running when you call," the wolf grins, and takes a bite.
+2 if Surprise
The wolf's teeth close on Augrym's haunch as three others close in from the surrounding woodlands!
HIT plus nope
Round I
Surprise! Worgs
1. Marc, Augrym (34/39 hp), Zed, Unrak
2. Worgs
3. Taranis
Unrak, having taken the drogue position, curses that he can't engage immediately. He quickly takes 2 flakes of mica from behind his belt and crushes them together, throwing the resultant powder above his head. They quickly spread, infused with the bloodrager's innate magic, and form a barrier around him
Seeing Augrym pressed by four foes, Unrak then tries to draw some attention to himself. He moves forward quickly, greatsword coming into his hands on the move. He's surprised, to hear the wolf speak, but only for a moment--he's heard of intelligent wargs before. He decides to try to taunt them to attack him. In a loud, VERY baby-voice that one normally associates with lapdogs and infants, Unrak calls out
a good boy?!?! Who's a GOOD BOY!!! C'mon, boy!! C'mon...
then switching to his normal growl and raising his sword to high guard...
come fetch the STICK!!
Round the First
Zed steps forward a few paces whilst drawing a small amount of ground up mica from an inner pocket. He allows it to sift from his clenched fist, and as it swirls in front of his face, a sharp exhale seemingly disperses the fine gold powder. But the swirling mass suddenly appears in a massive cloud, engulfing two of the wolves in sparkly Glitterdust.
The dark fur of the wolves now sparkles in the dying light of the day. Meanwhile, Marc adds some red to the coat of another.
Unrak tries to make himself a target, but the wolves are content with their current meal. The snap at Augyrm's green-tinged flesh. The closest, blinded, snaps fruitlessly at the air, but the other finds a heel and yanks the half-orc off his feet. The other two circle round for the kill.
MISS
HIT plus SUCCESS
HIT
HIT
One shakes off the blindness, though not the gold .
Round I
1. Marc, Augrym (6/39 hp, prone), Zed, Unrak
2. Worgs (green blind, white @ 15 dmg)
3. Taranis
"Toth! Flank!" Taranis utters the words to a quick spell and a sphere of flame appears immediately by the wounded wolf!
Toth takes the shortest route to flank and attacks the same speaking wolf with tooth and claw:
for
for
for
The wolf shies away from the spongy flame, but cannot evade Toth's tooth and claw! One falls.
Round II
1. Marc, Augrym (6/39 hp, prone), Zed, Unrak
2. Worgs (green blind)
3. Taranis
Unrak shifts closer, flanking with the prone Augrym. He flies into his signature rage, screaming BAD DOOOOOOG!!! and lets his sword fall!
Round 1 attack.
Flanking attack on, I want to say Orange. Color blind though.
-----------------------
Round 2 attack.
Flanking attack on, I want to say Orange. Color blind though.
----------------------
So, if it hits, first round 14 damage. Second round cit for 31 damage.
If this drops Orange, I will cast litany of sloth as a swift action and then move away from the fray if that is successful. DC14 Will negates litany.
Augrym thrashes on the ground and, with a bit of help from Marc, sends one of the slavering wolves to Pharasma. Unrak charges at another.
Round II
1. Marc, Augrym (6/39 hp, prone), Zed, Unrak
2. Worgs (green blind, 18 dmg)
3. Taranis
Zed casts Magic Missile at the most damaged foe!
My attack is above
Zed flings a pair of missiles at the blinded wolf, which looks very much worse for wear and tries to flee! The other snaps again at Augrym.
MISS
Round II
1. Marc, Augrym (6/39 hp, prone), Zed, Unrak
2. Worgs (green blind, 25 dmg)
3. Taranis
Down to a single foe, Taranis hops the sphere towards the worg.
He then casts a spell of Acidmaw on Toth.
Teeth dripping, Toth attacks on command:
for
for
for
Augrym, still on the ground, cuts down the fleeing wolf, and Taranis and his creature combine to do in the other!
Wiping his blade on one of the dead warg's coats, Unrak releases his rage and puts a hand down to help Augrym up. Hmm, y'ok there mate? Got a couple scratches there...
He then looks about, eyeing his brother. Do wargs lair, or wander? Maybe these beasts had some treasure...if they're smart enough to talk and ambush, maybe they also like the shinys.
"Agreed brother. Let's spend a bit of time looking, but not the whole night."
"Grrrrrrr"