Giants Reign (Inactive)

Game Master Tall Tale Teller

Rose puts on an appropriate display passing each of the gathered a bit of fruit. While they eat she takes the time to speak. While your enthusiasm is heartening I made promises. And thus I cannot take credit tor the food filling our bellies. The credit goes to Talirin for this bounty. Rose pushes him to the front and begins to chant his name.

The crowd applauds Talirin and chants along with Rose.

Meanwhile Lershoth and company can see thick black smoke beginning to rise from the forest. Creatures of different shapes and sizes start running or flying out in different directions.

Polmar the fire is spreading to the trees now, and climbing. Faster then you may have thought, maybe this foliage after have toxic fog on it for so long is the cause.

Polmar will run down the path quickly, covering his mouth, remove disease ready to cast if necessary.

Polmar runs up the north path. He sees the flames coming from the side and behind him as if on the chase. Polmar comes to a cave. With little choice he enters it. He goes for a little while before he walks into cold water that comes up to his shoulders. There are numerous holes in the top of the cave so smoke does not get backed inside Polmar is also lower than the smoke currently.

Lersoth and company see the forest is now ablaze. With the shrubbery around it catching on fire as well. Leading to the grass catching. Which leads to many surrounding areas, including the one you all occupy. Get underground maybe?

Jalel paled as he saw the flames spreading. "No! What did he do?! Quickly we have to go back!"

Lershoth stands somewhat transfixed.
"Huh, that's rather interesting. I wonder if I could take samples, look at the smoke, seems rather odd doesn't it? Perhaps a quick run into the forest, I am fire resistant after all."

Lershoth will move up close to the fire, keeping low with his shirt around his mouth, and attempt to gather some samples of plant material that is burned and some that is not burned. If he manages to get some he will quickly retreat back towards the entrance.

The crowd applauds Talirin and chants along with Rose.

Talirin nods his thanks to Rose, speaking to the crowd...

Rose directs several others and pitches in as they put the food with their other supplies and leaves Talirin to the attentions of the crowd.

Lershoth got the samples. His group then quickly heads back to the underground.

Rose you see Lersoth and a few others rush into the main cavern. You can smell smoke.

Rose puts down the food she's carrying and moves towards the rushing group. What is it, did the dragon make a second sweep?

Polmar taps Lershoth on the back, seated on the looted chest.

"How yoo fellas doin'? Did ya miss me? I was gonna beright back once the smoke died down"

Polmar has a mischievious grin on his face.

Whoa whoa whoa. Polmar your still in a cave as a fire burns around you. Are you not paying attention to the posts I put up?

I'm in a cave near the fire and Lershoth ran into the fire and then ran all the way back to the original hideout?

The fire spread. And got close to the location where they all where which was just outside the underground base.

Yeah, sorry, Lershoth wasn't intending to go frolicking about into the fire more than necessary for some quick samples.

Lershoth dusts off some soot off of his coat. "Not exactly, we went outside to see if we could figure out where Polmar went. And well... Not sure what happened, but the whole forest is now up in flames.

Which is why we are now back inside. Something is off about the plants though, the fire seemed to spread unusually quick. I managed to grab a few burned and unburned samples, I hope to run some tests."

Lershoth's tail twitches in excitement as the prospect of looking into the plants supersedes other concerns.

Rose growls as a dark look overtakes her face before turning around and punching one of the walls of the cave. The whole forest, dammit, we could have used that lumber, but if it went up that fast we could die, chunks will be left as charcoal, but any nearby water will be polluted, I, grr, Rose stops to breathe, well, there's nothing we can do about it. We'll just have to wait it out and see what's salvageable. Any sign of Polmar?

"No, unfortunately, Nephele likely had a lead on him but before we could go anywhere with it then fire started. If he's alive he is on his own for now."
Lershoths hands run across the samples he collected, his mind clearly elsewhere at the moment.
"Well, not much good is going on here. I'll be in my lab if you need anything, going to work on establishing if the plant matter bears any unusual characteristics.."

Lershoth hurriedly runs off to his lab to begin research into the samples he collected.
Alchemy: 1d20 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 10 + (1) = 30
Inspiration!

Curious, most curious, it's a shame I don't have anything to compare them to.

Nephele can create 8 gallons, or 1 cubic foot of water every round via her Create Water cantrip. Is it plausible that this fire could be put out via use of this spell? Even if it isn't, isn't it likely Nephele could create enough water that the polluted water Rose is currently worried about shouldn't be a huge issue?

Lershoth, You notice with the samples that they both bear a toxin of some kind. Good chance that is what caused them to burn so quickly. Though the type of poison is not one you have seen before. The plants have broken it down enough though where touching them is not apparently harmful, and you believe that if ingested in small doses a possible immunity could be built up. Maybe that is how some things were able to live in the fog. They had a natural immunity already or have grown tolerant to a something that contained the same or a similar poison.

Nephele, that is a yes to your questions. Though it would take a while to put out depending on the power of the fire.

Polmar hangs out in the cave waiting for the fire to pass.

Rose sighs as she goes to examine the wood and estimate how many carts could be made in case the leftovers from the fire leave an area unsuitable for habitation.

Nephele gets started, creating a miniature raincloud, dumping the water onto the fire, slowly but surely limiting its spread.

Talirin will watch over Nephele as she works unless Rose has another specific task for him.

He strikes up a conversation with the Sylph, Nephele, you seem to have some gifts of Nature, it is in your nature or something more?
Do you think we can bring the outside world back after it has been poisoned so badly?

"Is it in my nature to do what exactly, cast spells?" Nephele grunts, still hard at work putting out the flames and slightly irritated at the distraction. "Yes, I do think the outside world can be healed, its certainly proved resilient so far, although I have no idea how long it would take, nor the scale of the damage (if any), that its currently taken".

Suddenly! Everyone hears the sound of enormous flapping wings. Those outside see the massive shape of the Omni-Dragon, flying in the direction of the burning forest.

When it reaches the forest it hovers above it and lets out a earth shattering *ROAR*

The ground below quakes!

Large storm clouds form within the sky. Sheet lightning flashes, thunder sounds and a heavy downpour of raindrops fall upon the lands below.

After some time, the rain stops and the clouds disperse. Though the fire is now gone the damage has been done. A lot of the trees are charred or ash. So is much of the vegetation that was surrounding the forest.

The dragon remains hovering above. It closes it's eyes and goes quiet for a moment. It then opens them and points to a spot in the forest ruins. A small figure floats out of the forest, until it is eye level with the Omni-Dragon.

Polmar. You swam out of the cave as it began to flood. You were looking for a way out of the forest, when you felt yourself floating up off the ground. You went up and up, until you were faced with the giant eyes of the Omni-Dragon. It was giving you an appraising look.

You then saw it's mouth open. For a second you thought it was going to devour you. But then, a booming voice punctured the air. "How did such a small creature cause so much damage? I thought the halflings were a peaceful race?" The Omni-Dragon was speaking.

The whole party can hear this. And have a good guess who the dragon is talking to since it said Halfling. Though you cannot make out Polar from this distance.

Rose rushes out of the cave at hearing the booming voice and sees the damage wreaked. how much of the forest is left? Dammit Polmar!

@Rose. Everything is either badly burned or ash.

"Oh Polmar... what did you... did you burn the forest?" Jalel said in shock.

No, that's not what's important. I need to see this for myself.

Without another moment wasted Jalel ran to the door.

Polmar wrings out his clothing increduluously looks at the Dragon.

Well, you see, it all started with a Spider the size of an elephant - I ran from it and found my path home blocked by its web. I figured I would just burn the web and be on my way - imagine my surprise when the entire forest went up in flames! However, I must correct you - I am an adherent of the Nuada Silverhand, so I am not afraid to fight. But eh, this destruction wasn't my intention.

The dragon, thinks for a second then replies,"But the destruction was still done by your hand. Intentional or not. This forest was sacred. But now it lies in ruins. A price must be paid. Don't you agree?"

Polmar rolls his eyes at the dragon " Look, sacred or not, the forest went up in like 5 minutes. It if wasn't me burning away a spider's web it was going to be the next time the area got a thunderstorm that the whole thing was going up in flames. You want to punish me to show your strength, then that's one thing, but I don't think you can punish anyone for such a freak accident that was just waiting to happen."

The dragon also seems annoyed. It then says, "Let me think here.....Yes. That will do."

The Dragon then grins. "Across the sea, there is a land where a special seed can be found. That once planted can grow many trees within a short period of time. You will fetch this seed and bring it back here to be planted. If you refuse you die. If you decide later to not do the task you die...In fire! I will give you till morning to prepare and take who you want with you. Then I will send you to that land. Be outside by sunrise. It then sends you gently back on the ground near where you entered the forest and flies back toward the mountains.

He's mouthing off to a dragon. *facepalm*

Polmar looks livid as he is set down Fine I'll plant your damn forest. And build a treehouse in it.

Polmar grabs his chest (presuming he is set down roughly the same spot) and trots back to the camp.

So a funny thing happened on a way back from the forest

Rose and company see Polmar coming back to the base. When he nears he opens with, "So a funny thing happened on the way back from the forest..."

If that chest isn't something incredible, I am seriously going to rethink whether we need the headaches you cause here.

Lershoth, having been excited over his discovery, now joins everyone else outside to see what the commotion is.

My, that's the same Dragon from before. I wonder...

Lershoth clears his mind as he focuses on what the Dragon is saying.
Gods Polmar, why did you go and make a creature like that unhappy.

Lershoth's tail twitches, though in fear or curiosity he doesn't even know.

Polmar sets it down and place a foot on it, in a classic Captain Morgan pose and blows a raspberry at Rose Yes it is good to see you too Rose, thanks for asking if I was ok after spending the night outside the settlement, it was nice of you to be so concerned. I have no idea what's in this chest I was hoping Lershoth could take a look at it...but I found it up in the old knight settlement up there. No one seems to have claimed it and it's very good high ground if we can clear out the house-sized spider population somehow. I also found some old armor and stuff we might be able to turn into plowshares or melt down to make new armor for some of our people.

He looks at the incredulous looks on Lershoth and others faces Oh yeah and that a+%*!&~ wants me to go get some magic seed to repopulate the forest and I guess I'll do it, but he could have asked nicer. Not my fault his stupid sacred forest went up in flames in like 5 minutes after I set a spiderweb on fire to clear it out of my way. Amazing some random spark from a storm or something didnt raze it a long time ago.

When you choose to do something stupid do not expect me to ask after your health when you stand in front of me hale and hearty. And do you truly wish to antagonize a dragon further? He may yet decide to eat you. I would think it would better your immediate future if you chose to keep your opinions of the dragon to yourself.

Polmar grins Name the stupid thing I did? When a spiderweb sets out to ensnare you, would you not set it afire? If he were going to eat me, he'd have done it in the first place. No no, that thing thinks its king of all this land. That's why its making me perform some menial task it could easily accomplish itself. It's an act of rulership. And if you think I hate it when you do it, I really hate it when something like that does it. So I am going. Anyone else who wants to go can come with, I don't really care if you don't. In fact, the rest of you blowing it off would make me happy since it would show we don't respect his claim to authority.

Spending the night outside of our sanctuary with no knowledge of the dangers that await, choosing to place yourself in more danger than necessary to exert your independence when our people need us, those are things you chose to do. You put your wants above the needs of our people, the people we grew with, the ones we survived with, the closest thing to family we have left.

You choose to be independent rather than to be depended on and eventually you will find a situation where you'll have no one at your back when it's needed. And since it pleases you so much, I'll choose my people over a dragon's snack. Perhaps when others choose to have your back, you will value them more. Rose moves towards the forest looking for the closest source of water to see who it has fared.

Jalel watched as Rose went and made his way over to Polmar. "Hmm, that didn't go as well as I had hoped.

Do you see what I'm getting at Polmar? You have inadvertently caused yourself, and thus the rest of us by extension, to become the vassals of this being. It's possible that your actions while unintentional, have brought us a unique opportunity that we would otherwise have missed. I feel Rose is being a little harsh in her judgement, but I will say that she probably doing what she thinks is best. Still, cooler heads may yet prevail here. I will help you on this task, even if would prefer we didn't listen to this Dragon at all."

Lershoth mostly ignores the bickering, his natural curiosity taking the best of him with the chest. As he approaches the thing to inspect it, he mentions absentmindedly to anyone listening."I'd be happy to take a look.
I found some sort of poisonous material on the samples I collected, it's likely why the whole place went up so quickly. As source of fire that got in contact with that stuff would have likely set it ablaze eventually."

Lershoth bends down and begins to look the chest over.
Perception for Traps and Noticeable Markings: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19 21 vs traps

Assuming it looks safe.
Disable Device to open it or remove any traps: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 29 vs traps

Lersoth, not finding anything suspicious about the chest then begins to pick it. 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...................................................................Six vials. Each with a different color liquid inside. The colors are as follows: Red, blue, pink, yellow, black and green.