Belegar furrows his brow and begins an incantation.
ghostbane dirge: DC15 will save
Belegar uses anti-incorporeal magic, and it goes off. Whether it was of effect, remains to be seen.
The rider swings its sword at Alluriel again.
The spectral blade comes down on her in a swift strike, hurting her badly.
----------
Jurgan
Jurgan curses and stuffs a piece of licorice root in his mouth as he chews it thoroughly and sprays it into the air finishing the spell with a few archaic syllables.
"So what our are options? I had not anticipated headless incorporeal creatures when we journeyed this path but retreat seems in order!"
All of the hasted creature's modes of movement (including land movement, burrow, climb, fly, and swim) increase by 30 feet, to a maximum of twice the subject's normal speed using that form of movement.
”Aye, discretion is the better part of valour.”
Everything speeds up for the team, the rush of feeling like the wind comes over them.
========================
Alluriel & Vaunu
Belegar (go post ahead)
--------------
Headless horseman
--------------
Jurgan
"All right then, let's get out of here." Alluriel begins to move out.
Shadow also follows his mistress.
With the team deciding to make a tactical withdraw, Alluriel heads back into the forest, followed by Shadow, while Vaunu makes a few attacks to divert the rider's attention.
Belegar follows Alluriel.
-------------------------
The rider swings its blade at Vaunu.
The brave wayang gets a slicing in return.
--------------------------
Jurgan
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Jurgan heeds the wayang's words and heads off after Alluriel and Belegar. "Come, come wayang. I do not think your head would fit appropriately on the shoulders of that spectral creature."
As the four rush themselves back into the woods, the horseman seems confused, and it takes off, disappearing into the road.
Combat over.
Alluriel heals herself with her own magic. "I think we need to talk with priestess Eileen about whatever this thing that haunts the road is."
If no one objects she will lead the party back to town to speak to priestess Eileen about it.
"This way!" Alluriel happily leads the group someway.
Alluriel leads the team on a route she thinks she is right. Except it isn't. And by now, it's become halfway the afternoon, the many trees lessening the light coming through, leaving it in lower lighted condition.
The team stumbles upon a scene, with a makeshift tent against a large tree.
Something is in the tree. A humanoid shape.
"Hmmm we've been walking for a long time have we not?"
"I suppose we have. Hey, there's a tent over there."Alluriel points out the tent. "Hello there!" Alluriel calls out to the tent. "Anybody home?"
A disembodied voice: "Oh? Strays near my camp?"
"What do you want?"
"Uh hi, whatever you are."Alluriel speaks to that unknown voice. "We're here investigating the strange happenings in Serenity Hollow. People have been going missing and just now a pair of infected wolves attacked a farmhand. We tracked them down, ran away from a spectral headless horseman and ended up here."
"Do you know what happened in the woods?" She asks the disembodied voice.
The previously unfriendly tone is more indifferent.
"Well, someone's got manners. I like that. Refinement is seriously underrated these days, would you not agree?"
(Pause)
"The horseman? Ah, i recall that one. Used to be a scout or messenger, i do not know who or what did him in. Suffice to say, that one is unpredictable."
"Thete, a bit of information.
If you want more, i want something in return."
"Yeah. So many people resort to violence at the first opportunity."Alluriel answers sadly.
"What is the favor that you seek?" Alluriel asks curiously. "What are you exactly?"
(chuckle)
"Wouldn't you like to know, hmm?"
"What i want...., is to spend an evening with the well mannered lady.
It would be refreshing to talk with other company as well."
Alluriel feels a finger stroke gently across her cheek.
After which 15 feet away, a pale looking half-elf appears.
Dressed in aristocratic clothes, covered by a broad green mantle, the figure stands gracefully.
"What about it?"
'We don't know anything about what's happening in this woods and the voice may know more. The voice may be the witch in the woods too. Doesn't seem like a bad bargain.'Alluriel thinks to herself.
"That would be fine. We accept your invitation."Alluriel gives a wry grin. "I must admit that I am very curious about you as well."
"Good sir, my name is Alluriel."She gives the elf a curtsey."May I know how I may address you?"
The half-elf slightly grins too, the tips of sharp canines slightly sticking from underneath the upper lip.
"I am Llamryl.", the kind of androgynous type replies.
Like for example the name 'Alex' , Llamryn is an elven name used for either.
"Ah, but my invitation was you personally."
"I have not heard of Kaer Maga yet.
The reason, you ask. I am not into men, and a good conversation one on one is often time well spent. Miss Alluriel here showed manners, before and after i showed myself, instead of prejudice."
"I do so hope none of you do so as well. Maiming one another is such ugly business. The brutal things it does to the looks of those involved is just appaling."
"Llamryl - could my companions join me as well? As you can see, it's getting late - I fear for their safety should they be trying to make their way back to Serenity Hollow at night." Alluriel requests. "Or even if they cannot - could they be camped somewhere that we can go to their aid if they run into trouble?"
"The woods are not safe - the wolves we fought were infested with parasites. I believe someone out there has been deliberately infesting the wolves - and where there is one, there are more." Alluriel shakes her head.
"When I find the person responsible for the wolves plight, I will not hesitate to resort to violence. To do something to an innocent animal..." A fierce look enters Alluriel's eyes, "That one, for harming an animal that has done them no harm, deserves no mercy."
Belegar doesn't make much of an impression on Llamryl, but his puppy eyes, instead of words, seem to contribute to Alluriel's plea.
"You seemed like an elf of the sorts that has something quite useful to say. I am sure you would honour your word and be willing to answer any of Alluriel's questions. She will make for an admirable companion for the evening."
A humanoid figure is observing you from the tree.
Jurgan doesn't seem to make a refined impression on Llamryl, but his chosen words do not fall on deaf ears.
"Very well. The short one can stay. Your elf and dwarf friends will find several covered spots nearby, should they so choose to make camp."
With the time becoming late in the afternoon, the light fades even more, with the thick canopy above.
Llamryl turns around, and after pushing a side of the mantle aside, starts climbing the tree with ease, disappearing above.
Shortly after, a small table, and three chairs, are lowered by a rope.
Jurgan resigns himself to studying his spellbooks. 'Research. Research. Research.' he thinks to himself.
"Thank you for aceeding to my request."Alluriel thanks Llamryl gratefully. "I fear the region has become unsafe of the late."
"That's remarkable!" Alluriel exclaims in delight as the chairs and table is lowered. "How do you manage to preserve the amenities of civilization in these wild woods?"
"Do you need help preparing dinner? I could ask Shadow to help hunt something."Alluriel offers.
"What do you know about what ails the woods? There was the headless horseman haunting the crossroads and the wolves have been infested with parasites. Furthermore something has been kidnapping the townsfolk in Serenity Hollow. Do you know who or what could be behind these?" Alluriel asks Llamryl.
I fear the region has become unsafe of the late
(Still up in the tree, between many leaves and branches)
"The region in general, yes, but it partially depends on where one chooses to dwell."That's remarkable!" Alluriel exclaims in delight as the chairs and table is lowered. "How do you manage to preserve the amenities of civilization in these wild woods?"
"You flatter me. You'd be surprised how well ancient trees can provide space to those willing to live around them. These four i purchased at one point, i have my means to get them around."
A basket descends, two small bottles with some cups, and some loose dried fruit being its contents.
Llamryl effortlessly climbs down afterwards.
Do you need help preparing dinner? I could ask Shadow to help hunt something."Alluriel offers.
"I am on a particular diet. Meats aren't my forte."
, as one bottle is uncorked, and a very red liquid is poured into Llamryl's own cup."The other one is your average wine."
When the question of general ailment comes around the corner, Llamryl sits back, holding the cup in one hand.
"The horseman has been around for a decade, i think, to my knowledge.
Seemingly, in life, affiliated with pioneers who settled in these parts.
The missing townsfolk? I can promise you, that i have had no hand in that. The fact that townsfolk are kidnapped from a wall encircled town, surprises me. I'd imagine something that is either a good climber, or someone who knows enough magical means."
'If he meant us harm, he could have done it a whole back.'Alluriel takes the red wine and sips it, as well as helping herself to the food.
"So what do you mean by the area people choose to dwell. Are some parts more dangerous then others?" Alluriel questions Llamryl.
"Do you know what affiliation the headless horseman has with the pioneers?" Alluriel asks.
"We suspect the assailant attacked from air. On our way here we were attacked by what the dwarf Jurgan called an air elemental. It might have been able to carry the townsfolk away."Alluriel notes. "I threatened that it would get hurt if it didn't stop attacking us and it left."
"Do you know anything about the parasite infested wolves?" Alluriel adds.