Alexander frowns as they approach. We should be careful. This place is infested with mites. Not something we want to stumble into by accident.
Insects? Well getting infested with fleas sounds unpleasant so we should avoid it.
Alexander smiles, Fae actually, though I don't know much about them. If I had to guess, they're probably as annoying as the insect.
Well unless we want to go mite hunting, I see no reason to go in.
Might be best to scout it out. We wouldn't want a mite infestation so close to Oleg's bustling settlement. That could cause a problem with expansion. Alexander frowns. I wonder how many there truly are?
If there are many, we could burn them out. Smoke down the holes.
Eduard speaks with a slight shrug, unsure of the best way to deal with the situation, and ponders the creatures, wondering how likely they are to be potential allies.
Well after Eduard tells us what he knows we can decide. If they are capable of reason we might be able to discuss some agreement.
Mites, once closer to the strange realm of the fey, have grown larger and stockier after countless generations spent on the Material Plane. Yet still, their stature places them at the bottom of the pile in the dangerous caverns in which they live. Their traditional enemies are dwarves and gnomes, particularly the svirfneblin of the deep underground caves. The one thing that gives them a significant edge over an enemy in a fight is their natural ability to empathize with normally mindless vermin—mites are particularly fond of spiders, centipedes, and cave fishers, and a mite colony usually has a few of these far more dangerous monsters on hand to defend the group.
Although they have lost the supernatural ability to tinker with magic items, luck, or mechanical objects possessed by their more sinister and dangerous gremlin kin, mites retain the ability to perform minor magical tricks with prestidigitation, and often use these tricks to annoy their enemies. When faced with dangerous foes, a mite uses its doom ability to hex a foe—a mite's eyes bulge hideously open when it uses this spell-like ability.
A mite is 3 feet tall and weighs 40 pounds.
Soren keeps his bow out, but speaks softly.
We really need some of those more fancy magic wands that decimate multiple goes at once. I had to run down a fugitive once who had one that shot massive fireballs... He was a hard one to bring back in. Ended up killing him in his sleep with a poisoned arrow. Lost half the bounty like that, but with that stick of his, I wasn't about to take a chance. Half is better than being dead.
We should end their existence, now. They are a blight on our lands, and will be a thorn in our sides as long as they remain!
They do sound like they will be a nuisance. Hmm...I could pray for some miracles that emits a blast of sound that can stun, good for crowds.
I think they would make very helpful allies. Let us not be hasty, Eduard says as he smiles. They can control the vermin population, they are intelligent, and they are unlikely to be brave enough to rise up against us. And, furthermore, it sounds as though they simply dislike being mocked. Perhaps if we treat them with respect - as allies - then they may see us as a valuable partner.
Alexander shrugs, It's at least worth checking out. The less we have to fight our way through this countryside, the better. He frowns, What do they speak? Sylvan? Common? Maybe...goblin?
You said that they were Fey, who here speaks it. Some cowardly subjects who can control vermin could be useful.
I do not think that Fey is a language. I'm not sure I know what language these things speak, but I suspect they are capable of speaking something...or at least understanding it. Goblin or similar seems likely if they are offended by the words of goblins.
Soren, what do you think? Is there a good way to scout it out withotu drawing attention to ourselves? Alexander asks the woodsman.
Soren scratches the back of his neck while he answers.
I don't think so... Not without magic at least. I don't have anything to do it, anyway. It'd be likely anyone trying to sneak up there to look in one of those holes would be spotted by the mites inside.
He looks up the tree, and then back at Alexander.
I could try if you want to, though. I've climbed my share of trees. This one is just... bigger than the rest.
I can cast a spell that lets me understand spoken languages but not speak them and allow one being to understand a language I know. So, if we can meet with their leader, perhaps I can use that miracle and allow it to understand us.
Thaliar listened intently, "From what I know of these creatures they can be hard to talk to. We can give it a try, just be prepared for an attack at all times." He nods, seemingly thinking about the entire mite situation.
"I can not speak there language but I can ensure I understand it, like I did with the Boggart."
Very well, let us head up. Shall we yell down a hole and ask for their leader?
Perhaps we should watch for a time. Get a sense of how many there are? If they are indeed difficult to talk to, it'd be best to know what we're getting into before we try. Alexander shrugs, But it appears you'll be doing the talking, so we shall follow your lead. He smiles and winks and rests his hand on his sword belt.
That sounds reasonable
If you choose to stay and watch for a time, you will eventually see some movement on the tree. A couple small blue figures seem to be taking shortcuts by popping out of different holes in the tree and then going back in new ones. Out of the largest hole located near the base of the tree, you also see a small blue figure ride out on the back of a giant centipede and go off away from the tree.
Well it is..kind of hard to tell them apart. They do have that centipede. So, shall we greet our potential new neighbors?
Radomir glowers at the mites. Aye. Let us meet them. His hands tighten on his bardiche and he follows Alex and the others.
Alexander nods, We might as well. As Thaliar warned, stay ready. If anything, they're probably sneaky. He smiles and, despite his words, seems unconcerned as he walks forward with Andrea.
Your group begins to slowly moves towards the large tree, keeping an eye out for the mite.
So intent you are upon the tree and it's denizens that you almost stumble over three kobold bodies half hidden by the tall grasses and weeds of the area. Each body is pierced by a number of small sized arrows, has bite wounds and has been stripped of everything but their loincloths.
From your now closer position, you notice that the tree itself has also been victim of attacks. There are clearly some scorch marks on it as well as some marks left by axes.
Andrea casts Comprehend languages on Alexander.
Apparently they dislike kobolds as much as we do. This is a promising start. Alexander chuckles as they move forward.
You approach the tree, and wait only a few minutes before a mite pops out, clearly intending on going somewhere important. He is quite taken aback by the sight of your group clustered near the tree and very nearly loses his grip. He glares down at you all angrily, shakes his tiny fist and chirps at all of you in a language that only only Alexander currently understands.
Alexander raises his hands and speaks calmly to the creature, You wouldn't happen to have anyone around that speaks common, would you? We are no friends of the kobolds and would like to speak to you.
The creature gives Alexander a very disgusted look, hurumphs in displeasure and pops back inside the hole.
Five minutes later, a mite appears at a different hole. One high enough so that any direct assault on him would be difficult. "Big ones, why do you trespass upon our lands? Speak well or face our wrath."
Alexander looks surprised, Common? Oh, excellent! He smiles and steps forward, Perfect. We're here exploring the surrounding land and happened upon your...village? Town? Well, your tree. He waves his hand to indicate the dwelling. We were hoping you could tell us more about yourselves and maybe your home. We ourselves are building somewhat of a community in these parts and it seems like we might end up being neighbors. Now I, for one, would really prefer to be friendly neighbors because the other kind...well, that's just a hassle for everyone. He smiles and shrugs, [b]So, in the interest of being neighborly, my name is Alexander Orlovsky and these are my friends. I'll let them introduce themselves, but we are all delighted to meet you.
We are travelers who wish to settle these lands. We do not wish to bring the wrath of those who have lived here long before us. We wish to make agreement with your chief that we can travel your lands un attacked. Perhaps trade with you?
Soran just nods at the chief, completely out of his element. Speaking isn't is his strong suit. Speaking with fey who ride bugs... well, that's just damned unnatural.
Thaliar nods, "My name is Thaliar Medevin. Like my colleagues say, we would like to make sure we can all live here in a friendly, neighbourly way. Isn't that the best way?"
Yes, as my friends say, this is a wonderful opportunity.
The mite turns around to converse with whoever is behind him in the tree. After several minutes of conversation, he turns back around.
"All right Big Ones, we shall consider your request for being peaceful neighbors. Though first we ask you to bring us a token to prove your intentions to us. Bring us the head of Chief Sootscale. The Sootscale tribe of Kobolds have no appreciation for our magics and will not rest until they succeed in destroying our tree and our clan. There can be no peace in this land until they are either gone or acknowledge our dominance."
Andrea looks to the others. We haven't had good relations with those kobolds so it doesn't sound too unreasonable.
Alexander smiles, Indeed, we have had poor relations with the kobolds already. Though...[b], he chuckles, [b]it seems a high price to pay to entertain a request to be friends. That is, to wipe out another tribe. What can you tell us of them and your feud?
We can certainly be persuaded. Perhaps we could discuss what trade a positive relationship with your clan could do for our own settlement? Some of your expertise on the surrounding land and, of course, safe passage for us and our allies. He smiles and places his hands on his hips.
Plus the mites are experts on insects, if we ever have troubles with them your advice would be very valuable.
Once they're safetly out of earshot of the mites, Radomir grimly chimes in. So, we're to be peacekeepers between vermin and pests. He shrugs. So be it. They could, as Andrea says, become useful tools and servants.
The Mites confer amongst themselves again before responding to Alexander.
"We only know the land that this tree sits upon. The ground that it grows out of is much more familiar to us. If you need any advice on getting things out of the earth or perhaps learning how to properly engage in a prank war, then perhaps we can assist you."
hat sounds...very helpful. Where do the Sootscale live?
That's...interesting. Alexander smiles and nods as Andrea speaks. Indeed, give us their location, and we'll see what we can do about your problem.