Satisfied that Radomir has fulfilled his duty to his lord, Radomir will continue in his duties as chief Warden.
Andrea will help finalize arrangements with the diplomat exchange and fill out mounds of paperwork.
Getting chewed on by plant monsters is better than paperwork.
Finnegan focuses on the duties of his office, ensuring that the patrols are keeping an eye out in the direction the hill giant had said the trolls were located.
Alexander will happily show Serah the local shops and markets and spend his time impressing the two envoys.
Othniel will work with the town guard and ensure that any criminal are prosecuted and punished swiftly, especially if they dare to harm or steal from our honored guests.
Once all the matters of state have been settled, Alexander will go about planning the next expedition. Mr. Rook, it seems our best path is to go southwest, explore the rest of these lakes, then turn west into the forest. After that...we can either return or head further south and swing back through the southern rivers. What do you think?
You're group is preparing your packs and horses and doing whatever else you need to do before heading out when two guards rush up to you all while bringing a very shaken man between the two of them.
One of the guards speaks to you: "My lords, this man has just ridden in from Novyi Svet and reports that the town was attacked by a terrifying monster of immense size, part bear and part owl, that crashed into the town and killed dozens before it had its fill of destruction and lumbered off into the hills to the south-east. He also said that newly plowed fields have been torn up, trees have been knocked down, livestock has been slaughtered, and buildings have been flattened. The townsfolk are terrified that the creature may return once it begins to hunger again and are begging for help."
Well, it appears we'll be headed north instead of south.
This sounds similar to that creature we encountered several months ago. Had eggs that we sold off.
An owlbear? Seems like a lot of damage for just one. Perhaps another nest of them? Alexander frowns as he contemplates the situation. Mr. Rook, I trust you'll be able to track them.
You all head off towards Novyi Svet and make it there without encountering anything dangerous.
As you ride up you can clearly see the damage done to the gardens and small outbuildings and corals. Getting closer you can see the buildings that have had major structural damage done to them and there are several townsfolk out digging what appears to graves and several others trying to clear up and dispose of the partially eaten carcasses of a couple horses, a cow and three sheep.
The townsfolk all look relieved to see your group and some begin talking, saying things like: "Thank the gods you've come so quickly. Please kill the beast that did this." "Please save us from this beast's return, it's already killed the couple that lived right beside me. I could have been next."
Of course. We came as soon as we heard. Alexander consoles the townsfolk. We'll track this creature down and make sure it never returns. The tall man whispers to the large black bird on his shoulder and it takes to the sky. He nods at Finnegan, trusting the Slayer will be able to track the creature.
Can anyone describe more about it? We have encountered an owlbear before but this sounds much bigger
"Perhaps some magic at work here, to enlarge the creature." Othniel says quietly when the townsfolk are out of earshot.
Like any good eyewitness, the descriptions vary to wildly for you to get what would be an accurate size. You may attempt to determine the size of the creature for yourselves base off of the heights of its claw marks and foot prints.
The general appearance of the monster does seem to match that of an owlbear, though a few of the accounts seem rather wild and you are fairly sure that the child who says the monster breathed fire is just exaggerating.
"I should be able to track the creature down. If it is as large as they say it is, it will leave a trail barring magic of some kind."
Finnegan studies the tracks, looking for signs of the creature's general size. He'd never seen an Owlbear before, but they sounded like quite the beast to bring down. He looked forward to hunting it.
You estimate the creature to be roughly 20 feet in height. Certainly larger than any owlbear you have met yet.
You are able to track the creature relatively easily given that it is hard for something that big to be stealthy. The tracks move off towards the south-east, which also appears to be the direction it came from.
Finnegan stands from dusting where he was studying the tracks, dusting his pants off. "Based on the size of these tracks, this creature stands 20 feet tall. It will be easy to track - barring magic, it is difficult for something so large to be stealthy. That being said, we will have to move quickly. Such a large creature also requires a great deal of food, which means it may come back if it's hungry."
Indeed, I have to wonder if some magic was involved in it's size, we'll need to investigate it's lair.
After a few hours of tracking, which you can do on horseback, you find yourselves in the hills to the south-east of Novyi Svet and staring at the opening to a cave that the tracks appear have gone into.
Given the amount of recently torn up vines and other vegetation, it appears that this entrance was hidden until a very large and very angry Owlbear burst out of it.
Looking into the cave, the of it mouth widens into a large cavern, dimly lit from what little sunlight penetrates that far, filthy with carrion and offal. A bewildering variety of molds and fungi grow on the floor and walls, some as big as a person, and countless insects scuttle about underfoot, feeding on the mounds of waste. A large tunnel slopes down to the south, with a similar opening to the north. The sloping of the tunnels make it impossible for anyone to tell how long the tunnels are or what might be in them.
Othniel pulls up short as he reaches the mouth of the cave. "Hold up. We need to be careful. Those" he says, pointing to some large purple toadstools "Are Shriekers. Come too close or shine a light on them and your ears will wish you hadn't. But the real problem is the deep purple ones over there." he says, gesturing again. "Those are called, obviously enough, Violet Fungi. They possess a powerful venom that can rot a limb in seconds, and they are highly mobile, for fungus. They'll reach out and strike you if you come too close."
Hmm..Can we move around the shriekers?
Should i run them through, my lord?
It'd be best if we could clear them out. In case we need to come out this way in a hurry. Alexander says, as he peers into the cave.
I could send them off to a different end of the cavern with summoned rats
"I was thinking maybe we could hit them with spells and arrows from a distance, but that's not a bad idea either."
Amusingly, I can also send in some rats. However, perhaps it would be best to start by destroying the screaming ones first. We can keep the others at bay with the rats and pick them off as they try to approach. Alexander frowns, We just need to keep those two things from screaming and waking up anything else in this cave.
Finnegan studied the two shriekers - the darkness posed no problem for him. ”Say the word and I’ll shoot both shriekers.”
Alexander nods, We'll have Andrea summon the rats for a distraction. Radomir, looks like we'll be putting that bow of yours to use. He chuckles and nods towards the massive knight. Mr. Rook, Othniel, and Radomir will take out the screamers then start firing on those others. Alexander looks out into the cave again. Once the shooting starts, I'll drop an entangle on those things and keep them in place. Should make short work of them from there and it won't slow down the swarms.
When everyone is ready, Andrea summons a virtual carpet of rats that sweep around the Violent Fungi and try to lure them off.
SQUEEEKKK!!!!!
Finnegan looses an arrow at the furthest of the shriekers.
Finnegan unloads more arrows into the same shrieker.
Radomir nods to Finnegan and pulls back his bow. He steadies himself and releases the arrow at the the same fungus Finnegan struck.
The grim knight follows his first arrow with another volley of two more in quick succession.
Alexander shouts, Now!
The tall man casts entangle beneath the violet fungi.
Othniel summons his mage armor then, on Alexander's command, dashes forward into range and fires a blob of acid at the mushroom.
...but it's way off target.
Andrea lords over her rats
Othniel summons his Mage Armor.
Alexander Inspires Courage.
Finnegan sinks an arrow into a shrieker.
Radomir launches an arrow, but can't duplicate Finnegan's success.
Eduard lobs a ball of acid at a shrieker.
,
And strikes one.
Andrea begins her summomings.
Othniel lobs acid into the surrounding muck.
Alexander casts Entangle under the Violet Fungi.
The Violet Fungi struggle against the vines:
And all three fail and cannot get within reach of anyone.
Finnegan is able to dispatch both shriekers before they get the chance to alert any monsters in the area.
Radomir sends two arrows into a Fungi.
Eduard lobs a ball of acid at a Fungi.
,
Andrea's rats appear.
Radomir sends another volley of arrows towards the fungs
Finnegan studies a fungus before losing an arrow at it.
Round 2
Andrea sends her rats to attack the fungi
Alexander takes a shot at the fungus with his shortbow.