"Iomedae bless all in this place," Lucanor says simply
Michael, in a show of respect, dismounts from his horse and approaches Elara on foot. When he reaches her, he takes her hand in both of his and whispers
"May the gods shine on your work here. I haven't much to give right now, but please, take this. At the very least it should help feed the children for a few days.
He lets go to reveal that he has placed his entire coin purse into her hand.
"Make the best use of it that you can."
Michael then turns to the rest of the group.
"Well, wolf activity is up. That means at night we're going to need to make sure we keep an active guard if we decide to make camp while we're out.
Hecktor dryli adds:
"Or we end up wolfmen ourselves...."
"Anything is possible. Let's get a move on though, where to next?"
Percival raises a hand to forestall Lucanor a moment and walks over to the lady. "Ma'am, I am a chirurgeon, may I ask what condition the lady Jeva is in?"
Wolves and wolfmen? I have my doubts we'll run into any Lycanthropes, but that sort of reminds me of a story...
Before Silas recalls the story he's distracted by the many orphans here, thinking this place is so sad, perhaps I can brighten up their day?
"Ma'am, if you'll permit me I'd like to share a story or two with the Orphans, to brighten up their day? My name is Silas Hawkwinter an author trained at the Academe."
While Percival asks after the lady Jeva, Silas tells a few stories to the children, "Once upon a time, there lived in a certain village, a little country girl, the prettiest creature was ever seen. Her mother was excessively fond of her; and her grand-mother doated on her much more. This good woman got made for her a little red riding-hood; which became the girl so extremely well, that every body called her Little Red Riding-Hood..."
Ok, here we go
@Michael +1 Reputation with the town.
@ Hecktor indeed!
@Lucanor where to?
@Percival Mistress Elara ensures you that Jeva is recovering well. She is sleeping and Elara does not want to wake her.
@Silas The students that have crept back into view enjoy your little ditty. You know that the Darkwood Vale is crawling, literally, with werecreatures.
On the way out, Silas calls for your attention, "The woods doesn't look like much, but don't let that deceive you. We're on the edge of the Darkwood Vale, one of the oldest fragments of true forest in this area. It has a fairly bad reputation in the tales, being home to warecretures, kobolds and worse. I can already feel it from here, I'm sure you can too - we're not welcome in the forest. It'll be wise to be on our guard and only use deadfall for the campfire, no point in angering the forest guardians."
Michael laughs at Silas' comments before walking over and clapping him on the shoulder.
"Forest guardians? Now that's a good one! If there were forest guardians, the Consortium wouldn't be able to cut like they do. I don't doubt that there's danger in the woods and that we should keep our eyes open, but to say that there's a bunch of guardians looking over the place is a bit much. Saying that we're not welcome is just being superstitious. Now, I don't know about you, Silas, but I plan on marching my way right into the heart of the woods and finding the oldest tree in there so that we can get that moss we need. Who's with me?"
I do wonder how the Consortium can log so much given the tales, perhaps the tales are overwrought or perhaps the hush up any 'incidents' which might be bad for business...
"Don't get me wrong Michael, I'm heading on into the woods right behind you but this stretch of woods crops up time and again in the tales. As the saying goes there no smoke without fire... Let's not let our guard down is all I ask, besides we've encountered one set of goons already, there could be more."
Silas you know from the tales that indeed there are Fey in the vale and they probably don't take well to logging.
"Thinking on it, there's a puzzle here - there's supposed to be Fey in these woods and I'm sure you've heard the same stories I have have about them. Yet we can see clear as day the swathes cleared by the Consortium's operations - how can that be? My guess is there's only a few Fey and a lot of lumberjacks so they're probably only able to pick off the odd one who wanders where they shouldn't. Why haven't we heard anything, well I bet the consortium hushes up any talk about 'incidents'. Of course the lumberjacks operate at the edge of the forest and we're going right into it's heart... Ha don't look at me like that, it'll be fun I promise!"
Gared nods in thanks to Elara but looks pensive.
"You say the girl was bitten? How long ago? You should get her to town... just in case," Gared knew the tales of the Vale well enough; they were often told and re-told in the taverns in town.
"If she is turning, she's a danger to herself, you and your other charges," Gared continues, trying to impress upon the woman the urgency with which she must treat this matter.
"We shall call in on the way back to town with the ingredients," Gared says finally, "If you haven't had time to take her to town then, we'll take her ourselves."
Lucanor has been relatively quiet. At the mention of the various threats in the area, he ponders Wolfmen and kobolds and fay..oh my. "Kobolds are fond of traps, so I hear. We'll keep eyes out, of course. Fay I know little about save the stories Silas would know better so I'll tip my hate to a few dust devils if that's what he thinks will be 'good manners'." He doesn't mention the wolfman problem, if there is one.
Michael seems interested in heading to the Eldest tree, any objections or do you want to affect a search here? Elara seems pretty confident about her ability to manage this facility.
"Visiting the eldest tree is fine by me, although I'd prefer to camp outside the forest if at all possible."
I've got a feeling this will prove to be harder than expected and take a lot longer...
"I'm sure it won't be necessary but I was taught a charm that always points north. May come in handy if the canopy obscures all landmarks."
I'll discreetly cast this from time to time. I'm sure Gared knows his way around but there's plenty of stories of experienced woodsfolk getting lost and disoriented for one reason or another. In addition I'll keep my bow handy.
Hecktor knows from his line of work superstitions are but that, but there is a spark of truth in legends.
"Michael, being brave is a good quality. But the way you said it now is just asking for trouble, be it any kind of supernatural or not.
Turning to Silas;
"I've heard of a liquor named Poitin. Supposedly it allows the drinker to see fey for 1 hour. But also that it is so strong you barely remember the experience afterwards."
Gared attempts to discern whether the woman is being wholly truthful; although she is known as a good woman, Gared is concerned she is trying to protect a child who may in turn hurt her.
"Poitin you say? Sounds a little risky. Where would one get such a potent brew such as that? I can think of some uses..."
To Gared, Silas mentions, "The moon is waning so there may yet be some days to save the girl if she's infected, or at least the songs claim it's coming of the full moon that seals the fate of those bitten by a warecreature. Perhaps the good Doctor may know if there's truth in this?"
@Gared You believe Elara is being truthful.
I'm going to progress the party forward, if you want to rp anything more at the Halfway house just tag it Earlier...
You start towards the Eldest Tree, which is a good 5 hours through the forest. About 2 hours into your journey...
Everyone make a Perception roll.
lake, a fox with large ears and bright orange fur lies bleeding, its hindquarters caught fully in the jaws of a crude iron trap. It lies there whimpering. Knowledge Nature DC 10
Percival frowns. "Only a true-born were can infect, and if she was attacked by one I doubt she would be still living. We can examine her at a later date."
The alchemist tsks and wordlessly walks over to attempt to free the fox.
"Need help with that Lawson? I hold it open and you help the fox."
Adrienne gives a bit of a start as she spots the fox, drawing Michaels gaze to it.
"Either that thing was just caught last night, or the trappers haven't been checking their traps. With the way he's caught in there, it's probably best to put him down. I doubt his hind legs will heal up right, what with both of them being crushed like that."
"Poor little bastard," Lucanor gives the fox a sympathetic look but leaves it to others, "I can try to tend to it, but I'm reluctant to use a spell we might need later for ourselves."
"Fur Trapping", spits Silas with distaste, "I don't know if you can help that poor creature but we can save the next one by smashing this trap!"
Silas gets out his little hammer and wonders if its up to the task...
Hecktor looks at the hammer and smirks.
"Don't bother Silas. See this here firm staff with the metal end here? It'll smash it allright. No need to waste your effort.
That said Hecktor raises the staff overhead and whacks down onto the trap.
Percival raises an eyebrow. "Or a poorly designed food trapper."
He accepts help opening it.
"You can't fault a man for trying to make a living, Silas. Not everyone can survive by telling stories. Most people have to work for it."
Michael then reaches out to stop Hecktor's attempt to smash the trap.
"Just leave it sprung and empty, and hang it from a tree branch. If you break it, you're no better than if you'd robbed the man who set it. Besides, we've got better things to do than pass judgement on someone for trapping a fox."
"I don't claim it to be easy but a man has a choice for how he lives his life, this poor fox didn't."
Silas turns away, you can tell he's torn. Finally in a quieter voice he sighs, "as much as I'd like to smash all these things we must be away. The taint won't cure itself."
Hecktor halts his movement just before Michael reaches for his arm.
Looking without expression at him, he shakes his head with a casual "heh".
With a smirk on his face he replies;
"Fine, part 1 and 3 are fine. Part 2 is not relatable. But i'm sure you won't say it again if you happen to walk into one of those things yourself."
That said, Hecktor secures the staff back on his back.
"If either I or Adrienne walk into one, I'll eat Lucanor's hat and my words. But don't look forward to it, Hecktor, because I don't plan on letting it happen. In any case, everyone should keep their eyes open for more. And Gared, mark this spot on the map if you could. We can check it again on our way back."
Michael then turns to Silas.
"Set off any that you find and hang them in the trees like we've done this one. And let Gared know to mark the spot on the map. But remember, should the trapper become a farmer, the fox eats his hens. Everything dies so everything else lives."
As the group sets off to leave, Michael makes an obvious effort to keep his eyes open for more traps.
Might as well keep my eyes peeled, and check which direction is north.
Silas softly hums a tune about the north star.
Hobgoblins:
Razorcrows:
Michael:
Percival:
Silas:
Gared:
Lucanor:
Hecktor:
The fennec is disabled requires a DC 10 heal check to stabilize. It will bleed out in 3 rounds. To open the trap and remove the fennec is a dc 10 strength check, or a dc 15 disable device to spring it. Smashing it will kill the fox.
As the party stands around the trapped fox a murder of Razorcrows takes flight right as you hear
Finally! A lil bit o' prey! Get em brother.
Two hobgoblins pop up from behind cover and shoot arrows at Percival. One arrow connects and Percival is wounded!
Initiative order:
Hecktor: GO
Silas
Gared
Hobgoblins x2
Michael and Razorcrows x4
Percival -6hp and Lucanor
Map located HERE
Percival clucks his tongue in irritation. Standing up, he draws three vials and an irregularly-shaped beaker from his pocket. Mixing them swiftly with a single hand, he tosses the finished product at one of the hobgoblins. "Go away, blaggards!"
Silas does a double take, sees the hobgoblins and a scowl descends onto his face. The strength of contempt and vitriol in his voice takes you by surprise, "Ha Ha Ha, by the gods hobgoblins really are that ugly! Ugh and the smell, just look at the runts, too stupid not to wallow in their own filth. Have pity on them, we'd be doing them a favour by slitting their throats!"
Gared has just finished marking the map as requested when the hobgoblins spring their trap. In one smooth motion he retrieves his bow, nocks and arrow and then lets it fly, targetting the nearest stormcrow. As the arrow flies, Gared tries to recall what he knows of stormcrows.
"Stormcrows," Gared shouts, "Watch out for their talons!
Silas does a double take, sees the hobgoblins and a scowl descends onto his face. The strength of contempt and vitriol in his voice takes you by surprise, "Ha Ha Ha, by the gods hobgoblins really are that ugly! Ugh and the smell, just look at the runts, too stupid not to wallow in their own filth. Have pity on them, we'd be doing them a favour by slitting their throats!"
Please link or post what satire does until I get to know it fully.
Michael grabs his hammer and rides off towards the hobgoblin behind the wall.
"Bastards! We don't have time for this!"
I updated the map to reflect what Michael posted, even though he is lower in init. I'll change as needed, Mike check the map to see if thats what you meant.
Also, both hobgoblins are in cover, which is why you didn't spot them very easily.
Initiative order:
Hecktor: Waiting on Hecktor to resolve round 1.
Silas *
Gared *
Hobgoblins x2
Michael* and Razorcrows x4
Percival* -6hp and Lucanor waiting on Lucanor to resolve round 1
@ Michael,for the Northern HG that fence is an actual fence you'll need to jump it.