Randu notices Rrruh has been distracted a lot. Staring off towards the Hollow's direction, almost visibly pining.
"If we die while you're sighing wistfully, my ghost is going to haunt you." But then he smiles "She'll be fine, friend. And she'll miss you too."
Rrruh has an extra bounce in his step as you set out northward, following the trails left by the ancient dwarven highways, and venture into the forest.
The treeline of Darkmoon Wood has stood firm for the first time in centuries as the organized logging industry in the Vale remains temporarily halted. Your subordinate agents operating back in the coastal cities report that they are working alongside the Twilight Talons to keep outside parties from discovering that the supply of timber for the Andoren Navy has been throttled, lest the Chelish fleet choose the opportunity to strike at its Inner Sea enemy.
As dusk approaches in the forest, you begin to detect a musky smell and find claw marks upon trees and forest soil.
Randu recognizes signs that there are a pair of giant skunks in the area, likely seeking each other out to mate. This means the creatures will be especially aggressive should you run into them or, worse yet, interrupt them.
Thus, you will need to decide whether it would be more prudent to press onward and try to avoid them or to make camp in a concealed area and hope they do not come across you.
"Phew, Skunks can get bad enough, but Giant Skunks, looking to mate are in the area. I think we might want to go on for another hour or so rather than camp here, but up to you folks."
"Sounds like that might be a good idea, hopefully we don't end up blundering right into one or both of them." Layla mutters.
So they go on for another hour unless anyone objects. The legends can sing of courage all they want; no one with a nose and sense wants to tangle with a skunk let along a giant one.
You press on for another hour, braving the deepening gloom of the forest twilight. When you realize that the sounds of rutting skunks of unusual size are fading into the distance at your back, you can heave some sighs of relief.
You discover a safe place to make camp that will also provide some cover, shielding you should any other dangerous wildlife come wandering through in the night.
When morning comes, what preparations will you make before setting out again?
Just before dawn she gets up and does her morning training.
With little if anything on, she stands under a waterfall letting the cold water wash over her. Then she dressed and went into physical forms before sitting crossed legs looking at the sleeping others.
"So then you all ready to go"
Having already checked and cleaned Kedavera before turning in the night before, Layla awakens at some point during Miya's training, watching her entrancingly fluid movements for a bit with a smile, before taking out her spellbook and settling into her own daily routine of reviewing and mentally preparing her magic, burning the elaborate arcane formulae into her mind, structuring her spells to ignite at triggering arcane phrase or gesture.
"As soon as I get my armor on and something to eat." she says with a chuckle, uttering an incantation as motes of magical energy flow over her body eliminating ant dirt, dust, and grime from their travels. "Nowhere near as good as a bath, but very handy while traveling," she says with a grin.
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Miya skips over to Layla and hugs her,
"You smell nice"
She says letting her go, and skips around, picking up her Handy havasack, and pulling out a bag of dried fruit and nuts, some Chesse and a lofe of brown bread. A small stove, pot and wanter sking.
"Who is for a nice cup of tea, Ill tost some bread and chesee as well."
She ste too cooking.
Randu is happy to let someone else do the cooking, and fights the urge to make suggestions on spices. "Food before hand was a good idea. Not sure what other precautions we'll need. I'm not a forester."
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The toast is a little burned but she dishes it up, with a smile, with a hot mug of string tea.
You break camp and press onward, venturing deeper into Darkmoon Wood.
No more giant varieties of animals cross your paths, but your march startles more than a few possums, deer, firefoot fennecs, and what you think might have been a rare brush colt.
The most notable even in the hike comes when a broad shadow passes over you, crossing a break in the forest canopy. A great, winged beast - looking quite like some manner of dragon - flies overhead at a great height. It is already winging past before you can get a very good look at it, but you feel relief knowing that it passed without taking notice of your presence.
You round the eastern shore of the Droskmere, the lake at the center of Darkmoon Wood that feeds Darkmoon River, which bisects the forest. The afternoon wanes and the sun slips from its zenith as you reach a new landmark in your trek.
The dense trees and thick brush of the forest give way, parting seemingly in respect for the titanic darkwood tree that dominates this clearing. Several times taller than a temple minaret, in one direction the obviously ancient tree reaches into the sky with branches like a giant’s arms, while in the other it plumbs the earth with roots thicker than a man’s waist. Its limbs broad and strong, its bark thick and so richly colored as to almost be black, and its leaves the size of bucklers, the giant thing is less a tree and more a cathedral of boughs and branches.
Whether from stories around the cutyard cookfires or from private communing with the source of his magic, Randu has heard a little about this site. This is the Forest Elder, the most ancient of all darkwood trees in the forest. He also knows that the moss that grows upon the Elder Darkwood is much sought after for medicinal purposes. Although not part of your original mission, this could be a very useful stop.
Randu freezes like a rabbit in a hawk's shadow as the dragon like creature flies overhead. He relaxes when it is gone.
When they get to huge dark wood tree, "The Forest Elder? We should pay our respects. The moss that grows on it is great for healing too, but still, this is a prince among trees."
The overhead passage of what appeared to be a dragon was both awe-inspiring, and, to be completely honest. somewhat terrifying, the magus breathing a sigh of relief as it flew out of sight.
As they come to the clearing and the sight of the great majestic titan of a darkwood tree, she finds herself speaking in almost a whisper. "It's magnificent and definitely worth a visit."
He lowered his slef lose to the ground as the shadow slew overhead and he didnt move... barely breathed for a few long moments after it passed. He took deep calming breathers his ears finally stopped flickering. When they neared the large tree he stared in awe for some time tiltling his head...
"How long do you think it has been in this world? A treee that size? Impressive.... I am not sure how to pay respects to a tree friend Randu but I agree."
"Well, Honestly? I'm not sure myself. Let me see." He tries to think if there is some old rite or custom to pay respect proper like.
The Forest Elder's age is almost incalculable, and some accounts claim it may be the oldest tree on the continent.
Speaking with druids who visit the region, Randu has also heard stories that the Forest Eldar was carried here as a sapling from the Screaming Jungle in the Mwangi Expanse in ancient times, brought by an elder druid called Deirzir, Eagle of the First Way.
There are no formalized rites or rituals to honor the tree; Randu has heard of a variety of informal practices performed by different druid circles when venerating ancient trees that are viewed as anchors for their surrounding forests.
However, he does know of one unified practice.
The Forest Elder's grove, for as-yet not understood reasons, tends to attract the rare, primeval dragonkin known as tatzlwyrms. They make their lair among its tangled boughs. Because these creatures cause unnecessary harm to the ancient tree, and because they excessively prey upon animals, druids, woodsmen, and fey alike, Randu knows that druids of the Greenfire Circle, who oversee Darkmoon Vale and the rest of the Andoren heartlands, will routinely make armed pilgrimages here to drive away the destructive monsters.
Layla's ears perk up at Randu's mention of tatzlwyrms, the beasts having long been a topic of some fascination for her.
"Dose anyone mind if I stretch my legs, human is ok but I need some me time"
She says not waiting for the others replay. Shifting to her true form.
She quickly changes cloths to look like a Kitsumi trader.
Randu relates all that, "Mind you, I'm not crazy about picking a fight with a monster just for fun."
"I dont know much about a tatzlwyrms what are they like"
she asks
Layla knows quite a bit about these rare creatures, as it turns out.
Tatzlwyrms are thought to be primeval relatives of true dragons, having branched off the line millennia ago and evolved in a way that sets them notably apart. Undersized compared to their larger cousins, tatzlwyrms are nonetheless ferocious in their own right. And while tatzlwyrms are hardly impressive specimens when put beside their notorious relatives, most other reptiles can’t compare to them mentally.
Tatzlwyrms are quite rare, and only a few particularly curious and lucky adventurers can claim to have seen a living specimen. Reports do agree on some basic features, however. About the size of a full-grown human, tatzlwyrms have only two limbs and no wings, and possess a weak poisonous breath similar to the breath weapons of their true dragon relatives. An adult tatzlwyrm is 6 to 8 feet long, including its winding, organless tail, and it weighs between 400 and 500 pounds. A tatzlwyrm’s scales give the creature limited camouflage, ranging through various shades of green, brown, and gray.
Like true dragons, tatzlwyrms are strict carnivores. They spend most of their time hiding, waiting to attack any prey that ventures too near. They consume their food slowly in the dark security and seclusion of their lairs. Tatzlwyrms have a remarkable knack for ambush and camouflage.
"Rrruh and I fought one once with the help of others, and to be honest about it, we let it tangle with consortium goons first if I recall. Seemed to take forever to finish that off..at first I didn't know who to cheer for."
="IU dont belive it was a fully grown one either... we should take care. while i feel we are all more than capable to handle the creature that is not true if it catches us by surprise. "
A frontal attack would mean approaching beneath the massive boughs of the Forest Elder and bracing yourselves as the lurking tatzlwyrms lunge down to attempt their usual ambush.
Alternatively, you could try luring or driving them from the branches to open the fight on more equal footing.
"We could try taking them at range, force them to come to us." Layla suggests.
"Maybe we have rations it would like as bait?" He ponders how much food they have
You collect together some spare rations and toss them in a heap at the foot of the Forest Eldar's mossy trunk.
It isn't long before you can hear some rustling of leaves and detect some creaking of the boughs. Whether drawn by the scent of the rations or that of the person who deposited them, it seems the tatzlwyrms are taking the bait and descending the mighty tree!
Layla quickly utters a spell, conjuring a shimmering shield of force floating ahead of her as she draws her weapon.
Rutilux doesn't feel too subtle, if more than two wyverns line up, and if it won't hit the tree, he unleashes a bolt of lightning at them.
Two of the wyrms have the misfortune of lining up before Randu as they reach the ground. His spell crackles forth and shocks both monsters very mightily.
Miya summon-swarms a swom and sends it at the head of one of the wyrms
Two of the tatzlwyrms rush forth through the underbrush beneath the great tree.
The first one snaps at Miya with its jaws. Although it draws blood, it fails to seize hold of her.
Randu, meanwhile, just barely dodges aside from another bite.
Miya takes a step back away from the offending creature and summons a swarm of forest spiders to prey upon the primitive dragon.
The third tatzlwyrm charges forth and lunges for Randu, this time catching the halfling with its teeth.
He charged forth at the warmth who struck at Randu.
"pull back randu. I have this one handled on melee.
His fist crackled with the fury of a cat possessed.
The flinched at the point, but her swarm was now doing it job.
The gave her the chance to hear it, A round house kick
Randu winces at the pain of his injury "Good idea, Rrruh, thanks."
As Rrruh attacks one of Randu's assailants, Layla targets the other, firing a shot with her enchanted weapon, the chamber rotating to ready another shot immediately.
A shot from Layla and a kick from Miya puts down the tatzlwyrm at the center of their feral formation.
Randu falls back as the remaining two monsters turn their attention onto Rrruh and Layla, but the pair handily fend off their snapping jaws.
WHen next Randu goes, glad to be out of close contact, he will attempt an old standby, a burst of sound only the target can hear. Focusing on the one on Layla to return the favor for her getting the last kill shot for the one on him.
She jumps and kicks the next one in the head, as her swarm moved on
Miya's swarm overwhelms the tatzlwyrm engaged with Rrruh, and the beast collapses from its countless tiny bites.
Randu's magic scream and Miya's strikes badly wound the last of the three primitive dragons, leaving it reeling.
He stepped forward and brought the heel of his foot down at the wyrms head.
Layla levels her pistol at the remaining tatzlwyrm, the scent of blackpowder and ozone filling the glade as her shot, crackling with electricity, hits home.
The wyrm recoils and avoids Rrruh's axe kick, but this leaves it exposed to Layla's marksmanship. Her shot brings down the last of the three primitive dragons who dominated this ancient, sacred grove. You can only hope that dealing with this threat will earn some semblance of gratitude from the local fey or druid circle.
Stand there and waves her swarm away.
"^%()*^%) that hurt"
She looks at her wound, then takes out a small vile from her pack, drinking it, she look to see if its working.
Still healing she walks over to check the others
"You all, all right, lets have a look at that"
She says checking Randu wound as well, handing him another small vile.
"Oh now, I have a few healing spells myself." he says "Save that vial for later."
And his own magics undo the wound entirely
In the Days that followed Miya grew more and more restless, things had settled down and as days became weeks became mouths a year had passed in now time. Her holding had done well and the towns folk wanted to buy out her share of the bruery. She was happy to take the coin, she kept the woodland and her hut, paying a local family to look after it. A year and a day after she had been recruited, a letter came, giving her her freedom back. She could stay in the service or was up to her. But if she left she would have to leave the country for 10 years. Well she this worked for her, Then having a fare well meal with her friends at the towns best inn, She bid them farewell. So on a spring day she packed her things, locked up and left. There was a whole world out there and she wanted to do see it.