”How are you managing that?” Veld asks Nigel curiously. ”Call it scientific curiosity, since I never saw you cast a speak to animals spell.”
”Oh, how dreadful.” The witchcrow commiserates. ”You’d probably be worrying about hobgoblins chasing you…that kind of thing..and you know what they say about us birds. We’ve got a bird’s eye view of the situation.” The witchcrow sniggers.
”Why not, “ the witchcrow offers, ”You hold up that magical smelling thing in the small two legger’s backpack for me to sniff…and I could tell you more about the hobgoblins in the woods?”
Hedran's black weasel comes out of his backpack, while the witchcrow is still speaking, looks at the witchcrow, then starts shaking his head.
|
Nigel shrugs modestly.
"It is just something zat I have alvays been able to do; I feel a kin-ship towards zem."
There is then an indignant squeak from his backpack, and he carefully extract's Ursula's carry case, gently feeding her some dried fruit.
"As well as with rats, and bats."
"Perhaps not. Ve don't vant to provide too much in ze vay of temptation, hmmm?"
"Okay, that's odd. Definitely not the sort of thing you see everyday."Veld answers.
"Huh! I come to bargain with you just to look at something of yours in good faith and you scorn my offer. I'll remember this!" The witch crow squawks with a hurt expression as she flies off.
Everyone except Ratel and Hedran think the witchcrow is lying through her teeth with regards to bargaining in good faith. Weasel hisses angrily at her as she flies off.
The party continues on their way back to the log cabin, with Grenwold managing to gather a dose of leechwort along the way
As they approach the forest around the log cabin, the party notices that the place now smells of pine and the tree leaves are no longer yellow, but rather sprouting new leaves. The party spots a few goats grazing on the undergrowth. The patch of bare ground around the cabin now has short grass growing on it, with the bear trap locations fenced off. Norris and Felicia are now playing a game of catching on the grass patch.
Then they hear the lookout, Fizzlebang call out, enthusiastically, "They'rebackitoldyoutheywouldcomebacktous!"
Aubrin and Jet emerge come out from the cabin, as Aubrin speaks, with a smile, "Welcome back!"
“We wouldn’t have made it this far without you,” she says. “Everyone wants you to know how much we appreciate what you’ve done for us. We’re going to keep pulling together until we find a place to call home. With you on our side, we will find that home. In the meantime, I’ve got something to show you.” Aubrin picks up a staff and holds it upright in both hands. A crossbeam has been tied to the top of the staff and a green scarf hangs down like a banner. Two bristly pine branches lie across the top, tied down to the crossbeam with twine. “We decided we needed a symbol,”she says proudly. “Something to rally us. What do you think?”
Aubrin picks up a staff and holds it upright in both hands. A crossbeam has been tied to the top of the staff and a green scarf hangs down like a banner. Two bristly pine branches lie across the top, tied down to the crossbeam with twine. “We decided we needed a symbol,”she says proudly. “Something to rally us. What do you think?”
Hedran smiles at the initiative, and offers an approving nod at Aubrin - "This means you are getting stronger, and starting to look ahead instead of behind" - he comments - "Amazingly well done"
"What do you think we should call the banner?" Aubrin asks Hedran.
"Oh, you mean they're back? I've got something for Hedran."Billy comes out with a scroll case. "Found by the river side, caught against a branch."Billy tells Hedran. Hedran takes out the scroll and finds that it is a scroll of false life.
"What do you think we should call the banner?" Aubrin asks Hedran.
"I am hardly a specialist... Didn't even know banners had names" - he admits, caught by surprise with the request - "For me the fact pine trees are green and alive all year around evokes words like 'resiliency', resistance' or something along those lines..."
"Oh, you mean they're back? I've got something for Hedran."Billy comes out with a scroll case. "Found by the river side, caught against a branch."Billy tells Hedran. Hedran takes out the scroll and finds that it is a scroll of false life.
"Thank you Billy, this will come in handy" - Hedran replies - "Until we are all in the clear, I'm sure there will be many opportunities to use it"
"Well Hedran, thanks to your able leadership, we're now protected from the elements, have ample food, so other then Kinning and Daniel complaining this place is too small to practice their crafts, people are pretty happy. Geran wanted to grow pumpkins on the bare ground, but we convinced him not to do it since there are still those two bear traps there."Jet answers.
"I hope that we do get to the Chenarsardo redoubt soon so the Rangers can help us retake Phaendar, " Aubrin adds.
|
|
Nigel smiles, pleased to see that things are going well with the troupe.
"It is good to be back. Ve have had both good, and bad, experiences; ve have found additional allies," he says, motioning to Azriel and Veld.
"Ve also have additional supplies, zat I am sure you can put to use."
His face then darkens.
"Zere have, hovever, been complications."
When he has a chance to talk to Aubrin privately, he explains about the butchered humans that the party came across.
"I zink ve vere planning to check-out ze Rangers, next; since you are fairly vell set up here at present, zough, it might be best if ve recon ze area, first, before getting you to pack everyzing up. Zere have also been troglodytes spotted in ze area, so take care."
"Well Hedran, thanks to your able leadership, we're now protected from the elements, have ample food, so other then Kinning and Daniel complaining this place is too small to practice their crafts, people are pretty happy. Geran wanted to grow pumpkins on the bare ground, but we convinced him not to do it since there are still those two bear traps there."Jet answers.
"Well huh... Thank you" - Hedran feels somewhat uncomfortable with the praise - "We have done nothing more than what is right" - he replies - "And huh... We can remove the bear traps if you would like?"
"I hope that we do get to the Chenarsardo redoubt soon so the Rangers can help us retake Phaendar, " Aubrin adds.
"That is the plan, as soon as we find it is safe to move in that direction" - he reassures Jet.
"Welcome, both of you," Aubrin welcomes Azriel and Veld, "It's a little crammed indoors, but we call it home."
Azriel looks in the cabin, then turns back out,and answers Aubrin slightly sheepishly, "Sorry, I'm claustrophobic," He flaps his feathers."I prefer to stay outside under the open sky."
Aubrin raises an eyebrow and but doesn't comment.
Veld hobbles over and looks in the cabin, then hobbles back out, turning to Nigel, "Are you expecting me to live in there squished like a sardine?"
"No thank you, I'll take a tent and a bedroll and camp outside."
Aubrin winces. "Look, we all got out from Phaendar with nothing but our shirts on our bags and few belongings. If you have the resources to, you're welcome to camp on the grounds. Just dont expect us to provide you with a tent and bed roll, because we don't have any spares."She lectures Veld.
"Who needs YOUR help."Veld says icily, "I have a tent and bed roll, thank you very much." Veld adds sarcastically.
"And thanks for the supplies. They'll be put to good use."Aubrin thanks Nigel.
"Yeah, I was wondering where the bird man and the old woman came from, but since they pass your judgment, we'll take them in as well."Aubrin answers.
"Though I'd say that old woman is pretty rude."Aubrin grumbles. "Where'd you pick her up from, and what can she do for the group such that there's justification for putting up with her attitude?"
"And damn." Aubrin swears as she hears about the fate of the residents of Gristledown. "They never deserved that... Had I the power I would wipe all those hobgoblins off the face of Golarion."
"But I don't."Aubrin says bitterly."I'm just a broken woman."
"Hopefully the Rangers will be able to mete out the punishment those hobgoblins deserve."
"Maybe you're right and you should rackey the place. I can pull Tara, Lorethiel, Tarethelan, Leo, Taidel and Lirosa off the forage roster to provide security, but maybe you want to rearrange the roster yourself?" Aubrin asks Nigel.
Robert takes off his chainmail, then starts disarming the bear traps. "Done." He then wiggles himself back into his chainmail, with Aubrin's help.
"Thanks,Robert. I feel better that they're removed, especially since Felicia and Norris like playing catching on the grass. We told them not to go into the forest."Aubrin thanks Robert.
"Maybe now Geran can turn the grass into a pumpkin patch."Jet adds.
|
|
Nigel nods soberly.
"Agreed. Given vhat ve have discovered, keeping vatches sounds like a good idea."
When Aubrin grumbles about Veld, he smiles apologetically.
"She is ascerbic, I vill grant you zat, but she is a vizard of some talent, and has a good knovledge of herbology... not to mention it vould have been downright evil to leave her alone in ze forest, at ze mercy of a passing band of Hobgoblins."
This place isn't very defensible. We may need to move on soon.
Aubrin sighs, "Of course she had to be a wizard. Look, I know sorcerers who are part of Chernasardo Rangers, and they're perfectly fine. I swear it must be all that book reading that makes them completely unable to relate to other people."
"She can camp on the grounds for all I care." Aubrin answers.
When they enter the camp, Gren introduces himself to the villagers. ”Good day. I am Gren and this is Ringo. I also have a raven flying around somewhere that I’ve adopted. I know a bit about a lot of things, so don’t hesitate to ask me if you need help. Oh and I suppose I am technically a priest of sorts? But, uh, if you want me to do any ceremonies you’ll have to give me a bit of direction. I don’t know much beyond Shelyn.” He smiles at anyone who pays attention, and then busies himself trying to help with whatever he and Ringo can do. He mostly likes cleaning.
When Veld takes his tent and bedroll, ”Oh well, look on the bright side, when you’ve lost most of your family and friends to murder and blighted corruption- losing a tent doesn’t seem so bad! That said, I don’t suppose I could borrow someone else’s or share with them while we’re travelling? I’m no good tired and grumpy.”
When someone mentions the Chernasardo Rangers his ears perk up. ”Oh, we should visit them as soon as we deal with the troglodytes. I’d like to meet them.”
"Norris's fine.He took a turn for the better about 2 days ago, and after a few lesser restorations, he's playing catch with Felicia." Aubrin informs Nigel. "The first thing he asked for was his mummy and daddy, which was sad, though. I don't know what happened to Roderick and Fenny."
Grenvold does not manage to find any willow bark on the way to the log cabin.
"Sorry, why don't you take the tent Nigel passed us earlier." She hands the tent that Nigel passed her earlier to Grenwold."Our leatherworker, Daniel, managed to turn out some bedrolls out of an auroch's hide." Aubrin informs Grenwold. "Jet, go bring one out."
Jet goes into the cabin, then takes out a tanned leather bedroll and passes it to Grenwold. "There you go."
The party then makes their way towards the Chernasardo Ranger's redoubt.
Nigel's wolves report back to him, giving whines.
Nothing really interesting found today.
The party travels until it's dusk, then sets up camp in a clearing. Robert takes the first watch, and when he checks over the party members, they all have smiley faces drawn over their sleeping faces, as well as mustaches.
Ratel wakes up to find Bear busily licking him in his sleep, and finds himself sticky, having had a jug of honey poured over him.
Nigel has a leopard slug sharing his bedroll, while Grenwold has a toad sharing his sleeping space, and Robert, on checking his bedroll, finds a brown ferret in there.
Hedran has pine cones stuffed inside his Bedroll.
"It seems that we've inherited some comedic relief."
Robert hold some wild grains out to the ferret. "Hey there, little fella."
Robert hears a tinkling giggle from the trees.
The ferret looks at the grains, but ignores them and remains in his bedroll. Robert realizes that ferrets are carnivores - he should really go with the meats.
Ratel helps assemble the wagon, then when they are ready to go, he and Bear take point, leading the team back to the cabin in the woods. Hearing about the Troglodytes he asks Gren, ”Do you think we could talk the Troglodytes into attacking the hobgoblins?”
The night going uneventful they continue on the way. ’I wonder if the Witchcrow will try and take my shield, that would be funny to see.’ Pointedly ignoring the black bird Ratel tells Nigel. ”I still think we should hunt that boar down.” then continues towards the cabin in the woods. When Nigel explains he can speak to three different species naturally, Ratel nods approvingly, ”Impressive! And that’s any time you want?”
As the approach the cabin, Ratel smiles at Fizzlebang declaration, ”Of course we’d be back, and we brought friends.” Seeing the flag, he nods approvingly, ”Nice flag.” Hearing Jet’s comment about heading toward the Chenarsardo redoubt he asks the others, ”How soon should we head to the redoubt? Or should we scout first, to make sure it’s still safe.” He pointedly ignores the minor fussing about Veld, but enthusiastically nods his head as Nigel speaks up, first about a watch then being patient with Veld.
Waking up covered in slobber and honey, Ratel pushes Bear away ”Cut that out.” He shifts form to take advantage of his night vision and for a moment looks to see if there is actually a container of honey left that he could salvage. He then looks around to see if the prankster is still near.
Ratel does not see the prankster in question, though he finds the now empty jug of honey next to his bedroll.
Lifting the empty jug, he let's out a sigh, "Well, at least we have a new jug." Separating his gear, he starts setting out the items that are still honey covered on the ground. Gesturing toward them he tells Bear, "Go ahead, finish cleaning them up." Bear enthusiastically continues cleaning up the excess honey. Ratel sits down, trying to finish wiping the rest off of himself, with a rag. While keeping a keen eye out for any other shenanigans.
Ratel sees Grenwold's new toad friend sharing his bedroll, Hedran's bedroll stuffed with male pinecones and Robert trying to get a ferret out of his bedroll, with wild grains. Grenwold and Hedran as well as himself have mustaches and smiley faces drawn with charcoal on their faces.
Gren is happy about Norris.
”It never hurts to try, but they’re both pretty despicable. I’m surprised that they’re nearby, but we did have some skirmishes with them near the southeast part of the Fangwood. My guess is they’ll try to eat us or enslave us, or other people, but anyone who speaks draconic can take a shot. They might not give us a chance.”
Gren is obviously pleased with the toad, and says to no one in particular, in Sylvan. ”Thanks so much, she’s cute!” and then proceeds to look for some toad food.
Hedran groans, empties his bedroll and goes back to sleep, mumbling something about roasting pookas.
Grenwold manages to dig up a couple of earthworms nearby to feed his toad. He hears some muttering in the trees, "Ահա, այդքան քաղցր է քեզանից:"
Aww, that's so sweet of you.
The rest of the night passes uneventfully, Robert eventually managing to get his ferret out of his bedroll by offering it some jerky and the next morning, the party sets off towards the Chernasardo Ranger's redoubt.
This swampy gully is well hidden from casual glances and thus makes an ideal hiding spot. This gully contains a number of standing
and dead trees, all swarming with insects, making Grenwold's toad, and raven very happy as they gorge themselves. The redoubt is a large tree house built above the depressing terrain, protected from most predators by the muddy water below.
The forest grows thick here, trees pressed close together with
their branches intertwined. Foliage around the base of the trees is sparse, stunted by lack of sunlight.
On the trail leading to the redoubt lies a signpost, in scrawling, childish writing, made from black ink, reading "This Place Is Mine. Stay Out! - All Eyes"
Robert hands out a piece of dried meat to the ferret, putting the grains back in their container.
As the party moves closer, a hideous purple creature walks upright like a man, but its face is that of a spider, and its hands are sickle-shaped claws, a sling in its claws comes out from the redoubt.
They have no idea what the creature is.
"Look. Do yo' know ta read? i put a sign there. Naw git out!" The creature gestures at the sign post.
Look. Do you know how to read? I put a sign there. Now get out!
"I've been here fo' a week. Found tha place abandoned n' took dat sh*t fo' my f*ckin' own. Dont ask me What the f*ck happened ta da previous inhabitants cos i don't know." The creature answers."Found a half burned note on some fort treva somethang at da fireplace When i first moved in"
I've been here for a week. Found the place abandoned and took it for my own. Dont ask me what happened to the previous inhabitants cos I don't know.
Found a half burned note on some fort Treva something at the fireplace when I first moved in
"Could you show us the note?"
"Not shizzle Why the f*ck yo''d want ta peep dat half scorched trash, N' therez Ain't nuthin' but shizzle." The creature answers, then goes back into the redoubt, comes back with a half burned scrap of paper which she ties to a sling bullet."Goin' ta fire dis at yo', don't git tha wrong idea." She warns the party as she gestures at the sling bullet with the paper tied onto it.
Tha bridge be trapped. Letz just say i had a run in wit' unwelcome company. "
Not sure why you'd want to see that half scorched trash, but sure.
Going to fire this at you, don't get the wrong idea.
The bridge is trapped. Let's just say I had a run in with unwelcome company.
She fires on the ground next to Robert.
The half-burned letter states a recall of all Chernasardo Rangers to Fort Trevalay, though it gives no indication of what or where Fort Trevalay is.
”Hold a moment please.”
Purple creature is telling the truth as far as Grenwold is concerned. Also there is no ping from the purple creature.
"Watch out fo' dem grey skin humanoid thingies. Two o' 'em tried ta evict me n' killed two o' m' girls." The purple creature warns the party.
Watch out for those grey skin humanoid thingies. Two of them tried to evict me and killed two of my girls.
”Ahh, they were probably hobgoblins. I don’t suppose you have their uh, remains? We’re fighting against them and any information or other gear we get from them would be helpful- if you don’t need it. I could trade you one of these fine bear traps if you would be interested, maybe it can help protect you.”
” I’ll take da bea trap. Their muthaf~&~in' remains r' hangin' on da trees, you’re welcome ta their muthaf!$$in' gear, just don’t’ take da bodies. M’ girls need ta smoke too.” Then she picks up a nearby branch, and makes twirling motions at what seems to be nothing, except the stick ends up collecting a whole bundle of spider web. Then she gives a piercing whistle as two giant spiders lower themselves down from the trees. ” Naw yo' can cross.”
I’ll take the bear trap. Their remains are hanging on the trees, you’re welcome to their gear, just don’t take the bodies. My girls need to eat too.
Now you can cross.
At the back of the redoubt, there are two piles of earth that look like they’ve been recently piled on. On each pile of earth lies a marker made out of a piece of wood, with carvings onto it.
One reads, ”R.I.P. Many legs”
The other reads, ”R.I.P Aragog”
Among the spiders nests 15 feet up in the trees contain the remains of previous victims in webbing sacks. Most of the remains are of squirrels, rabbits and birds, but there are also two hobgoblin corpses. One of them is still dressed in a chain shirt and wearing a russet cloak, with a masterwork shortbow and 16 arrows, the other is sealed in with a masterwork light mace, a holy symbol of Hagredash, a scroll tube(containing 4 scrolls), 3 agates (worth 10 gp each), one star rose quartz (worth 55 gp), and four amethysts (worth 110 gp each).
Hedran finds that the chain shirt is magical and is a +1 chainshirt, the russet cloak is a +1 cloak of resistance, 15 of the arrows are +1 arrows, the 16th one is a sleep arrow. The scrolls are a scroll of charm animal, cure light wounds, lesser restoration and plant growth.
"Since the redoubt is no longer available, should we check out these Troglodytes?"
Holding on to Bears harness, gap mouthed and wide eyed, Ratel watches the interaction with the spider thing and it's girls. Finally he asks the team in a whisper, "What do we do now?"
Then looks up to the peculiar multi-eyed creature and asks, "We had a lot of people we were going to bring here, to keep them safe. Would you be willing to trade the redoubt to us? We have a reasonably nice cabin we could throw in."
”Thanks very much, I am sorry about your friends. Stay safe!”
He turns to Robert, ”I am game for them if you are - or we can go find that boar. I think it’s hurting wolves, if I remember correctly. Maybe I could charm it and we could get it to leave? Or if that fails, it might be food for the refugees. Either is fine with me.”
"We'll deal with the boar if it crosses our path. The safety of the people comes first."
"Nah, i like dis place. Dat s!!#z got lots o' food fo' my girls." The creature turns down Ratel's offer.
Nah, I like this place. It's got lots of food for my girls.
"Yeah biatch i'm sorry 'bout 'em too. Not a single day passes dat i don't think 'bout 'em." The creature gives a doleful sniff. "Alas, our time togetha was all too brief."
Yeah I'm sorry about them too. Not a single day passes that I don't think about them.
Alas,our time together was all too brief.
The party then makes their way back to the log cabin.
On their way back, the party runs into a majestic and graceful animal that has branching antlers atop it head, grazing on a bush.
Grenwold, Nigel and Robert recognize it as a stag and know all about stags
"I agree."
One of Nigel's wolves come back whining at him.
I saw a half horse, half man not too far from here.