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Nigel smiles in a self-deprecating fashion.
"It vas our pleasure to rescue zem. Zey are good people, and deserve better. I am just sad zat ve could not rescue more, and haven't been able to provide better for zem, zus far. Still, making sure zat some vere safe, vas better zan getting zem all killed..."
Then Father Noelan gets to the less pleasant part of the night - informing those who's loved ones are now in Sanctuary. "I'm sorry, Victor,but while I was dead, I saw your mother..."
Victor closes his eyes as tears trickle down his cheeks. "No..no..all this while I was hoping that after we got rid of the hobgoblins we would be reunited..."
"She's happy in Sanctuary. She's reunited with your Da, Alexander, and they're now running the Aurelia brickworks."Father Noelan explains. "And the entire town was pretty much built on their bricks."
"She would be glad to heat you escaped Phaendar if she knew, but we were a little pressed for time, coming back."
"Yeah, that sounds like my Ma having the Brickworks named after her and I guess it helps knowing she's happy there..." Victor sounds a little more consoled.
"I don't know everyone didn't make it. Orik,Borek,Matthew,Catherine,Harold..."Father Noelan begins listing names, "Are in Sanctuary now."
Not everyone is of Erastil's faith and would be allowed to enter Sanctuary. But once we find out we'll hold a mass memorial service for those departed, and build a war memorial to commerate them. Hopefully it will help them find peace and move on through the River of Souls."Father Noelan tells the refugees.
"Problem now is, I don't remember any of you being stonecutters... or even wood workers. And you'd need a clay pit." He looks at Victor. "Not so easy to find in times like these."
"Yeah I could try my hand at bow whitling, but I'm no carpenter."Aubrin admits.
"I could try to speak to Fizzbang tomorrow, but you don't have any more elemental jewels to raise the dead, so you?" Father Noelan asks Nigel.
"I think we should move everyone to somewhere safer before going after the hobgoblin wagon. That hobgoblin you captured - what makes you think that it did not tell anyone else about our current location?" Father Noelan asks Nigel. "Better that we make sure our people are safe before making a move against the hobgoblins."
"Unless you propose to split the party, with one group escorting everyone else to the caves and the other attacking the wagon."
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"True, but ve didn't have a vay to Raise you for a veek, and ve still did Gentle Repose."
When the suggestion is made to split the party, Nigel shakes his head.
"I vould be reluctant to split our group. Better to move as one. Ve should probably take some time to take apart zis dvelling as best ve can - vaste not, vant not, vhen it comes to building supplies..."
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He then turns to the group at large.
"Ve have found an alternative location zat ve can go to. Zere vill be more space, and it vill be varm, and dry. Ve vill, however, have some fairly stinky neighbours... to be specific, ve negotiated viz a fairly odd (albeit relatively harmless) tribe of Troglodytes (a type of reptilian humanoid) to share zeir cave system viz zem. For zose vho are vondering, zey vere actually fairly scared of us vhen ve first encountered zem; zey ran avay ze moment zey saw us. Now, in exchange for sharing zeir caves, ve are expected to pay 'rent' in ze form of food, but ve should be able to handle zat, especially if ve dismantle zis cabin, and take it viz us, to make goat holding pens/shelters, and if ve keep expanding ze herd. Vhat say you all?"
Having stayed silent, not wanting to interrupt the reunion, Ratel nods his head with Nigel "I think splitting us up would be bad. We need to get to the cave, there will be safety in numbers. The Hobgoblins have been hunting for us, they've even got bounties on our heads." He smiled, winking at the father. "We blew up the bridge leading out of Phaendar on our way out of town. But the Hobgoblins have replaced it with a wooden one. They've also surrounded the town with a palisade, so it will take a small army to root them out."
"Let's get the people to safety, first. Then we take the fight to the Legion."
"Did you manage to contact the Chenarsardo redoubt?" Aubrin asks.
"Urhhh stinky.. I guess it's better to be stinky then to be dead."Kaelan answers.
"If we don't let the goats roam, we'll need to provide feed for them in the form of grain or hay."Bella remarks. "I don't think we could grow fodder underground."
”I agree, we should move before too long. We should consider trying to hide our trail as we travel. We have a good number of folks that should be familiar with the process - but it will likely slow us down. I have some ideas on how we could speed this up...” Gren recommends using nature’s paths and pass without trace to improve the chances at avoiding detection.
”Please decide what you think is best for Fizzbang - I will perform services or ask Father Noelan to do so, as you think is appropriate. Or if you believe we can bring him back somehow, we can do that. I would prefer to do this work at the cave, though. We’re burning daylight and the legion will kill more of us the longer we wait.”
Gren responds to Aubrin ”The redoubt had been abandoned for some time. A creature there let us investigate and has taken up residence in the home. We saw no indication that the creature had harmed the rangers, so we left them be. We found a note indicating the Chernasardo had gone to Fort... Tremblay I believe? None of us know where that is.” Gren shrugs his shoulders.
"I agree. We should head out."
"It's Fort Trevelay." Aubrin corrects Grenwold's pronunciation. "There are 3 Forts in the region, Fort Trevelay, Fort Nunder and Fort Ristin. I was trained at Fort Nunder so I know the way there, but I have no idea where Fort Trevelay is. The locations of our hideouts are generally kept secret so we always have a safe hole to retreat to."Aubrin explains.
Aubrin frowns, " What kind of creature did you find in the redoubt again? It sounds like there might be housekeeping to do later."
"It was a spider-like Humanoid, with hooks for hands."
"The hobgoblins have a bounty on our heads.It means they're out to kill, rather then capture, so we can expect no mercy at their hands.Father Noelan announces. "Then even more so do we have an imperative to move."
"I don't think we can cover the entire group with nature's path and/or pass without a trace."Father Noelan remarks as he counts the number of people.
"Probably will just boil down to good ol fashioned trail muddling."
"OK I have no clue what the heck that could be." Aubrin answers.
Lirosa passes Hedran some scrolls she found while foraging, a scroll of alter self and a scroll of frigid touch.
"Well I'm bushed, so please help me take care of tonight's watch." Father Noelan stifles a yawn as he goes find himself some sleeping space. "I think other matters can wait till tomorrow."
On Robert's watch, he sees 6 small plants large, flat, flowering heads walk towards the log cabin, waving at him with their arms and trying to communicate with him. "Hey, Giants- ը, մեր հարդարանքը արդեն անցել է hobgoblins- ի կողմից եւ մենք այժմ ընթանում ենք:"
Hey, Giants, our grove has been overun by hobgoblins and we're now on the run!
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Nigel, apparently a light sleeper, blearily opens his eyes, taking a few seconds to make sense of what he is hearing, then opens his tent, calling out to the leshies down below.
They clamor at the cabin door wanting to be let in.” Ok, մենք կմիանանք ձեզ, մենք ավելի շատ մարդկանց հետ զրուցելու ենք:”
Ok, we’ll join you, we like having more people to talk to!
Robert realizes they are sunflower leshies.
A circle of petals radiates from a sunflower leshy’s head, ranging in color from soft butter yellow to bright orange to plum with white tips. Serrated green leaves sprout like a ruff beneath its head. A sunflower leshy stands 4 feet tall and weighs 75 pounds.
Among the most social of leshys, sunflower leshys serve as the ambassadors and diplomats of leshykind.
They enjoy socializing and interacting in groups of leshys or with other creatures. Solitary sunflower leshys are rare, as their need for companionship compels them to find others with whom to interact. Leshys who lack companionship for 1 week lose their petals and heliotrope aura as a result of being depressed. Being welcomed back into a group restores the aura in a day and petals after 1 week.
Sunflower leshys are peacemakers and shun martial activities and conflict unless forced into confrontation.
They have Heliotrope auras.
Sunflower leshys reflect the sun and other sources of bright light from their faces onto all who come too close.
Any creature within 20 feet of a sunflower leshy must succeed at a Will saving throw or be dazzled for 1d4+1 rounds. A creature dazzled once cannot be dazzled again by the same leshy for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Azriel and Geran stir when the leshys make their way into the cabin. "Wait what was that thump thump sound...? "
"Am I seeing human sized sunflowers?" Geran rolls to the side and squints at them.
Aubrin pushes herself off the ground, then whispers to Nigel, "Where'd you find these sunflower leshys?"
Everyone else in the cabin remains asleep, oblivious to their presence.
Oh no the giants are sleeping!
” Oh ոչ հսկաները քնած են:”One sunflower leshy whispers to another.
Sorry, didn’t mean to disturb you!
” Ներեցեք, չի նշանակում խանգարել ձեզ:”One sunflower leshy apologizes to Aubrin.
Hedran hears a harpies cry far in the distance but decides that it isn't really worth the trouble investigating, and the night passes uneventfully. The next morning, there is a fine hoo-ha in the cabin as everyone finds the cabin a little more crowded then before.
"Guid day hoo did these oversized sunflowers gie in haur?" Kinning yells at the sunflower leshys.
"Ուհ, մենք սխալ բան ենք արել:" At Kinning's shouting, the sunflower leshys look scared.
Uhh...did we do anything wrong?
"Kinning, they're sunflower leshys, they're friendly and wouldn't harm anyone." Aubrin scolds.
Geran, on the other hand is ecstatic. "Sunflower leshies?" He answers delightedly, "You mean those guys who grew those giant pumpkins?!"
"Oh please, please please teach me how to grow those giant pumpkins," He pleads with them.
As he grabs one of them by the its stem-like arm, it squeaks, and jumps backwards.
Eeeek what are you grabbing me for?
"Geran, I think you scared them by being too forward." Aubrin observes as the sunflower leshy jumps backwards after being grabbed.
"I've never seen anything that looks like this before. " Thomas remarks, staring at them.
Lirosa passes Hedran some scrolls she found while foraging, a scroll of alter self and a scroll of frigid touch.
"Thank you Lirosa" - Hedran nods, carefully categorizing and wrapping the scroll, and then handing them to Nigel for safekeeping.
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"The leshies have been attacked by hobgoblins" - Hedran addresses Kinning - "Much like Phaendar, and all here" - he adds - "They require our assistance, and they will get it. The same way we got their assistance and provisions when we needed them" - he finishes - "In case you have forgotten, they are one of the reasons why you did not starve"
” When did we ever gie provisions frae them?”Kinning retorts, then understanding dawns on her face. ” Sae these ur th' nature spirits 'at grew giant pumpkins? 'en fur uir protection, we shoods start chargin' them fur it.That’s a bargain.”
When did we ever get provisions from them?
So these are the nature spirits that grew giant pumpkins? Then for our protection, we should start charging them for it. That’s a bargain.
”Sorry,” Geran apologizes to the sunflower leshy he grabbed.
”What?” Father Noelan awoken by all the ruckus, states, ”No, we don’t charge anything. They’re victims of the hobgoblin invasion like us. No, we’ll escort them to wherever they wish to go, or if they choose to remain with us, we’ll take care of them. Free of charge.”
"Maybe we should start charging you also Kinning?" - Hedran growls.
” But i’ve bin havin' tae forage fur myself. hae Ah taken anythin' chargable frae th' crew?” Kinning protests.
But I’ve been having to forage for myself. Have I taken anything chargable from the group?
One of the sunflower leshys ventures hesitantly.” Ուհ ... ինչու եք հսկաները միմյանցից ծաղրում:”
Uh…why are you giants yelling at each other?
"Well, they have growing harvest for themselves, and YOU before" - Hedran presses on - "Why don't you wait and see what they have to offer, before opening your mouth to attack those who helped you in the past, and can help you again?"
"Մի անհանգստացեք իմ ընկերոջը, որոշ հսկաներ ավելի կարճատես են, քան մյուսները, եւ նրանք պետք է երբեմն լուսավորեն" - he replies calmly to the leshy, even if his Sylvan is not perfect.
"Do not worry my friend - some giants are more short sighted than others. And they need to be enlightened sometimes"
” Braw. we’ll bide an' see whit they hae tae offer 'en.” Kinning throws her hands up in exasperation. ” But min' th' warld is foo ay suckers fa sponge aff others.”
Fine, we’ll wait and see what they have to offer then. But remember the world is full of suckers who sponge off others.
” Lav, mez dur ch’enk’ lsel:” One Leshy says.
”Ձեր շեշտը սարսափելի է” One of the leshies giggle.
Ok, we don’t like hearing you quarrel.
Oh, and your accent is horrible.
The party then starts dismantling the log cabin to the surprise of the watching sunflower leshys. ” Ինչու եք քանդում ձեր տանը:”
Why are you pulling apart your home?
Eventually the party gets everything packed up and starts heading to the cave. Father Noelan excuses himself for a walk in the woods, then comes back with a golden wolf in tow. ”Just an old friend of mine.” He remarks as he introduces Cavall to the entire group.
About 2 hours into their journey, the party runs into a creature has a vaguely humanoid head, the body of a lion, and the wings of a dragon, flying 30 feet in the air. Its tail ends in long, sharp spikes.
Nigel and Grenwold recognize the creature as a manticore.
They know it has tail spikes, and a reach of only 5 ft.
"Good enough Kinning" - Hedran nods, not wanting to lose another moment with the discussion.
"Մի անհանգստացիր. Ավարտվեց «բանավեճը»: Եվ այո, իմ շեշտը լավ չէ" - Hedran replies to the leshies with a chuckle.
"Do not worry. The 'debate' has ended. And yes, my accent is not good"
Nigel manages to hit the manticore on its shoulder.
However it stubbornly remains airborne.
Father Noelan tries his hand at shooting manticores out of the sky,by shooting at the wing joints, after taking a step to the side.
Both of his arrows strike the wing joints, causing the manticore to lose altitude.
"Got him."Father Noelan says with grim satisfaction as both shots find their marks.
Father Noelan gestures for Cavall to guard him, which Cavall does.
"We need to spread out" - Hedran warns, moving to the side while drawing the wand with his free hand, and launching a magic missile at the Manticore.
The leshys pitch in on the house demolishing project.
"Դե մենք կարող էինք ընտրել որոշ սոճին ասեղներ կամ մզկիթի ծաղիկներ կամ կրաքարի ծաղիկներ: Լվացքը ձգտում է լանջերին, այնպես որ մենք այստեղ չենք գտնի" They suggest.
Well we could pick some pine needles,or lilac flowers,or lime flowers. Lavender tends to prefer slopes,so we wouldnt find it here.
" Ինչու են մեր նոր հարեւաններ հոտը: Ամեն դեպքում, մենք չենք խմում հոտը:"
Why are our new neighbours smelly? Anyway we dont mind smells.
Hedran sends a blue missile streaking towards the Manticore.
The Manticore being hit by the magic missiles, plummets to the ground!
It somehow manages to flap its wings to slow its descent and lands on its paws on the ground.
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Nigel nods in satisfaction when the Manticore is brought down to the ground.
"Good job!"
He then grins, whilst looking at Ratel and Bear.
"I believe you may proceed vith ze vhacking, now..."
Nodding his head in agreement with Father Nolan, ”Yes we need to get to safety.”
As Aubrin and Gren are talking about the three forts Ratel scratches his head. ”So would someone from one fort know where the others are? If you told us how to get to Fort Nunder they could contact the other two forts, or at least tell us where thy are.”
As Robert describes the creature, he adds in, ”With two large pet spiders. I’m a firm believer in live-and-let-live, but keeping pet spiders is just….” He pauses for a moment, looking a round, ”Well, it’s just icky.”
Waking in the morning, Ratel smiles as Bear wanders over and starts smelling the Leshies, Hearing the blacksmiths opinion, He scowls until Hedran jumps to the fey’s defense. Ratel adds, ”We were refugees in their forest, they helped us, it seems like the least we can do.”
Seeing both Nigel and Father Noelan hit the flying beast but not bring it down, Ratel asks Hedran ”Spread out? Sounds like a good idea.” He then realizes the swordsman has used magic to bring the beast to the ground, he tells Bear "Attack" Has he runs forward with his companion, trying to get behind the beast.
"Մենք չենք խնամքի: Որոշ հսկաներ ասում են, որ հոտը վատ է, բայց ...
M" One leshy assures Nigel.
We wouldnt care. Some giants say things smell bad,but we dont notice anything. As long as they're nice that's fine.
Bear does not manage to bite through its thick leathery hide.
"Fort Nunder is about 40 miles northwest of here. We'd better get the refugees settled first and make sure no hobgoblins are on our tail before we start looking for it."Aubrin tells Ratel.
"Two pet spiders?Ugh. I don't really care for spiders myself. But we find the Chenarsardo Rangers first, then see if they want to evict."
In Sylvan, when he meets the leshies:
Gren watches as the manticore descends from the sky. As he mutters a prayer to Shelyn and seems to grow stronger. He moves Ringo to attack, shouting ”Foul beast, go pick on someone your own size!”
Free action - drop glaive
Move Action - move to attack, drawing morningstar - he can barely reach the manticore by my count.
Standard action - attack with Ringo
The plucky Grenwold moves to engage the Manticore, swinging his mace at the Manticore, managing to smack him in the ribs. Ringo manages to stab his horns into the Manticore's side.
The Manticore turns its gaze from Father Noelan to the gnome and his megaloceous mount, then starts biting and clawing at Ringo.
Ringo manages to duck out of the way of the Manticore's bite and one of its claws, but gets caught by one of them.
Hedran casts a spell and disappears into thin air!
Continuing his arch around the beast, Ratel nears from the north, telling Bear ”Flank Bear, Flank” as he attacks the Manticore with his shield, Bear moves to the east, standing on his rear legs, attacking the thing with tooth and claw.
Ratel tries to bash the Manticore, but its leathery hide absorbs the blow.
Bear on the other hand takes advantage of Ringo's horns slowing the Manticore's ability to dodge to land a bite and lacerate the Manticore with his claws.
Gren reacts when Ringo is hit as if he were the one struck. He says, in Gnomish:
Gren then readies his shield and attacks again, saying ”You big oaf, too much of a coward to attack a gnome, right?” and smirking while he attacks.
Swift Action - change Ringo’s focus to Turtle (+2 Natural ac, total AC 23)
Move Action - ready shield, increasing Gren’s AC to 21.
Attack action, attack with Ringo. I think the manticore is entangled until the end of this turn if I miss.