SC/SS Brand.
Hedran continues his mystic barrage.
------------------------------------------------------------
+1 For DC13
Hedran manages to slash the yellow hobgoblin, but does not manage to brand him. The backswing clangs off his breastplate.
Fixed
Grenwold tries to clobber yellow and urges Fenton to gore him, but Fenton stumbles on a loose rock and throws their aim off.
Robert moves southwest then lets loose an arrow at yellow catching him in the chest.
The remaining hobgoblins shift their positions change their target to Hedran, hoping to take him down quickly as he isn't covered by so much armor. One lucky blow catches Hedran on his hips.
While the other stumbles on a rock and misses completely.
Father Noelan continues to fire at yellow, skewering him in the stomach while Cirieo loads his heavy crossbow.
+1 Longbow, Precise Shot on Yellow
Robert shoots yellow in his throat, and he looks barely able to keep his feet.
Seeing the hobgoblin trying to move away, they move forward as well. Ratel kicks, then swinging his shield following up with a round house kick. While Bear chuffs, as Bear and attacks with tooth and claw.
Ratel manages to kick the hobgoblin twice, once in the stomach and once in the ribs, but the hobgoblin manages to dodge out of the way of his shield bash. Bear on the other hand, has more success, mauling the hobgoblin viciously.
Hedran continues his assault on the hobgoblin.
One Handed SC/SS Brand
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
+1 For DC13
With a dazzling display of bladesmanship, Hedran runs the first hobgoblin through, then lopes off the head of the second one.
On each of their bodies, the party finds a masterwork breastplate, a masterwork light steel shield, a composite longbow (+2 str), with 19 arrows, a glaive, a masterwork battle axe, a grey cloak a backpack, bedroll, signal whistle and a waterskin, and a potion.
Hedran identifies the potion as a potion of CMW wounds, and the cloaks as a cloak of resistance +1.
Grenwold and Hedran identify the ioun stone as a cracked dusty rose prism, but still do not know what the horseshoe does.
The party travels on for another hour uneventfully.
The forest here suffered a severe but localized fire. Ash coats an area devoid of undergrowth, while the larger trees are badly scorched. At the center of the devastation is a large oak tree, killed by the fire and standing like a blackened skeleton. Two bodies are lodged in its branches, burned beyond recognition.
Grenwold, Robert, Hedran and Ratel determine that the fire occurred only 2 days ago. The party examines the burned tree and succeeds at and uncovers several shattered flasks that contained alchemist’s fire. The party also notices along the ridge there are several arrows along a switchback path and identifies a clear line of sight between the burned tree and the arrows’ locations. Grenwold, Robert, Ratel notice boot prints descending from the path and then ascending it thereafter (although the tracks are lost on the stony surface of the ridge).
As the party is examining the scene, a nearby oak tree shimmers and transforms into a tall and graceful sharp-eared giant’s with pale skin and curly red hair. Its large brow gives it a somewhat primitive visage. It's face is black as as a thundercloud and it growls angrily at the party, "I see the arsonists have come back to the scene of the crime. Come to admire your handiwork, haven't you? I'll show YOU what I think about arsonists!"
No one knows anything about what this giant might be.
|
Nigel looks affronted.
"Good Sir! Ve have definitely *not* burned anyzing dovn - some of ze members of my Pack told me about ze devastation here, and knoving zat zere vere Hobgoblins roaming around in ze forest (vho had destroyed ze nearby Ranger Fort), ve zought zat it vould be a good idea to check-out vhat had been going on around here... My name is Nigel. Vhat is your name?"
"My name is Herge." The anger fades off his features, replaced by a puzzled expression. "But only small two leggers burn the forest. I was hoping to catch those arsonists so I could give them a good switching until they agreed to replant what they burnt down and not ever set the forest on fire again." He waves a willow branch.
"And Pack? Two leggers like you don't usually run with a Pack. More likely a Pack chases YOU down."Herge looks disbelieving at Nigel.
"Well, there's Cavall down here," Cirieo scratches his noble steed behind the ears affectionately. "So I'd disagree with that."
Herge scratches his head, with a frown on his face. "So if you didn't set the fire, then who dun it?"
|
|
Nigel bows to Herge.
"Pleased to meet you. I zink you vill find zat ve are not exactly normal two-leggers; personally, I get on really vell vith volves, rats, and bats."
So saying, he brings out Ursula, and feeds her some sunflower seeds, whilst stroking her.
"My pack consists of volves zat ve have rescued and/or helped; I find zat if you treat zem vell, and promise zem food, and good medical care, zey are extremely loyal. In fact, ze only reason ve knew about ze fort zat had been overrun, vas because ve vent zere to rescue one of ze pups zat had been taken captive. Fortunately, ve vere able to get zere in time."
Nigel looks thoughtful.
"As to vho is responsible for this, vell, as I said, zere is an army of Hobgoblins running amok in ze area; ze Rangers vould have too much respect for ze forest to do something so stupid as to try and burn it down, so I vould be tempted to lay blame at ve feet of ve Goblinoids..."
He then nods in the direction of the corpses.
"Have you tried to identify zeir species?"
Surprised by the giant, Ratel watches and listens as Nigel attempts to calm the large fellow, offering, "Yes burning and killing has certainly been the Goblinoids preferred method of operation."
"Yeah I can imagine. It's free food, right?" Herge replies. "And you should always take care of those under your protection."
Herge raises an eyebrow. "I can't tell one short two legger from another? They all looked the same to me. Besides once I saw the smoke and rushed over, I was too busy trying to do damage control. "He points at the scorched trees. "It was too late to save that oak tree," He points to the oak tree with the bodies fused to it by the heat, "But I hope I've managed to make a difference to these,"he gestures at the badly scorched trees.
He sighs sorrowfully, "Nevertheless these poor trees will forever bear the burning. Wicked b@stards those arsonists are, why'd they hurt a tree that never did them any harm!"
"An army of hobgoblins did this?" Herge blanches, "Sorry...I have to confess that I'm a forester, not a fighter. I don't think I'm up to fighting an army of hobgoblins...a small patrol maybe, but not an entire army!" Herge actually sounds alarmed now.
"Our chances of survival are much better together."
"Well, I suppose I could check the refugees out."Herge muses. "I do know a thing or two about living in the forest."Herge claims proudly. "Which direction did you say they were again?"
”Well met, friend. I am Grenwold Houtvester, and this is Fenton. We are also wardens if the wood, of a sort. My companions and I are on the hunt for the Ironfang Legion, and we are currently searching for those who destroyed the Chernasardo ranger fort nearby. You may be familiar with the rangers. They also have been on the receiving end of some cruelty from the Legion and others, and we are trying to get to the truth of the situation.”
”Some of the folks at Misthome aren’t as... progressive as we are. You may want to give warning ahead of time that you met us so that they don’t get worried and attack you. The people sometimes are a bit defensive. Also, I have some limited ability to commune with nature, would you like me to see if we can track down your arsonists? They may very well be the same foes we seek.”
"Can we send him with something they will recognize as ours? Could we give him a copy of Father's holy symbol so they know he is a friend?"
"Or, maybe a letter written in someone's distinctive handwriting?"
"We should do that too, but I'm looking for something that can be seen from a distance. So, people can recognize it from distance."
"Maybe a copy of our Banner?"
”To be honest, I tend to give humanoids a wide berth.” Herge admits, ”I don’t usually go near human dwellings in case there are…misunderstandings,” Herge puts in delicately. He raises an eyebrow, ”You know how they’ll yell GIANT, then start taking out their torches and pitchforks?”
Herge begins to expound on the subject. ”You see there are good giants, and there are bad giants. Hill giants are big, burly brutes that like to raid and pillage. And about as smart as the rocks on their hills. But no, I’m NOT a hill giant. I’m a gentle wood giant. I live in harmony with the forest, have no interest in the affairs of people, except when they despoil nature. Like logging, arson…then yep, I'll step in. Heck, I’m a vegetarian!” Herge looks hurt, ”But people lump all us good wood giants and bad hill giants together and say we’re all bad giants, then start shooting first.”
The party hears an audible gulp from the bushes behind them. But Herge seems too interested in having an audience to talk to, and continues.
”So to avoid misunderstandings…” Herge explains, ”When I see people, I just pretend I’m a tree. It works well for everyone.”
”I was thinking, since Nigel invited me, I’d just show up and said Nigel sent me, you know, since isn’t that how small two leggers introduce themselves to each other?”
”If you could find my arsonists, or at least before they return to their army, I would be most grateful – I don’t want people getting hurt trying to fight against overwhelming odds, you know.” Herge answers.
smiling Ratel points, "Well if he's going to Misthome can we send the lumberjack with him, they could vouch for each other."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
”Lumberjack?!” Herge narrows his eyes. ”I do NOT approve of wanton deforestation!”
”So where’s that lumberjack now?” Herge growls angrily as he reaches for his willow switch while looking around.
A bush behind the party begins to quiver and shake, and Herge reaches into it, and pulls a cowering Vardalel out. ”So what have you got to say about eavesdropping on our conversation, elf?”
”Uhh…nothing…” Vardalel stammers fearfully. A stain appears on his trousers.
”He’s with us. Please put him down.” Father Noelan vouches for Vardalel. ”Some of the creatures we’ve been encountering in the Fangwood are quite dangerous so he usually hides in a bush. Or a tree.”
"You can teach him, selective cutting, which trees will get sick. Show him how to use his skills for a healthier forest."
Herge looks at Vardalel whom he has grabbed with an appraising eye. "Oh-ho! So YOU'RE the lumberjack, aren't you?"
Vardalel turns pale and looks like he is about to faint. "Urm..."
He turns to Hedran mouthing the words, 'Why did you tell him?!'
"Well, you're about to learn some lessons in forestry. For all the trees you've cut down, you're going to learn how to plant them back."Herge declares, while still grabbing onto Vardalel.
"Among our people, it is not a crime to do logging.For some, it's a way of life."Father Noelan interjects. "Dont be too harsh on him."
"Oh no, I'm giving him a lesson on environmental conservation."Herge says amicably."Your first job, elf will be to help me restore this place. You can use your axe on that oak tree - it needs to be cleared to make room for new growth."
He then sets Vardalel on the ground and frog marches Vardalel to the burnt oak tree. "You're only going to see Misthome once you've replanted this place to my satisfaction. Now get cracking!"
"We might not be in Misthome for a while, depending how long it takes for the elf to learn." Herge tells Nigel.
"So where are we headed to, next?" Cirieo asks the party. "Fort Nunder?"
Some of Nigel's wolves come whining at him.
We found an abandoned camp site with mangled hobgoblin bodies. Some way from here.
|
|
Nigel nods.
"Some of zen aren't as progressive as ve are, but given zat ve have Sunflower Leshies and, delicious-smelling Troglodytes in our community, I zink zat zey are reasonably amicable, once you get to knov zem."
He then happily gives Herge precise directions to Misthome.
"If ve happen to find ze Hobgoblins, ve vill definitely let you know."
When the lumberjack is volunteered, Nigel can't help but smile, and nod.
"Zat sounds like a perfect plan. Hopefully, he vill be more in tune vith ze forest after zat."
When the wolves come over, Nigel greets them warmly, and does his best to comfort them.
He then turns to the others.
"Our four-legged friends have found an abandoned campsite, vith a number of mangled hobgoblin bodies. Should ve check it out on ze vay to Fort Nunder?"
chuckling at the idea of the giant and cowardly lumberjack traveling together, Ratel nods in agreement with Nigel, "Yes, lets check out the campsite." He turns to Father Nolan, and asks, "were you serious about finding water? Bear likes the water, could you make him armor made of ice?"
Gren grins at the interaction between Harge and Valdarel, ”Harge, you’re full of great ideas. This sounds like the perfect lesson in hard work and discipline for our buddy, Valdarel, who’s managed to be less than useless to us for a few days, haven’t you?” he turns to Valdarel. ”I recommend you do what he says. You don’t want to make a giant angry, even a good one.”
He also says, ”So, commune with nature anyone? We can ask questions about what’s happening within six miles or so.”
"Either find him a body of water deep enough to stand in, or a tub."Father Noelan confirms it. "But like ice, if someone were to throw alchemist fire at him, it would melt."
The party travels for another 4 hours before it gets dark, then sets up camp. Father Noelan heals as what he can before the party settles down for the night.
The night passes uneventfully and the following morning, Ratel takes off Bear's barding and has him stand in a nearby stream, and Father Noelan begins freezing water into ice around him. Bear gives a few curious huffs as he paws his new armor curiously.
Both Hedran and Grenwold are still unable to identify the horseshoe.
The party then sets off in the direction the wolves were indicating. They run, after 1 hour of traveling, into a huge plant with a thick trunk capped by a crown of wide leaves, whipping vines, mushrooms, and a ravenous purple maw, and they realize it's a Tendriculous.
If anyone was not at fully Herran would have lent father his pearls again.
"Is one of you carrying tentacle monster food on you. It goes in the bear bag."
Hedran cast frostbite and moves up.
As Grenwold uses commune with nature, he realizes that within 6 miles of his current location , there are 4 sets of hobgoblin patrols of 4. One is heading northwest, the other north and the other two are headed south and south east. There are 113 grizzly bears, 3,319 deer, 84 lynxes, 97 bobcats, 4149 birds, 9040 rabbits, 743 wild boars, 452 wolves, 12014 Squirrels, 110 badgers, 623 weasels, 113065 mice, 1834 snakes, 9654 moles, 96312 lizards, 20367 fishes, 23742 bats.
Grenwold detects 32 powerful unnatural creatures. 12 seem to be spider-like, the others the Ambergrim that tried to eat him 2 days ago.
"Hey, you can't say I was less then useless - I pointed out those arrows and that potion. And its not as if EVERYONE wants to be an adventurer. Some of us just want a peaceful life." Vardalel retorts. "And I asked to be brought to Misthome specifically because I KNOW I am unsuited for adventuring. Is that too much to ask for?"
"Instead I have to go gallivanting with you throughout Fangwood, which was never what I wanted. And the last time I looked, logging wasn't banned by Nirmathas laws, so it's a perfectly acceptable occupation. Except to tree-huggers maybe." He looks pointedly at Herge."And I wasn't even responsible for this mess." He grumbles, looking at the burnt forest.
"Are you going to sit around yattering or are you going get to business? Trees don't replant themselves you know." Herge patiently taps the ground with his willow switch.
"Fine, I'll do it. Under protest."
Earlier:
"You get to be out in the sun. Work the land and not fight tentacle monsters and furballs. Sounds nice. I like you Herge more good giants interacting with humans may make the world a better place for both."
Father Noelan fires twice on the Tendriculous and one of the shots penetrates its stem.
Cirieo tries staying on Cavall as he fires his crossbow at the Tendriculous, but has to grab onto Cavall's neck with one hand, firing his crossbow with the next.
Nonetheless he still manages to stick a bolt into the tendriculous.
Grenwold’s eyes take on an otherworldly color as he presses his hand down on the ground and learns about the forest, ”So the green has told me there are a few hobgoblin patrols in the forest nearby, a... lot of animals, and about 30 unnatural creatures- some of which are spider things but mostly oozes. Stay on guard.”
Grenwold rolls his eyes at the tendriculous, ”More or you gross plant monsters? Ugh.” Grenwold casts bless on the party.
Laughing as Bear chuffs at the water forming into ice around him, Ratel asks, "What are you complaining about? You have a fur coat! Aren't you the one who always says it's too hot out?" strapping the barding to his rucksack, Ratel turns to the priest, "Thank you father, I've been worried about Bear not having enough armor."
Seeing the carnivorous plant, Ratel shifts forward, preparing to flank, "come on Bear, let's get in position." Hearing Hedran's joke about 'plant food' he adds, "If you put it in the Bear bag, that means Bear gets to eat it, right?"
The Tendriculous heals up as it moves forward, then tries to eat Ratel up,but it does not manage to bite or slam Ratel with its vines.
Father Noelan continues to shoot at the Tendriculous as Cirieo tries to stay on Cavall while reloading his crossbow.