The lynx meows at Ratel, then goes back to the trees.
He’s in a bad mood and doesn’t like strangers. Be careful. And thank you for helping him.
”It has yellow and green eyes with silted pupils! And makes creepy noises! It must be a demon!” Edran concludes.
Avoiding the very obvious bear traps on the bare ground, the party heads towards the cabin.
Hedran notices that the door is rigged with an arrow trap that will fire at anyone who opens it.
Robert tries to disarm the arrow trap carefully, but does not manage it, but on the flip side, he doesn’t set the trap off. "Oh god d@mn paranoid idiots...how are we supposed to help if they rigged the door?" He curses.
"Smells dead..." - Hedran shakes his head and follows after Ratel.
There are some holes in the ceiling, that could possibly be climbed into.
Robert tries fiddling with the arrow trap, does not quite manage it on the first try, but tries again, and manages it on the second try.
"Finally. It is done." He grumbles, then steps back, letting Ratel have the dubious honor of opening the door.
Inside the wooden cabin, the ceiling has partially collapsed and all furniture except for a stool has been overturned and smashed to pieces. A rotting and putrid walking corpse , its body skeletal in places, its right arm broken in three places and its ankle attached to the rest of the leg by a ligament, with its ribs partially caved-in staggers towards the party, its arms upraised to smash and it's eyes sockets glowing a demonic red.
Ratel nods to Robert, calling out, "Hey inside, I talked to your Lynx, he said you were sick, were here to help. Don't Shoot!" looking to the others, he shrugs "Come on Bear." He then pushes the door open with his shield, keeping a keen eye out.
”Your lifeforce…I sense…so strong…I must feed…” The creature utters with a nasty grin, revealing pointed teeth.
”Just as I feared, he is dead. We promised we would help, all we can do is put him down. Bear attack” Seeing the lynx’s master dead, and now undead, Ratel moves into the room working around the undead, he attempts to get behind it attacking with his shield
Ratel goes in and batters the creature’s chest with his shield, shattering more ribs. Bear tries to bite the creature but can’t chew through it’s unnaturally tough skin. Bear also gives Ratel a mournful chuff on having to bite a putrid corpse.
Robert moves into the room, his bow drawn and fires an arrow at the creature, managing to put an arrow into one of its eyes.
Hedran enchants his blade, then moves in after Ratel and Bear, trying to swing his blade at the monstrosity.
Hedran walks into the room, then swings his longsword in a great arc, cleaving the creature into two by a single cut from shoulder to hip. The two halves fall onto the floor and finally stop moving.
Dust and cobwebs cover the interior of the cabin and many obvious valuables have been taken away. A single bright red boot, that Hedran has no idea what it is, lies on the floor. A sword made out of blue steel and an exquisitely crafted longbow lie mounted on the fireplace.
Digging the floorboards, knowing that his miserly mother used those as storage too, Hedran uncovers a hidden compartment that is locked. Robert eventually manages to coax the lock to open and inside there are two potions, which Nigel identifies as cure light wounds, a quiver of 20 arrows and a separate quiver of 5 arrows.
The hut at the back of the house is a wood and mud smokehouse, of which the wood is decaying slightly contains heavily smoked and salted meat and fish, worth 15 provision points.
The longsword and longbow are masterwork, Hedran also finds that the longbow and the five arrows are magical.
While the others looked around the cabin, Ratel comments, "I should inform the cat, come on Bear." returning outside he speaks with the lynx.
Nigel nods from the arrows, to Hedran.
"These seem magical, as well as the bow - maybe they should go to Robert" - Hedran ponders.
The longsword and longbow are masterwork, Hedran also finds that the longbow and the five arrows are magical.
Hedran realizes that the boot is magical as well. But it won't function without its partner.
The lynx gives a heartbreakingly forlorn howl.
Oh no! Master! What am I going to do without you! I think even..whatever he was, he still knew me. He didn’t hurt me when I brought him creatures to eat. But thank you for helping him find peace.
Ratel shakes his head,
He then watches to see if the lynx leaves or stays nearby.
On hearing the forlorn howl, Edran shierks, "See, it's that demon!"
The lynx meows at Ratel.
I shall hide deeper in the woods then.
The lynx gives one sad glance at the wooden cabin, then disappears into the woods.
Turning from the Lynx, calling to Edran, "It's just a cat, Edran. The monster was in the cabin. it's dead now. Come make yourself useful and start digging a grave."
"Uh okie. Do you have a shovel?" Nontheless, Edran does come over to help though he gets rather revolted when he sees the two halves of the creature. "What the hell is that thing?" He staunchly refuses to touch the creature remains though he does help in digging the grave.
Then the party begins to start patching the holes in the ceiling with wood from smashed furniture to make it habitable.
Rolling his eyes, "That's the monster I was telling you about. I believe there is a shovel in the closet by the broom and the hammer were going to use to fix the roof. Let me know when the hole is dug, I will put the pieces parts in." Ratel then fetches the hammer and box of nails from the closet, and the ladder he saw hanging on the back of the cabin and begins to repair the roof.
The party eventually gets the creature buried, and finds that the stench of rot and decay fades away, to be replaced by pine. They return to the leshy Grove, a clearing with a well-tended meadow of rows and rows of blackcurrants, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and elder berries, fat, orange pumpkins, plump butternut squashes, marrows and a well cared for orchard full of fruit trees such as apricots, cherries, hazelnuts, acorns, pears, apples and plums, the clearing and the orchard being divided by a clear spring. All around the clearing and orchard are sunflower leshies and two new types of leshy, little plant people in a winglike leaf cloak and pinecone armor and little plant men that walk on legs like tangled vines and have a pumpkin carved with eyes and a mouth for a head. Around the clearing are a few domes of willow trees. The fruiting bushes and trees, of which the fruits are ripe, form a medley of delicious fruity smells in the air. The pleasant buzzing of honeybees can be heard throughout the little impromptu forest garden.are greeted by sunflower leshys, before being shown to Stout Stem."Հսկաները վերադարձան:"
The Giants are back!
” You'r-rre back. ave you discover-rred de cause of de sad plants?” Stout Stem asks.
" OOndead? It moost ave been a foul ting to cor-rr-rr-roopt de land toos. My tanks to you and your-rr br-rrave companions." Stout Stem thanks Nigel.
Undead? It must have been a foul thing to corrupt the land thus. My thanks to you and your brave companions.
" Your-rr companion said you ave many mouths to feed?" Stout Stem adds. "ee-rre, take dese.De plants only ask tat you spr-rread de seeds in your-rr tr-rravels." The gourd leshys bring out jute sacks filled with pumpkins, butternut squashes, marrows, apricots, cherries, hazelnuts, apples and pears.
Your companion said you have many mouths to feed?
Here, take these.
The plants only ask that you spread the seeds in your travels.
"Dese may be oosefool in your-rr tr-rravels." He hands Nigel two vials and a bag. "De gr-rreen vial elps with poison, de black one plagooe. And de bag wil-l entangle your-rr foes."
"It seems the undead nature of the monster was corrupting the area around the cabin somehow" - Hedran adds.
"OOndead cano sometimes spr-rread blight acr-rros-s de land, and sadly we cano't r-rreal-ly do mooch about dem." Stout Stem remarks sadly.
Undead can sometimes spread blight across the land, and sadly we can't really do much about them.
The party returns to find the rest of the villagers and a swelling goat herd. The foragers have had a successful harvest of berries and mushrooms while those who went hunting came back with game. Nigel finds that one of his wolves is badly injured, barely able to stand, having a deep gnash in its flanks.
Robert examines the wound and realizes it was made by a boar's tusks.
The wolf licks Nigel gratefully and whines.
There was this boar that charged at me and I managed to limp away after he poked me.
Another wolf also whines at Nigel.
I found a small shack in the middle of a thicket. An old two legger popped out briefly, then went back in.
|
Nigel nods.
He then relays the information to the others.
"Ze volves found a big nasty boar, vhich should be good for food, if ve can track it down, and a small shack vith an old humanoid living zere. Zey may be an ally, or a foe, but zere is only one vay to find out; ve should investigate both once ze storm passes."
The wolf that was previously gored whines indignantly at Nigel.
That was the most aggressive boar I've ever seen! Usually they run! This one charged at me.
The shack is about a human day's travel from here, not in the direction you were previously headed.
"Nasty boar? Sounds like Gashmaw."Taidel chimes in. "He gave me this!" Taidel pulls up his shirt showing ugly scars on his belly.
Azmythe chooses to remain with the rest of the villagers as the party leads them towards the cabin. As they approach the cabin, the sky is rapidly turning storm grey, and Victor comments, ”Hey, not bad. Where’d you find a place like this?” Large drops of rain are beginning to fall, and the refugees scurry into the cabin before they are caught by the storm.
'I need to learn how to do that.' Watching as Nigel cares for the wolf, Ratel listens as the 'expert' explains all the things the wolves have found. After they've taken the villagers to the cabin they repaired, he approaches Nigel, "Hey Nigel, where did those wolves say they found that Gnashmaw boar? I'd like a chance to hunt it down. Hopefully we can find it's tracks once this storm blows over."
"We are going to head to the Chenarsardo Rangers redoubt aren't we? I've been tracking our journey and we're two days north of the Chenarsado Rangers redoubt."Aubrin mentions.
"Oh Gnashmaw spends time grinding his tusks against trees and rock. Making a gnashing sound and circular impressions on the trees and rocks. He's also got a ring stuck on his tusk." Taidel describes the boar in question. "He's been bugging us of the Hunters guild for ages, but the last time we organized larger hunting party to deal with him, we couldn't find him. He's a willy one let me tell you."
"OOndead cano sometimes spr-rread blight acr-rros-s de land, and sadly we cano't r-rreal-ly do mooch about dem." Stout Stem remarks sadly.
"I had no idea such corruption could be so... Evident. But now I know" - Hedran nods at Stout Stem - "And thank you very much for all your generosity"
'I need to learn how to do that.' Watching as Nigel cares for the wolf, Ratel listens as the 'expert' explains all the things the wolves have found. After they've taken the villagers to the cabin they repaired, he approaches Nigel, "Hey Nigel, where did those wolves say they found that Gnashmaw boar? I'd like a chance to hunt it down. Hopefully we can find it's tracks once this storm blows over."
"Ratel, Nigel, do you think such beast could be tamed?" - Hedran inquires - "It would certainly be a formidable guard and ally for the villagers maybe, if it simply fought off the wolves?"
Looking from Nigel to Hedran, Ratel shrugs, "As old as it is, I would think whomever tried to tame it would need to be able to speak to it regularly. I can only speak to animals once a day. I doubt if that would be enough to help it learn to change it's wild nature fast enough."
'I have no idea what different animals Nigel can speak to.' Leaving his question unasked, Ratel Looks to Nigel, waiting to see if he expounds any further on his own abilities or opinions.
"But people don't usually 'speak' to dogs, horses or other animals - yet they can be trained and much more, becoming amazing companions, friends even" - Hedran insists, looking at Bear.
|
|
Nigel nods to Aubrin.
"Yes, ve are heading zere, ultimately, but ve need to be self-sufficient, as vell; vith ze storm coming, I zought it best to head for some nearby shelter - ve don't vant ze villagers to be tired, vet, and miserable, after all, if ve can avoid it."
When Ratel asks about the boar, Nigel chews his lip thoughtfully, then shakes his head.
"I have no vay to talk vith boars. As for calming him down, ve do have a Scroll of Calm Animals, but zat vould only provide temporary relief, if it vorked. If he is known to be cunning, I say, don't go off on a vild goose chase hunting for him, but if ve run across him, so much ze better."
"Sometimes when people die in agony, it wil-l cause dem to r-rrise as oondead and deir-rr pr-rresence cor-rr-rr-roopts de land." Stout Stem explains.
"No it should be oos who should be tanking you, on behalf of al-l de plants, for-rr dealing with something we could not deal with." Stout Stem answers.
Sometimes when people die in agony, it will cause them to rise as undead and their presence corrupts the land.
No it should be us who should be thanking you, on behalf of all the plants, for dealing with something we could not deal with.
"You make a reasoned argument. I just didn't want us to veer too far off course, since ultimately enlisting the Chernasardo rangers would mean we could get back Phaendar and get back our normal lives." Aubrin answers.
Tara passes Hedran two scroll cases. "Here, I found a little cache with weird stuff in it. Tried opening it up, couldn't understand a word of it."
Hedran looks at the scrolls and finds that one of them is a scroll of obscuring mist, and the other, a scroll of colour spray.
'How do I describe a werebear without calling him a werebear.' Gesturing at Bear, "I raised Bear from a cub, his mother was a companion to someone who lived in our village, and he had a way with bears that I can't describe." Gesturing toward Nigel, "Very similar to how Nigel here has a way with wolves." Realizing what he had said, Ratel looks at Nigel again. 'I will have to watch Nigel when the moon is full, maybe there is more to him than I realize.' But says nothing, hoping to change the subject, he gets up and looks out the window. "Has it started raining yet?"
"And where'd you find the new guy from?" Jet points at Edran. "He seems familiar..." Jet furrows her eyebrows. "Oh ya. Booked a night at the Taproom...name of Edran right?"
Edran just nods, then compliments Jet "Yeah.You've got a good memory."
"All part of the job." Jet waves her hand, shrugging her efforts off.
Thick, black clouds blanket the sky, flickering with lightning and thunder.The wind picks up quickly and strengthens to a gale that bends the forest. Branches crack and fall from their trees. The rain begins, icy cold and stinging, slow at first but soon driving into the earth in a pounding rhythm. A storm is upon everyone! Luckily, the party is a cabin with a warm fireplace next to them. As Jet cooks up a pumpkin harvest beef stew, everyone's warm and cozy, if a little squished, inside the log cabin.
Geran is oggling at the latest batch of pumpkins with undisguised greed. "Oh my god...where did you get these from? They'd easily win any pumpkin growing competition, even those held in Tamran."
|
|
Nigel smiles.
"Fair enough. I vish you and yours nozing but peace."
Nigel nods.
"Hopefully, in a day or two, ve vill get to ze Rangers, and be able to plan our next move."
When Geran asks where the pumpkins are from, Nigel grins.
"Let's just say zat zey vere a gift from grateful Nature spirits, for ridding part of ze forest of an undead monstrosity zat vas causing ze land itself to cry out in pain."
"Nature spirits? Could I talk to them? I mean I grow pumpkins but these are like giants. And they're really sweet too. I could use pumpkin growing tips." Geran tells Nigel.
On the second hour of the storm, the party hears a loud crash as a tree branch strikes the roof, carried by galeforce winds, causing the temporary repairs in the ceiling to spring a leak.
"It's just like being back at Phaendar, leaky roofs and all," Danny says. "Pass the bucket."
Tolman dutifully passes the bucket from the corner and places it where the ceiling is dripping water. "Uh huh. We just need to empty the bucket now and then. I always ended doing it back home."
"Well the foods better then what I get to eat as a merc." Leo adds. "It's times like these that you really appreciate a warm meal in your stomach. And most mercs don't make good cooks."
"Yeah Jet's a better cook then I am." Marcus admits.
"And no, you never wanted to eat Harold's cooking." Thomas adds."Unless you wanted to end up in the restroom after."
"We must give thanks to Desna for granting us such good guides that we are able to sit in here, protected from the storm, with ample food." Ibrahim says piously.