Goodluck will again try to dispel the hedge!
Dispel Magic:
Once again, Goodluck attempts to undo the magic that binds his fellows, but again it resists.
From the high vantage point, Taecuss has a fine view of the destruction caused by the bees and spriggans, but the remaining spriggan is well hidden within the thorn wall.
Meycho mutters a brief prayer, and a matching set of rings, one on his finger, the other around Falling Star's leg, light up for a second, a nearly invisible silvery thread of energy connecting them.
Get him, Star, he says, before the bird flies off to attack the hidden Spriggan.
Falling Star takes to the air, flying over the thorn wall. The falcon circles close to where you last saw the spriggan, trying in vain to get at something down below.
Seeing Falling Star circling, Caelin rushes forward to swing blindly in the thick tangle.
Att
Dmg
Conceal
Caelin thrusts his greatsword through the thorny vines, and is rewarded by a squeal of pain. The massive blade is stained with fresh blood as he withdraws it.
Infuriated by the injury, the spriggan slashes at Caelin with a battleaxe, but has less luck than the elven ranger, and the blade thumps harmlessly into a tangle of thorns.
Goodluck will ONCE again try to dispel the hedge!
Dispel Magic:
Edit:
Caelin growled with satisfaction at the spriggan's angry swings. "No, that's not right. You'll have to do better. But I suggest you learn quickly."
"Ah, there you are my little, twiggy friend" Caelin whispered through clenched teeth as he tried to maneuver his large sword through the grasping thorns.
Stealth
Perception:
Taecuss:
Caelin:
Jervaise:
Goodluck:
Meycho:
Falling Star:
Aumgwe:
The spriggan squeals in delight as it ducks under Caelins greatsword, the heavy blade cutting through thorny vines instead. Caelin's backswing seems very close to taking the foul creature's head off, but the small, plantlike shape is simply too hard to hit.
With a last taunting grin, the spriggan again ducks into the brambles and disappears from sight, only a slight rustling marking it's passage. Once again, the sharp cries of Falling Star signal that it still has the foe in sight.
Meycho sheaths his two daggers while starting to circle the thorny bush to get a better view of the creature and drawing his bow and a cold iron arrow as he goes.
Last time!
Dispel Magic:
"Grrraaahhh!" Caelin shouted in frustration as he ducked through the thorns towards the sneaky creature. Or rather, to the point identified by Falling Star, where he began stabbing blindly at what he hoped was the spriggan (and not a very unfortunate rabbit).
With a force fueled by his anger and frustration, Caelin thrusts his enchanted cold-iron greatsword forwards with a primal yell. To his satisfaction, he feels the blade cut through chainmail links and flesh. The force of the impact is strong enough to push the spriggan outward through the brambles, leaving it hanging on the edge of the huge thorn wall cube like a grotesque scarecrow.
An eerie silence falls over the area. Only the muted buzzing of the still trapped bees and the flutter of wings from a few frightened birds taking flight from the hedges of the rose gardens can be heard.
As the heat of battle gradually leave your bodies, you all feel the aches and pains for countless bee stings and thorn cuts. As you look about you, you witness the destruction wrought by the chaotic panic of the two attacks.
At the gazebo, Elyin cautiously relaxes his guarded stance, but he still grasps his dagger firmly.
"Well done, lads!", Jervaise bellows from inside the thorn wall.
"Now that the immediate threat is over, would you mind giving me a hand to cut my way out? I seem to be a little stuck, and these thorns are vicious!"
Meycho looks around to make sure no one is seriously hurt, especially Lumi, then starts hacking away at the thorns with his dagger.
After a few minutes, frightened wedding guests start to emerge from the chapel and the stream to regard the carnage of the assault in
confused shock. Many are nursing painful bee stings and some shiver in their soaked and muddied clothes.
Through the scattered muttering, Elyins voice can be heard. The retired ranger naturally falls into the role of leadership, shouting instructions and directing people.
"Someone fetch some axes. We have to get Jervaise and Taecuss out of this thorny prison."
"Those bees are still trapped underneath the tent. They must not be allowed to escape. Douse the canvas with oil and set it on fire. Be careful that the flames do not spread."
"Anyone who are hurt, report to the chapel. Viviana and her helpers will see to your injuries as best they can."
Before long, the amphitheater is a buzz of frantic activity, with burly men chopping away at the thorn wall and women running to fetch bandages, ointments and fresh water. The tent goes up in flames, subjecting the trapped Taecuss and Jervaise to both heat and smoke, making their wait for freedom even more uncomfortable. Finally, after almost 20 minutes of determined work, they are able to escape their prickly confines.
Once Taecuss and Jervaise are free, the adventurers gather around Elyin in front of the gazebo. They are joined by Lumi and Kailah, who have come out from their hiding place. Both look frightened, Kailah grasping Elyins arm tightly and Lumi staying close to Meycho.
Lumi suddenly exclaims, pointing toward town. From the forest an unnatural mist seeps forth, slowly enveloping Bellis and the grove within an eerie, silent wall, cloaking the stunned crowd and obscuring everything beyond twenty feet.
What is this fell sorcery?! Meycho exclaims, drawing his daggers and sending Falling Star aloft. To Lumi, he says softly Stay close to me.
"That's not good", Caelin muttered to himself as he watched the mist roll forward. He watched for a couple of minutes, trying to judge it's speed, direction and perhaps an origin.
As it spread across the grove, he turned to his new compatriots and raised an eyebrow.
"Looks like this isn't over yet. I want to go find out what's happening and take some vengeance on those responsible. Anybody else up for it?"
"I'll join you. Dis has the smell of somethin' foul about it."
The mist seems to be coming from the west, and quickly blankets the entire town. Falling Star is soon forced to return to Meycho, unable to see far enough to fly safely. The only one who is able to pierce the mist is Goodluck, his magically enhanced sight revealing his surroundings clearly, although covered in an eerie greenish glow.
The moment the strange mist reaches you, you immediately feel its unnatural nature. For a moment, your vision blurs, and you feel dizzy. You are suddenly aware of a young and beautiful woman with wild green hair dripping wet with seawater, standing just out of your reach. The mists seem to twirl tightly around her, as if to ensnare and smother her. Her face is a mask of cold fury, mixed with anguish. Your gaze locks with hers, and you find yourself staring into a raging maelstrom of crashing waves. Your ears suddenly ring with the raging force of a hurricane, and through the howling winds you hear the woman before you
command:
Then she is gone, and you find yourself staring through the banks of rolling mist, a sense of foreboding sending shivers down your spine.
The mists does not radiate any discernible magical aura, but they certainly do not feel natural.
After listening to your comments, Elyin speaks up:
“It is truly fortunate that you were able to defeat those creatures. I don’t know what’s causing the mist, but it’s really scaring the townsfolk. Everyone would be grateful if you are willing to go and investigate. If Tenzekil’s threats prove true, this could be the beginning of something worse.
There is someone who might know more, though - A druid named Devarre. He lives somewhere west of town, and the mists seem to be coming from that direction. His home is somewhere in the woods, but no one knows exactly where. He usually finds travelers before they find him. I suggest you go and try to contact him. While you’re gone, I will help the council prepare a defense in case an army does march on Bellis.”
The mist hinders vision according to the info given below:
Range
* Up to 20 feet - Normal vision
* 21 to 40 feet - Concealment (20% miss chance)
* Beyond 40 feet - Total concealment (50% miss chance)
(This does not apply to Goodluck, who can see normally.)
"A direct journey from Bellis to the area where Devarre has his retreat covers less than 30 miles of forest, but the encroaching fog is likely to slow travel considerably. It is hard to say how long it will take you, and you will likely need all of Caelin's woodcraft to keep from losing your way. If you need supplies or healing before you go, I'm certain that you will be able to find them in town."
Jervaise stretches gratefully once he is released from the painful embrace of the thorns. However, his joy is short-lived, as the mist starts to envelop the wedding party.
What foul sorcery is this?
He nods when Elyin suggests putting the town on a war footing.
"That would probably be wise. We know not what this portends, but I doubt it means anything good... Although I am still somewhat wounded from the encounters with the 'party-crashers', I for one am willing to go search for this Druid."
Goodluck shakes off the sense of wonder and awe he feels. "I must go to find dis druid."
Caelin nodded grimly to Elyin and called Aumgwe to land on his shoulder. Making a quick equipment check, he looked around at the others. "I'm ready. Let me know where you want to go first, and I'll do my best to lead you true."
On advice from Elyin, you go to the Chapel and seek out Viviana. The priestess of Shelyn has several nasty swollen stings, but seems fully focused on helping those who were unfortunate enough to sustain serious injuries.
As you make your inquiries, she pauses long enough to wipe the sweat from her brow.
"I have expended much of my healing already, but I do have a single restorative spell left that I can cast upon one of you. I also have two scrolls in reserve. I will cast the spell free of charge, since you got your ijuries defending us all. But if you need the scrolls as well, I am afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave enough gold for me to be able to replace them. Otherwise, we will be ill equipped to deal with another emergency."