Earlier: Svetlana seemed to revel in the exploration of the forest, with each new meadow, clearing or more unique tree bringing on exclamations of delight. Did you see that bird? What kind is that? Are they always so cute? became frequent questions as the fauna and flora of the area revealed itself. When not taking in the sights, Svetlana chatted with her companions and tried to keep spirits up. Bantering back and forth flirtatiously with Damen was just part of the fun for the priestess.
Present: As the creatures burst into the open, Svetlana eyed them with curiosity. Seeing that combat would ensue she braced herself to assist however best, but noticeably winced when Ulryk spoke his ultimatum to the creatures. Pulling out her whip, the priestess moved to within 15 feet of the creatures and lashed out with the weapon in an attempt to sweep its legs out from under it.
Combat Maneuver Check: Trip
Ulryk snarls something in the language of the dragons and then charges at the nearest of the two Kobolds. His Ranseur leaves his back and comes to his hand in the blink of an eye. With a forceful thrust, he ends his charge by driving the three pronged weapon into one of the Kobolds and lifting the beast off the ground.
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Svetlana flicks out her whip in an attempt to trip one of the scally little monsters, however it falls just short of its mark.
Leorn's Attack:
Damage:
Leorn moves forward and attempts to stab one of the Kobolds with his rapier, but fails to connect.
Ulryk wades into the combat, the creatures having ignored his attampt to scare them off. Yelling in an unknown language, he slices deep into one of the two remaining kobolds, killing it instantly.
Round Two
With an air of bravado, Kent reloads his crossbow, confident in the abilities of his comrades to deal with the remaining creature.
Ulryk flicked the creatures corpse off his Ranseur like a farmer might discard a bail of hay at the end of a pitchfork. His eyes narrowed on the last of the Kobold's as he called out to his companions.
"Take the last one alive if you can. It might give us answers." His voice was deep, and tinged with the base emotions brought up as he waded into combat. It was almost as if he was talking to himself and not his companions, trying to restrain his own violent actions.
Brigid draws another arrow and pulls its fletching back to her cheek. Her eyes blaze but her face is a mask of cold intensity. She doesn't heed the wound on her leg as she steps to create a clear shot.
She holds her shot at Ulryk's insistence, but keeps it trained upon the small creature.
Then it has sealed it's own fate.
Svetlana coils her whip with a wry shake of her head as the last creature fell. Whatever these little beasts were, they were no match for the group's warriors. I either need to get better with my goddess' weapon or put it away and quit embarrassing myself, she thought with a chuckle.
Looking over to Ulryk she said playfully, اعتقدت أنني زميل فقط الفقراء يجبرون على تعلم هذه اللغة. هل هذه المخلوقات التحدث بها أيضا؟ اعتقدت أنه استخدامه فقط من قبل الارستقراطيين متكبر وويرمس كبيرة أنفسهم.
Brigid suddenly looks alert, scanning the edges of the clearing for signs of additional threats. She nocks another arrow and remains at the ready.
Ulryk turned to meet the charging Kobold only to see it shot dead before it ever came within a distance to be a threat. A firm nod of his helmeted head was given to Brigid in thanks and then he advanced forward and looked down on the dead Kobold. He made a quick search of the creatures near him for anything of worth, be it of value or information on their purpose here.
He looked up from his investigation when Svetlana spoke in the dragon tongue. He offered a slow rolling shrug of his shoulders and a momentary smile as he replied to her in that same ancient language. He growled, rolled his R's and hissed between clentched teeth for several moments.
[spoiler=Draconic]"I suspect it is required education for those of the high noble houses. In centuries past the King's of Brevoy made pact with the dragons and my family always believed knowing the language was both a sign of respect to the past and tradition. I doubt I will ever see a dragon but I am told that these Kobold's believe themselves kin. I am uncertain if they understood me."
Damen looked forlornly at the small bodies as he dismounted. "Poor dumb creatures," he muttered. He glanced at Brigid's wound, but if she said nothing about it then he would leave matters be. It was more Svetlana's domain in any case.
Instead, he bent down to examine the plants growing here to see if he could identify them.
"I wonder if this was their farm. I hope not. I'd hate to think we killed these things just defending their home."
As moments tick away and it becomes more and more likely that the kobolds' suicidal charge was not a distraction for a larger flanking force, Brigid settles downand relieves the tension in her bow string. She turns and pats Zetler's nose and cheek.
She remounts and guides her horse around the edges of the clearing, looking for signs of footpaths or other habitation.
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The plants that you have found here are actually quite rare. Known as Moon Radishes, they are a special indigrent in many exotic dishes. A special treat is Moon Radish Soup. Very few outside the aristocracy have had the pleasure of such a rare delicacy.
The only tracks that Brigid can find are those of the kobolds, which leads back into the forest. You can easily follow them for a few steps when you discover several burlap sacks. 2 are full of radishes, while the others are empty. The tracks then wander off into the thick undergrowth in a south and eastern direction.
The creatures themselves carried nothing of value...their weapons were homemade and rather crude, but effective (as Brigid can attest).
Svetlana nodded at Ulryk's response and seemed on the verge of commenting back when the priestess caught sight of Brigid remounting and looking around.
وربما يمكننا مناقشة هذا الأمر في وقت لاحق، نعم يا عزيزي؟, she instead said in response.
Svetlana then mounted her own horse and trotted quickly over to Brigid. Did you not think I saw your injury? I know my goddess' gifts have not always been your favorite moments, but is letting a injury go untreated best for the group. We may need you at full strength for the next fight, yes?
Brigid at first scowls, but the look is soon replaced with an expression of intense sadness. She looks away, and for a moment studies the sky. She blinks a few times, and though her eyes glisten, no tears fall.
She slumps a bit in her saddle, and her glance strays to the wound on her leg, the blood longer flowing. It vill be better in a day, two at most. She closes her eyes and lets out a breath. Do as you vill.
Damen raised his eyebrows. "Moon radishes. Interesting thing to find here. Perhaps we can harvest whatever is ripe and send it back to Restov, or share them with 'Lana and Oleg."
He looked up to see the exchange between Svetlana and Brigid, the northerner's discomfort palpable, and straightened. "You know, I could just bind the wound and we could let it heal naturally," he called.
"trust the gods or trust your own body. Healing does not take that much power, but it's extremely complex. It requires amazing and always changing equations to do it right. I just can't manage it. If I could I guess I would be a God."
Svetlana hadn't meant for her conversation with Brigid to be so public, but in such close quarters truly private discussions were hard to have. The priestess smiled at Kent's comment. Perhaps learned wizards such as yourself simply look at magic differently. I see no equations in what I do, I simply submit myself to Calistria's power and become a conduit for it. The goddess allows me to shape how her gift is brought forth, within reason, but it is not for me originate such effects. With a wry smile to Kent she added. If we could, as you say, we would be gods![/b[
Turning back to Brigid, Svetlana looked levelly at the archer. [b]I will spare you your memories now if you wish. Besides, Damen here seems interested in binding your wound, the slightest smile entered her face as she spoke those last words, but know that if I need to heal future wounds en masse I won't be excluding you.
After the conversation with Brigid was completed, the priestess looked over at Damen's investigation. Really? Moon Radishes! She made a purring sound and added, those are delightful! I used to have them every holiday in season. Perhaps you are correct and 'Lana could use them in a dish as well! Svetlana's comments made it clear she hoped to be included if such a meal were served.
Brigid watches Svetlana as she rides away, her green eyes inscrutable. She turns her horse and urges him back into the center of the clearing.
Ulryk gave a nod as Svetlana went to attend to Brigid. He stared down at the Kobold corpse and wondered whether he should bury it. They had given the some of the bandits they defeated some minor funeral rite, but these were little more then beasts. Ultimately he decided to leave them where they lay, walking his horse over to the Mule and cart.
"The Moon radishes can be put on the cart for ease of transport. If any are hungry now perhaps we can make something from them or just resort to our other stores. If not, let us move on."
Kent acid splashs the Kobolds. Leaving dead bodies living around is a bad idea.
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After gathering a few of the radishes and Kent melting the kobold remains, the party mounts up and continues their exploration of the area. A few hours later, as the sun begins to set, you find a comfortable campsite and settle down for a uninterrupted night's rest.
03 Gozran, 4707 A.R.
You awake to an overcast day, the clouds scuttling by on a cool, brisk wind. Your weather sense tells you that rain is forecast for later in the day, and you pack carefully with this in mind.
By noon you have completed your search of this area of the wood, and other than the moon radishes, found nothing out of the ordinary.
You may either continue searching the forest by moving west, or examine the edge of the woods by moving north. To the south lays the remains of the bandit camp.
"With the rain likely later this day, I think it would make more sense for us to continue due West where we can stay beneath the canopy of the forest trees. The rain might also decrease the likelihood of an attack by a wild animal." Ulryk said lending his voice to the gathering opinion.
He rode close to the cart with Ragnaris and was favoring his long bill today.
Svetlana nodded absently at Ulryk's suggestion. At the moment she was more interested in extracting herself from the vicinity of the noxious fumes given off by Kent's use of acid. Looking at the sky, she nodded, besides, the forest seems quite beautiful now as spring comes. Let's go see more of it, yes?
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You spend the rest of the day travelling under the sprouting branches of the forest. Shortly before you stop to make evening camp, a cool drizzle starts and lasts well into the night.
The evening passes cold and wet. The rain stops around the second watch and the rest of the night passes with the sound of water dripping from branch to branch. The morning dawns cool and cloudy.
04 Gozran, 4707 A.R.
As you prepare to depart your latest camp, you notice a few odd things. For one, someone has braided all your mount's tails and manes. On Ulryk's mount, they went further to place a large red bow in the fetlock of his horse. If that was not strange enough, everyone is missing their left shoe or boot. It does not take long to find them...at the top of a tall oak tree. Finally any sweets or alcohol are missing. No one heard, or saw anything while on guard duty, but strangely you all feel well rested.
"so....poltergists, fey or sleep walking possibly caused by enchantment?"
Just in case in happens to be the last one I cast detect magic on us and all over the campsite to see if I there are any residue.
"This seems the sort of prank when you are trying to convince someone that they are insane, but done clumsy. A more convincing prank would been if they hide all the shoes in one of our packs or some sort of evidence that it was one of us who did it"
to be safe I smell everyones breath to see if there is any smell of whisky.
Kent's efforts to smell Brigid's breath are met with her hand on his face, shoving him away.
She looks irritated as she inspects Zelter's braids, then peers into the high branches for her left boot.
Vhat could have done this?
Svetlana awoke and quickly began laughing, an almost musical sound, as she looked around. Her initial giggles at the chaos wrought overnight turned to peals of laughter as she spied the large red bow on Ulryk's mount. Oh that MUST stay! Look how pretty your horse is now, Ulryk! We could even get a matching yellow one for his tail when we get back to Oleg's! Hobbling around on one boot for a moment until she rescued the left one from a tree branch, the priestess' laughter only continued as Kent ran frantically around scanning the area and trying to smell everyone's breath. By the time she made it to her own horse, Svetlana was holding her sides and could hardly stand for laughing so hard. Between her finally waning giggles she look at her own horse's braids. You know, I rather like the look, I think I'll keep this way!
As Kent scans the camp site he gets more and more worried.
"There is illusion magic all over this camp site. There are only 3 possibilities that I can see for that.
1. A powerful working of illusion magic was done least then 60 minutes ago.
2. Everything around us is all an illusion
3.We are completely surrounded by invisible things
It is possible that it might be a combinate of a few of those, but still worrying."
I bend down and pick up some dirt casually. Then suddenly I throw it around. Let's see if it leaves any outlines of invisible things. It would be nice to be able to narrow down the possibilities.
Svetlana's laughter had slow down just enough for her to pet her horse and feed it a carrot before she careened back into raucous laughter again at Kent's listing of possibilities. We are completely surrounded by invisible things! I hope they are all muscular, shirtless lumberjacks craving a dance and a night of fun! Still laughing, the priestess vaults into a series waltzing pirouettes while pretending to dance with an invisible partner.
Svetlana goes on like that for a minute more, still giggling until she finally slows down. Oh Kent, it is most likely the fey. They are a capricious lot and more endearing for it. I wouldn't worry your silly head over it. If you do, it's more likely they'll see you as the best target in the future. The priestess thinks a moment more before adding. No, I do believe Ulryk's horse decorations and missing alcohol might produce the "best" reaction in a fey's mind....
"O.K O.K. don't panic" says kent in a panicing voice
"The counter to fear is knowledge so I just have to figure out everything about this and I will know what to do. First step figure out how far this extends"
I start making bigger and spirals as I start measuring what the extent of the this magic Aura is.
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As you examine the auras more closely, you discover that they are actually a number of separate spells, all which seem to have no other function then to make something look like it is magical. It is like someone cast a cantrip level spell dozens of times through-out the area just to make it look like magic. Their may be a pattern, but you are not too sure.
"Fascinating. The only way I know of fake a magical Aura is the spell Magic Aura This is a far more advanced magic that has somehow managed the same effect with a cantrip. This is revolutionary. It proves that effects of 1 can be done with power of 0 WOW. I must study this further. If I had found with when I was starting out I might have been able to get a research grant to study this."
Ulryk had seemed minorly amused by the decorations on the horses and his mule, though not nearly as tickled as Svetlana was. He gave a single gruff chuckle as he surveyed the bow in Rynel's mane, before his mouth set in a severe line. Fishing his left boot down from a tree and then finding his morning drink gone did not lighten his mood.
"Whatever took my drink, I suspect they are stinking drunk..." Ulryk said even as he shot a warning look at Kent when he moved to sniff at his breath. He was carrying a good deal of alcohol and had taken a sip or two last night, but there had been plenty left.
"Fey you say, hmmmm?" Ulryk reached into one of his saddlebags and pulled out the wooden music box. Setting it down on his saddle, he started it up and let it play the music while Kent dashed about in a furious manner trying to make sense out of what had occured.
He cleared his throat for a moment, opening a canteen with water in it and taking a swallow, before speaking in as light and lilting a voice as he could manage - which wasn't much. ""Os ydych allan o hyd, os gwelwch yn dda yn gwneud eich hun yn hysbys ac yn cael ei groesawu gan i ni gydag anrhegion o letygarwch."
Brigid took several steps backward while surveying the woods surrounding the campsite, after drawing on her wayward boot. With eyes narrowed and jaw set, she considered the paranoia of Kent and the exuberance of Svetlana. Prudence dictated that she string her bow, and she did so, but she kept her arrows in their quivers.
Her green eyes flicked about as the haunting melody played and Ulryk's odd words echoed into the forest. Bjarga okkur úr skóginum fólk, she mutters under her breath.