Zelera was quite pleased when they got outside of the town and back to exploring. The town was nice enough but it wasn't perfect and she was still getting used to so many humans packed into such a small place. Truthfully it made her a little panicky at times. Now that she was back in the countryside she could breathe much easier.
As they traveled Zelera noticed the wolves stalking them. They seemed to be rather large wolves, and they did make her nervous, but she suspected they would not attack when it was this easy to see them. "I don't think they will attack us right now, they are too easy to see, they will try to wait until they can either surprise us or outflank us with part of the pack." She looked at the forest ahead, "Once we get in there thing will be different. They will be able to get in much closer to us and may well attack. I don't want to kill them but making them realize we are not the kind of prey they want would be a good thing."
"Haven't we been in this situation before?" Colwyn idly asks as he surreptitiously draws and strings his bow.
"Isn't there some Galtan phrase for that feeling?"
Colwyn nocks an arrow and rests it against the groove above the bow's grip, but he makes no effort to draw the string yet.
"But anyhow, if these hounds want to make the mistake of preying on us, that's fine by me. I wanted to see how my practice with this heavier draw has been coming along."
With a chuckle, he emphasizes the sentiment by tapping his fingers along the curved limb of the bow.
When they head out is the first time Niadroub Kliip meets Isaac. He wordlessly looks the man up and down, gives an approving nod, and then meets Isaac's eyes before nodding again in greeting.
When the party notices the wolves, he casts mage armor and loads his crossbow.
Isaac would normally have tried to avoid encounters with wild animals in these parts, they had their place unlike some other things.
He had to remind himself that there were others with him when he first saw the wolves, otherwise he would have tried to run and hoped they gave up the chase for easier prey.
"We could try and take them out here before they get a chance to flank. I'm willing to step out to encourage them to try jumping me, then you can move in to finish them."
His skin begins to take wood like tone as he moves to place himself between the wolves and the group.
"Meh..." - Reknar grunts - "I say wait it out - we are a large enough group for them to think twice" - he adds - "If they do not, we hit them hard and put them down. Otherwise I see no point in chasing or killing them" - the half orc finishes, before exchanging some ideas with Zelera about the animals themselves.
"Yeah, few years back in Nirmathas my boys and myself came across some large wolves who seem just like those..."
As the terrain spreads out into a clear area the Worgs spread out in a rough fan maneuver, clearly intending to flank you when they attack.
You have two rounds as they speed up to attack, they are definitely coming right for you.
What now?
At the news Richard takes out and drinks his potion of cat's grace. The vial drops to the dirt as Richard begins knocking and releasing arrows.
Isaac moves up towards the front of the group and readies himself to charge forward and intercept the worgs once they come within fifty foot.
As the large wolves fanned out Zelera realized something unpleasant...they were not wolves, not even natural, they were something else. "Those aren't wolves boys, I don't know what they are but they aren't wolves." She said a few words in some language similar to sylvan and gestured then suddenly there were...
...four of her in the same general area weaving in and out of each other. She then began another prayer as she held her holy symbol up and felt the Lantern King's power flow into her to aid in the struggle as the wolves closed in. She drew her dagger and was prepared for whatever would come as she shifted behind her allies so she was in position to heal if needed.
"I hef a new speell thet makes you fooster. Eet used to aege by woon year, boot I'm pretty sure E've woorked thet part oot."
Before anyone can protest, Niadroub Kliip casts haste on the party.
"Right decent of them to stay in the open," Colwyn grumbles sarcastically.
He steers Sandy with his knees to turn the horse aside. Colwyn swivels in his new field of fire, raises his bow, and draws back the string as Niadroub's spell takes hold. He doesn't even feel the magic as he looses arrow after arrow.
"Ha! All that practice paid off!" Colwyn cheers, oblivious of the boon that his magister's magic has provided. He simply focuses on emptying his quiver upon the approaching beasts.
"What the bugger?" Colwyn growls with a cocked eyebrow. "Is that new fella trying to impress us?"
For his part, Colwyn continues Hastily emptying his quiver and Rapidly Shooting the worgs to soften them up for the coming melee. He focuses upon one in prime position to charge into Issac's flank.
Reknar activates the wand to protect himself with an invisible force shield, then casts a protective spell which spawns multiple images of himself.
................
"What the bugger?" Colwyn growls with a cocked eyebrow. "Is that new fella trying to impress us?"
”Damned crazy man is going to get himself killed... Get back here!” - he roars at Isaac - ”We fight as a team and give them a lesson!”
Richard & Colwyn team up to end Teal then Colwyn sends Green to the dirt with an arrow between the eyes.
Three Worgs move to encircle Issac while the others lope to attack the party.
All three attacking Issac snap futilely at him.
Black reaches Reknar and lunges at him.
Missing him, but popping an image.
The party may now act.
To quickly even the odds on this hunt, Colwyn dedicates his next volley to Old Deadeye and implores the deity to bless his aim.
Richard drops his bow to the ground and moves to the east while drawing his sword. He calls out to Colwyn and the others. "Focus fire on the one to the south west first, it's up to something." As he finished the sentence he thrust his blade into one off the creatures.
Zelera heard Richard's warning about the worg circling them at a distance and knew not to take it lightly. She spoke a prayer in first worlder again. This time as she released the magic there was no obvious effect to anyone but the worg she targeted. Unfortunately for the worg it's vision began to go dark as it sight was quickly being removed.
Seeing Isaac surrounded, Niadroub Kliip tries to even the odds in his favor. He casts create pit under Isaac's east-most wolf.
Isaac presses forward, hearing the others calls to restrain himself but already committing to his charge.
I suppose I do have a lot to prove.
He intercepts a worg and quickly finds himself surrounded, dodging their attacks he unleashes a mad flailing of limbs on the beasts, his fists beginning to sparkle with electricity.
Chopping Black down as it tries to reach him he uses the reach of his weapon to slaughter Purple
Yellow narrowly avoids falling into the pit opening beneath his feet.
Issac goes crazy and drops two Worgs in a crackling flurry of blows.
Seeing this Yellow withdraws tail between his legs, Lilac simply runs for his life.
Fight over with no damage to any of you. :(
What are you doing now?
Richard looked over at his discarded bow... well they wouldn't be back. "Not a bad showing at all from Isaac. They'll soon outpace us if we try to follow."
"Why follow them? We made our point," Colwyn says, his eyes still agog from watching Isaac fell so many worgs so quickly with his bare hands. "If those beasts have a shred of survival instinct, they'll think thrice before trying to prey upon us again.
"Now, unless anyone thinks those curs have some gold and jewels in their guts, shall we continue westward?"
Your journey to the west meets another interruption that afternoon.
The river makes a sharp bend here, widening into a deep pool dotted with lily pads and fringed with waving reeds. Several freshly felled trees lie beside their stumps on the shore of the pool, their crowns dangling in the water among fading tendrils of mist.
A band of freelance loggers under the leadership of a man named Corax recently decided to harvest a grove of coachwood trees in this glade, unaware that a nixie sorceress lives in the pool.
The nixie, Melianse, did not take kindly to the loggers despoiling her home and unsuccessfully attempted to scare them off with ghost sound and obscuring mist. When that tactic failed, Melianse charmed two of the lumberjacks, who now stand guard in front of her pool.
Since both men are good workers, Corax has resisted the urge to fight through his onetime employees, but he is fast losing patience with the nixie and fears the blow to his reputation in his men’s eyes if he dithers much longer.
The two groups are now in a standoff, with neither willing to make the next move.
When you arrive on the scene, Corax and his men stand angrily near the felled trees, about 30 feet from the pool. The two charmed loggers stand facing them, right at the water’s edge.
Melianse floats in the center of the pool with only her head above water; she remains about 20 feet from the shore, out of the loggers’ reach, and silently observes their response.
As soon as he notices you, Corax sees you as potential allies. He quickly hails you and explains the situation in a gruff voice liberally laced with profanities, claiming that the nixie attacked his men unprovoked and complaining bitterly about how hard it is for "a decent man to make a living with all of these damnable fairies in the woods."
Melianse responds calmly to this accusation, claiming that she politely asked the loggers to leave at first but was forced to charm two of them after Corax threatened to hang her from the nearest tree "to drip dry." She adds that the trees felled by the loggers had been growing next to the pool for over 200 years and deserved a far better fate than serving as "some grubby peasant’s slop table."
Both Corax and Melianse appeal to you for help. The conversation soon devolves into more accusations, rebuttals, and shouted insults.
What are you doing now?
"Tread carefully, Corax," the ruler cautions as he dismounts from his horse. "I would think that a 'decent man' in your line of work would know to have more respect for the fey."
On the surface, Colwyn's admonition seems to speak towards peace with beings of the First World. In truth, though, he is actually reminding the logger of the fearful superstition that haunts men such as the two of them.
"Kindly stand aside and rest assured that the matter will be settled," Colwyn commands.
Corax deflates rapidly under Colwyns's gaze and words. Backing off and now looking a lot less sure of himself.
Zelera was relieved that the fight was over and managed to avoid wasting the prayer she had just begun. She looked around the group and asked, "Has anyone been hurt?" After a quick look around proved that they had not been she seemed to relax a bit and said, "Well, that was pleasant, I almost feel bad for those creatures..." she smiled wickedly as if at some private joke, "almost."
When they found Corax and his men in their stand off with the nixie. As Corax began ranting about the "damnable faeries" in the woods her gaze hardened in displeasure. She turned to the nixie and listened to her side of things as well and became even grimmer when she heard what he had threatened to do to the nixie. Zelera almost turned on the man to demand whether he made the threat or not but instead let Colwyn deal with him.
Zelera was confident the nixie would not hurt her if she was not an enemy and moved towards the water's edge with her holy symbol out in plane view. She couldn't be certain if this nixie worshiped the eldest or would even recognize the symbol but she hoped that the being would. When she reached the edge she asked, "Could I join you for a swim?" She smiled as pleasantly as she could, "You can call me Zelera."
Richard leans in to whisper in Colwyn's ear as he thinks of a scheme to settle things and earn some profit. [smaller]"We've got plenty of areas to the north we can direct the loggers towards that we know are free of fey. The fey on the other hand, we could offer to replace the trees with some that bare more exotic fruits... strike an accord to let us harvest fruit from them, not all but enough. If she's so protective it could placate her and we perhaps turn a profit. Fey Fangberry Wine, easy to market to the right people... keep everyone including us happy."
"That's a right keen idea, Richard," Colwyn whispers with a smile. "You'd certainly have my endorsement. The only hitch is convincing the fey woman to accept the notion. I think I've left Corax in a cooperative mood, but I'm not so sure about this Lady Melianse. I'd hoped that Miss Zelera could speak her language, both literally and figuratively, but if she can't make inroads, I'm not sure if I'd be up to the task."
Richard nods "I'll let he open negotiations so to speak and if that doesn't pan out I'll change our approach."
"Good thing it all turned out well, but you risked a lot there Isaac" - the half-orc nods - "Just saying"
-----
Reknar seemed about to say something, but then he just stopped with a surprised look as Zelera dived into the water, followed by a resigned chuckle - "This should be fun"
Melianse moves a little closer to the bank, her eyes pass over Zelera's holy symbol and she looks startled and interested. The fact that one of a large group of humans wears the symbol of one of the eldest gives her more confidence that her words will be listened to. "You may join me if you wish, it's a lovely, calm pool, though it's beauty has been marred by that flatulent oaf!" She glares at Corax
Corax is happy to take his crew elsewhere, he just wants to cut lumber and make a profit. Though his diplomatic skills are never going to earn him any prizes, especially in an area so heavily populated by the fey.
Melianse is happy to release the charmed lumberjacks when told they are leaving, however she definitely wants the felled trees replaced. Mentioning a Dryad to the west that has some Feather tokens - Tree that would quickly replace her shade trees.
What are you doing now?
Curses, no patience from this fey. "A Dryad to the west? It would be best to make a good impression and this will help I think."
"Sorry, I may have been a bit hot headed there. I wanted to show my mettle but you're right, that could have gone much worse and I wouldn't want to endanger others by being to eager."
He dances on the spot, still riding a bit of adrenaline from the fight.
"I should warn you that is how I'm trained to fight, in and out quickly. I'll do my best to stay closer where I won't force anyone to break formation in the future. I'm not used to fighting with someone watching my back but I want to improve myself without anyone getting hurt."
Isaac stands back and watches how Colwyn manages Corax and his crew. Not having much to say in the matter he is happy to see how such matters are handled and isn't quite managing to hide his smile by the time it seems like matters have been concluded peacefully.
"A fine solution, you have a way with words Colwyn. It's good to see everyone walk away from a tense situation somewhat happily. Shall we go see about this dryad then?"
"Why, thank you, friend," Colwyn replies to Issac's praise without a trace of modesty. "I've never had any trouble dealing in words with men such as they. These fey, though," he continues, his words lowering to a conspiratorial tone, "They're the ones who unnerve me. I hesitate to even bandy words with them, lest they twist them around in some foul pact and - bam! - they own my soul."
Colwyn saunters back to his horse, quietly envying how at peace she seems in this fey grotto. He checks the straps on the saddle before swinging himself back up.
"It sounds like we'll be pressing west," he calls to his companions, "and negotiating for some of those tree tokens. But first, to make sure we don't have to pry any more loggers out from a fey spell, we better direct Corax and his lads to a less dangerous stand of trees. Would anyone happen to know a good prospect?"
As they seemed weren't going to be here long enough for a true swim Zelera sighed and instead pulled off her boots and let her feet slide into the water. She spoke quietly to Melianse in an effort not to be overheard, "It seems that swim will need to wait for another time, maybe when we get back with the replacement trees for you Melianse. I want to thank you for being willing to work this all out without bloodshed not everyone would. It's for that reason I've joined up with these people, to try and make their burgeoning kingdom one that we," she gestured to Melianse, herself, and in the direction of the indicated dryad, "can all live with. If you would be willing to pass the word out to any others of our kind," she was obviously including herself with the fey as opposed to the humans, "please tell them they can bring their grievances to me and I will do all I can to make sure they are heard and given fair consideration. I don't want what happened here to happen anywhere else if it can be avoided."
"I have a few areas earmarked for sawmills, I'll drop hints if they do well they might get in on the ground floor of something bigger." Richard says before giving some directions to Corax.
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Melianse nods at Zelera's words, coiling a strand of her green hair around her finger as she watches the party prepare to leave. "Fighting is so unpleasant." She says firmly. "I do prefer politeness and civil conversation to sort things out."
She looks at Zelera from the corner of her eye. "Tell me something? Is that well spoken man seeing anyone?" She whispers, indicating Colwyn subtly.
Zelera was shocked into silence for a moment at Melianse's question then laughed slightly before she replied, "No Melianse, I don't think he is." She paused and collected herself before saying more seriously, "I've only been with them for a short while now but he seems the decent sort to me." Her eyes lit up at the thought of the mischief she could have with this, "Do you want me to speak to him for you?"
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Melianse gives you a happy look. "Could you?" She asks hopefully. "I know he looks a little funny, but the way he took charge and put that oaf in his place was very impressive!"
She looks thoughtful for a moment. "Oh and you can mention I can shape shift if the size thing worries him?"
You travel to the west through the heavy woods, lush with both plant and animal life. Finally you reach the area where Melianse indicated that the Dryad lived.
The trees part to reveal a peaceful forest glade dappled with sunlight. A small pond lies placidly at the roots of an enormous oak tree with a scattering of leaves floating upon its surface. Birdsong twitters from the branches high above.
As you enter the clearing you notice a beautiful Dryad kneeling beside the pond weeping quietly. She seems unaware of your presence?
You can just detect a Satyr hiding in the treeline watching you all warily.
What are you doing now?
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Giving the nixie a smile Zelera said, "I'll make sure to mention it to him." She gave the blessing of the Lantern King to Melianse then pulled her feet from the water, dried them, and slid her boots back on. "We;ll return as soon as we can with the new trees Melianse." With that she went to mount her horse and road off with the others towards the dryad's grove.
As they rode she pulled her horse up beside Colwyn and smiled mischievously as she said, "I was asked to give you Melianse's regards, and to extend an invitation for a private swim with her." Her amusement was evident as she watched for Colwyn's reaction and continued, "She thought you were a bit funny looking but the way you took charge impressed her, especially without resorting to violence."
Seeing the dryad at the pond weeping brought a mixed twinge of anger and sorrow to Zelera's heart. It hurt to see the beautiful creature crying so and angered her that someone would cause this to happen. Thinking it might be wise for only one to approach for now she said, "Why don't you let me go first and wait here until I signal you can come in. Dryad's can be touchy about visitors to their groves and something must be wrong for her to be crying like this."
Without waiting to see if they did as she asked Zelera dismounted and began to approach the center of the grove. She wasn't being stealthy about it, she didn't want to startle the woman, and when she reached a respectful distance she knelt and said, "Lady of the woods, why do you cry so? Is there anyway I can help you?" As before her holy symbol was evident and she waited for the dryad to acknowledge her.
At first, Colwyn rolls his eyes. He hasn't yet fully learned Zelera's penchant for mischief, but he automatically suspects any suggestion of a woman's interest in him. In many ways, Colwyn is a prideful bloke, but matters of romance are not one of them.
"If you want to go and have a jest on me, you need to try a different approach," he chastises her.
He grows less certain, though, and adds, "You are putting me on, right?"
Colwyn's anxiety only grows when it becomes clear that Zelera is not making this up. He feels like a schoolboy - not that he's ever been to school - all atwitter that a girl likes him. Of course, this is compounded by the superstition, ever at the back of his mind, reminding him that this fey creature is no mere girl.
Colwyn surreptitiously leans over to Richard and whispers a warning.
"Miss Zelera is correct. This tree spirit is no helpless waif. She has a goatman guard lurking among the trees, watching us. We'd best behave ourselves," he cautions very quietly.
Zelera's expression sobered and as she said, "There are many things I would joke about but there is a time and place for it. I am quite serious about what Melianse said to me." She looked at Colwyn and met his eyes, "She is enamored of you. It doesn't mean she wants to marry you, most fey don't practice marriage as you understand it, but she does want to spend some time with you. Nixie's don't like violence, and avoided it whenever possible, so a man who can do what you did back there is very desirable in their eyes." there was amusement in her voice as she continued, "If it helps you to know she doesn't have to look like a girl you know, she is a shapeshifter, she can change her size to match a normal human's in all aspects."
The Dryad, who is named Tiressia smiles sadly at Zelera's question. "Help? That would be most welcome I confess. A dreadful predator stalks these woods. One I have fought against without success until I am unable to fight it any further."
She explains that a Scythe tree is hunting in this area, and Once the scythe tree has depleted the surrounding area of prey, it will certainly come to her grove, kill her tree, and devour her.
She asks you to slay the hideous plant, promising to reward you
handsomely if you do.
Scythe Tree
CE Huge plant
Init -1; Senses blindsight 30 ft., low-light vision; Perception +16
DEFENSE
AC 19, touch 7, flat-footed 19 (-1 Dex, +12 natural, -2 size)
DR 10/slashing; Immune plant traits
Weaknesses vulnerability to fire
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee 3 branches +10 (2d4+6/19–20)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
TACTICS
The scythe tree uses Lunge to increase its reach on the first round of combat. It focuses its attacks on only one or two opponents, slicing them with Power Attack. Unused to strong resistance, the scythe tree fights until it is reduced to 13 hit points or fewer, at which point it tries to flee into the forest.
STATISTICS
Base Atk +6; CMB +16; CMD 25 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Cleave, Improved Critical (branches)B, Lightning Reflexes, Lunge, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Perception +16, Stealth +3 (+15 in forests); Racial Modifiers +12 Stealth in forests
Languages Sylvan, Treant
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Branches (Ex)
A scythe tree makes its primary attacks with its branches, which deal slashing damage and threaten a critical hit on a 19-20
What now?
Rising from her kneeling position Zelera said, "I'm going to have my companions come over here to hear what you need us to do." She waited for the dryad's permission and then gestured the others over once she had it. While they approached she said, "It seems like a good thing that Melianse told us to come find you, though she didn't mention what to call you. I am Zelera and these are the people I travel with, Colwyn, Richard, Isaac, Recknar, and Niadroub," she gestured to each in turn.
"Melianse was hoping we could get a few feather token tress from you to replace ones that a small group of loggers cut down in her grove without her consent. We got the loggers to leave her grove and while we meant to get back to her quickly I think she'll understand that we will take longer than expected." Turning to the others Zelera said, "Our friend here is having problems with a Scythe Tree and needs help killing it before it finished devouring this grove and then kills and eats her. I think we should help her and I intend to." She raised one eyebrow questioningly, "Will you help us?"