this seems a sound plan. Scouting may find more allies as well or more resources.
Alexander speaks up, "I leave it to you to decide if you need me for this expedition, my king. My combat prowess is passable at best. On that note-" Alexand reaches down, pulls out a long parchment scroll, and opens it. " The building is progressing fantastically. The ruins of the old castle will actually be enormously helpful in cutting the cost for the new one. The other workers are building housing and clearing for both roads and some folk have volunteered to set up a farm. That is all my king," Alexand finishes rerollling the scroll.
" I have been seeking to keep spirits up and see if the shrines to the deities where up so those who wish to practice could do so. As for the expedition I am charged to help bring peace and love to this wild land so I would love to accompany this group my lord." She said with a smile and a curtsy.
Zilybar looks at the map and then at each of those tall folks that are standing above him.
When do we leave
With most of his advisors in agreement he moves the group forward, "Collect any supplies you might need for this eight day venture. It might be longer but we can collect more supplies if needed. Lady Ionnia for sake of speed I want everyone on a riding horse or other mount that can keep up with that speed. Pack light but well. Alexand, you may stay and continue to oversee the building. Let us leave tomorrow morning, get plenty of rest tonight."
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Krazok is up before Dawn the next day, collecting the few supplies he would need and then cleaning his Axebeak for the coming venture. As it nuzzles him after he cleans the bird he fondly rubs its beak and scratches it in several places. He goes for a run with his Axebeak and anyone that is training with him. With the morning routine of training done he leaves his Axebeak to find some breakfast.
Strolling into the main hall he finds servants putting out breakfast and seats himself at the table being served. He greets each of the servants pleasantly and any others being served.
A dense patch of rare raspberry-like berries grows in a long, thin valley between two low hills here. Much of the thorny thicket is draped in the white gossamer silk of spider webs. The best of the berries lie at the heart of the thicket, but harvesting must be done slowly to avoid being lacerated by the thousands of fangberry thorns.
"It seems to be an interesting thicket. Anyone know how we could get these around the castle for defensive measures?" He asks as he gets off his Axebeak and begins to approach the thicket.
"The thicket is filled with spiders. Thousands of them. They are rather large, to." The monk's eyes narrowed as he looked at them. "I do not know whether they are poisonous or not. But I doubt that they are friendly. A good defensive measure, to be sure. But perhaps not so good for the people if the creatures spread."
" Yes My Liege...but I don't know how to ride?"She said a little nerve wracking as she was never one to master that aspect of nobility.
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She packed light and left with the rest. With her gear in hand and gingerly on the back of a horse. When they came to the thicket she looked at the other.
"So these berries are they edible and can we cultivate it? I mean if when can grow it and use it we should look into it. As for the spiders, does anyone have any spells that effect spiders. cause I don't"
I see the spiders as well. They do not look like the friendly type either.
He has spent a lot of his time reading, looking at maps and starting to collect his own library. Unless someone interacts with him, you see less and less of him. He arrives to any meetings early but besides what is required of him you don't see much of him.
At Krazok's meeting of exploration he was there before the rest of you and stood next to one of the walls.
As they prepare for leaving he has two horses prepared for himself and Lady Ionnia and he asks, "I can help you learn the basics to riding, too bad you did not bring it up earlier, with just a week of simple instruction you should have been able to know the basics. We can start off together on one horse if you choose."
Krazok first stumbles with the situation but with renewed confidence gives suggestions in a humble tone, "Ah well... Lady Ionnia, I expect you to work on being able to ride a horse or other mount. With your lack of experience I don't suggest an Axebeak. I am sure you could ride with Jorne or someone else until you pick up on the skill."
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"Unfortunately I have my axe and little else to dispatch creatures with. Any magical spells Zilybar that could be helpful here? Lady Ionnia any suggestions? Aurora do you know anything that could be helpful?" He asks as he gets a closer look at the bushes but not entering.
With the spiders pointed out and no need to rush into anything everyone easily can see the many spiders.
You also know that the thickets would be excellent defenses for the castle and any community. They keep out any creature smaller than the spiders due to their cutting leaves and thorns. The seeds are in the berries and could be planted if the berries are collected. The plants could be transplanted if you chose but it would be best to prune off most of the leaves first.
The spiders would likely create a swarm if anyone entered the thicket. The spiders are not poisonous enough to be harmful to humans. It seems likely that there is no easy way to kill the swarm and keep the whole thicket intact. You could create a smoker of a sort using some weeds as the ingredient to make the spiders become docile and sleep, Survival check DC 16 to make it. Even making another spray with a different herb to kill the spiders but that might take even longer than the smoker, Survival check DC 20, the herbs are harder to find.
we can take these berry seeds and plant these thorns around cities and castles as defenses but I need someone who could fashion some sort of smoker to smoke the spiders out if the thorns
"You could try that trick bee keepers use with smoke, but am not sure how effective it'll be or how to make or even use one."
Zilybar walks over towards the area that holds the berries. He stops several feet away and looks into the thorn bushes. He watches the spiders as they go about there own business and kneeling down he gets a better look at the bushes. He stands up again and starts to walk back to the group.
I have an idea but I am not sure how effective it will be. I will create a wall of fire and slowly walk the fire wall along the thorn bushes. The hope is that the spiders will want to live and flee from the oncoming flames and disperse into the wilds...I hope at least. It is worth a try but keep ready because this just might bring them out towards us.
He looks on as he recites a few arcane words and make some hand gestures. He pulls forth a bit of fleece and points at the thorn bushes.
Gaelden watches, impressed with the gnome's powers. He tenses though, the threat of being swarmed by spiders being worrying indeed.
The image of Zilybar's wall of fire goes over the bushes but the spiders don't seem to be aware of it or unfazed by the lack of heat.
Krazok thinks on Krafnik's words and offers up, "I think I might be able to come up with the right kind of herbs for the smoking mechanisim, though someone would need to make the smoker."
He then begins looking for the right herbs needed. hours... later... he brings back several handfuls of a plant and looking to see if anyone has worked on making a smoker.
he offers up, "We can make a fire and camp here for the night and see if the smoke we create will affect the spiders enough."
Krafnik cant come up with a smoker for the life of him while Krazok is gone.
We need to hire a wilderness guide if we do not have the skill Krazok.
With no other attempts or offers it seems that the group sets up camp. With the collection of the herbs and plenty of firewood Krazok begins to setup fires around the corner of the thicket between camp and the thicket. It takes several hours to get the breeze going just right and having the smoke billowing but then the spiders retreat to the other side of the thicket or begin to 'sleep'.
Aurora starts harvesting the berries.
Ionnia will harvest berries.
Krafnik will play bard song and augment skills for +3
Now allowing his performance to linger Krafnik will attempt to transplant an entire plant so as better naturalists might duplicate it into a city defence.
If I had Unseen Servant...this would go by so much faster...need to get that spell for future.
Zilybar waits and watches as the others go about the task of gathering the berries.
Unfotrunatly I am not the good at harvesting berries by hand...The spells that I could use to.....Hmm, I wonder...
His voice recites several arcane phrases and moves his hands in patterns of mystic power. Zilybar extends his finger and points at a berry. It comes off the vine and floats over to a waiting basket. It the drops into the basket and more are following the first one.
It may takes some time but I think I can collect a good bunch of these in a short amount of time. The spell is useful for all sort of things.
Krafnik is sure he can transplant one. He gets out his spade and begins digging down around one of the main 'trunks' of the thickets to transplant it. He takes out his dagger and prunes off quite a few of the branches. Soon enough the trunk, roots and maybe half of the branches comes cleanly away from the thicket. He pulls out a linen bag and secures the thorns the best he can, then secures the roots with a leather bag.
With Zilybar's help Lady Ionnia gets enough berries for one potion while Aurora is able to avoid the thorns as she collects one herself. Lady Ionnia takes from the steel like leaves.
Krazok keeps tending the five fires around the thickets to keep the herbs dropping and the flames burning. He smiles at those helping and says in his gravelly voice, "Very nice, very nice. Ooow, I like your thinking Krafnik! Zilybar I think once the herbs run out we will let you pick what you can before we move on, how long can you keep that spell going?"
Aurora harvests more berries
Your Majesty, since this spell is of a simplistic nature....I can continue to harvest the berries as long as I maintain concentration on the task at hand.
Jorne does what he can to not get cut and collect berries under the cover of the smoke... but those leaves are plentiful and his craft is not up to par.
As he works he moves to the tune and responds to Krafnik happily, "Thanks for the tunes Krafnik, it sets the mood!"
He is able to get two portions in the time with damage. Once done he asks Lady Ionnia, "M'Lady, please heal these cut wounds from the leaves."
"Owe, I am done with that"
" agreed those thrones hurt"
Channel energy
well it seems we have accomplished our task. Lets take back the bush and plant it around our castle as defense and also to assist in healing and then return once more to the road, your highness?
Yes let us get back on the road....
"Yes I agree with Zilybar, we no longer need to terry here. Onward!!!"
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