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Perlivash rolls his eyes at Idris. "No, silly, that was just the river. You'll know the springs when you see them! Big pools, bubbly-hot, full of super-nice mud that feels great when SOMEBODY PUTS SAND FLEAS IN YOUR SCALES!" The tiny dragon shoots an angry glare at Tyg-Titter-Tut, who laughs uproariously in her tiny and high-pitched voice.
Wiping the merriment from her eyes, Tyg crosses her arms and sighs. "No, they're real mean, you'll probably have to fight them if you go there. They're stupid and mean!"
When Maja mentions a nymph, the fey get uncharacteristically silent and grim. "um, there is? Kinda? But we really can't talk about it." apologizes Tyg. "We should really be going now. Thanks for breakfast! Come on, lizardbrain, bet'cha can't catch me!"
With a whirr of insect wings, the grig and the fairy dragon tear off into the forest canopy, whizzing and ducking around trunk and branch. They are soon lost to sight.
Pretty suggests we go there (southwest, is it?), but scout the region first with all our resources and avoid coming close to the water, since they have the advantage there.
Other than that she has no spells to prepare nor anything that would help them in the meantime, but if there are dragon-like creatures maybe they have an elemental breath weapon, and we should prepare for it.
Seraphina calls after the fleeing faeries in Sylvan, "Come to us if you need help, friends!"
Once they have gone she turns to Maja and the others. "I think you touched upon a nerve. I suppose that confirms that the nymph the Stag Lord sought is in fact real. I wonder if he ever found her..."
Sera pulled out Mikmek's gift that evening and looked for information on Faerie Dragons and the dangerous ones they may encounter soon.
"Whoever she is these fey know about her, and they aren't going to tell us any time soon."
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Idris recalls rumors of a race of froglike humanoids called Boggards, who reportedly inhabit the swampy tracts of marshland along the East Sellen river. Primitive and xenophobic, they tend to lash out violently to drive away intruders on their land. Their weaponry is stone-age, but they have a venomous bite and long sticky tongues with which they ensnare prey. They are also frequently accompanied by giant pet frogs.
From the Draconomicon, author unknown:
In the Timelefs Plane of the Firft World, or among the Virginal Forefts where Man hath not yet Trod, the Worthy Explorer may come to Encounter the FAERIE-DRAGON. No True DRAGON is this Fabulous Creature, but a DRAGON-KIN similar to the PFEUDO-DRAGON. These FAERIE DRAGONS Efchew many of the Ways and Characteriftics of True DRAGONS, and may be Miftaken by the Layman for a Member of the Fey, Ruled o'er by the Seelie Court. The FAERIE-DRAGON Appears for the Greater Part like a WYRMLING of the Blue, Red, or Green Hues, Diftinguifhed Primarily by their Wings, which are Thofe of the Butterfly. Unlike True DRAGON-KIND, the FAERIE-DRAGON does not Increafe its Size with Age, but Remains no Larger than a Houfe-Cat upon Maturity. The FAERIE-DRAGON Pofes no Threat to the Traveler, Being Graced with Kind Heart and Small Weaponry. They are Light-Heart'd and Jovial, taking Great Pleafure in Jefts and Japes play'd without Malice upon any Intelligent Being they Encounter. Tho' not Mighty of Claw, the FAERIE-DRAGON is an Adept Spellcafter, Employing Illufion and Enchantment Majiks to Evade its Foes and Aid its Pranks. The Sage at Abfalom Notes that FAERIE-DRAGONS have Served as Familiars to Powerful Magi, Particularly Thofe of Kind Heart who do not Stand Overmuch on Formalities.
After mulling over your plans and breaking camp, you continue with your explorations. The morning is not yet old when you detect the telltale sulfurous scent of the warm river in which you bathed several weeks ago, and along whose banks you pursued Bara during your first meeting with her. As it was there, the river here is slow, sluggish, and pleasantly warm, coursing through a bed of fine black silt.
You follow the river upstream, seeking out its headwaters. After a few hours' exploration, you come across a clearing in the forest where the tree cover thins and then gives way to bare ground. A rocky upthrust occupies the center of the clearing, its reddish stone shrouded in mist and steam. The smell of sulfur is particularly strong here, and the temperature is noticeably warmer than the surrounding forest. Several steaming hot springs sit around the base of the rock formation, dribbling water into a series of shallow, brightly colored deltas that drain together to form the warm river, here only a minor stream. On the opposite side of the rock outcropping you see the dim outline of a cave entrance. From the distance, you see no signs of habitation or the frog-men of Perlivash's warning.
Idris shares what she recalls about frog - men and the sort of threat they may pose.
"If we can drive away - or make peace with - these boggards or whatever they are, these springs look perfect for another soak."
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Pretty seems dubious, but she tries to make it work anyway. "Well, if we're looking to establish some diplomatic relations maybe we should call out?? Not that I think it would be a good idea, but..."
Sera shook her head and cast her Mage Armor on herself and offers to cast Invisibility from one of the scrolls on Pretty before they proceed in.
She waves the others close and whispers, "I think we should stroll in and see how they react to travelers. If they attack us on sight, they are not going to be suitable neighbors."
"So, should I be our living bait, then? Or do you think the appearance of something other than the plain human is going to stir them up and favor their behavior against us?"
If the others agree she will go to an open place and call out to them.
As they approach, Idris looks around at Kesten, Pretty, Bara, and Jegred with Sicarus, noting with approval their positions, and draws her sword in one hand while unslinging her bow from her shoulders to hold it in the other.
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average bad init = 17
Approaching in formation, you eye the springs and the cave warily. "Look there, in the springs," Jegred points out. "See those eyes? Hard to pick them out amid the movement of the water, but there are giant frogs in there. Beware their tongues, they will grab you with them like a fly and pull you in."
In response to your shouted hailing, a wart-covered froglike humanoid stands up from inside one of the hot springs. As Idris expected, it's a boggard. The amphibious creature has several leather pouches on leather bandoleers strapped across its chest, and carries a staff. It puffs out its cheeks and bellows in response to you. "Bahaka no bahaana belaaaaaaaaaaaa! WHOOOOR WHOOOR WHOOOOOOOOR!"
At the boggard's call, two more boggards emerge from the cave. They are riding enormous, sabre-toothed frog mounts. Foul slime wells from the back and bellies of these mounts, dripping on the ground with an audible "pat-pat-pat". The mounted boggards heft longspears, and don't seem to be in the mood to question their leader's command.
"Slurks!" says Jegred, pointing to the mounts. "That slime will harden on you and impair your movement, and their bite is ferocious."
Idris drops her blade, and fires an arrow at the boggard nearest her.
She then picks up her sword, ready to defend.
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br 1 = 4
Idris' arrow flies true, scoring a line of dull red across the shoulder of one of the mounted boggards. It croaks in pain, but rides on. The pair of slurk cavalry lurch forward, leaving a disgusting trail of putrid slime in their wake. They take cover behind a large boulder , doubtless planning to shelter there from retaliation while they prepare an assault.
The staff-wielding boggard waves his giant frog minions forward, screeching an incantation to some foul god. Croaking horribly, they flop forward on awkward but swift webbed legs. Two of them approach within close range of your formation, and blast out sticky tongues at Kesten and Sicarius.
Kesten raises his shield swiftly, and the frog's tongue bounces off with a ping! sound. "My thanks, Sister!" he says to Maja as he steps forward with a measured stride and drives his longsword into the enormous amphibian's bowls.
Sicarius ducks, and the tongue misses overhead.
Bara tracks the movement of the slurk riders as they attempt to flank your group. She holds her falchion in one hand and vaults over a downed log, taking up a guarded stance by the dead tree. "Lady," she addresses Seraphina, "Stay behind me! You can use this log as cover against their spears!"
Pretty moves around the battlefield while drawing both her daggers, ending up flaking with Kesten and giving her back to the incoming monsters, although that does not mean much, giver her abilities.
Kivan pulls out the wand of magic missiles and then unleashes a few missiles at the boggard priest.
"A protective spell would be welcome, " Idris mutters.
Sera takes shelter behind the log as Bara suggests and peeks over it, preparing to cast Daze(DC 14) on the lead Slurk (that's the mount, right?), hoping to slow down their approach and prevent a charge.
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With the enhanced strength from Seraphina's spell rippling through their muscles, Jegred and Sicarius move to engage the oncoming frog squad. No sound passes between them as they spread out to set up a flanking maneuver; they move with the familiarity of pack animals on the hunt.
Jegred's mighty blow is well aimed. As neatly as any live dissection in a classroom of higher learning, the giant frog is cleanly vivisected into two halves. It's dead before it has time to think. Sicarius lets out a small chuff that might be annoyance, or might be approval, and alters his course to pounce upon another frog, sinking his teeth in and shaking the unfortunate amphibian vigorously.
Kivan's magic missiles slam home in the torso of the priest boggard. It croaks out something foul - probably a good thing that you're not the one running Comprehend Languages, because you really don't need to know where you can shove a spray of tadpoles.
Idris dashes around the fallen log to stand beside Bara, dropping her sword behind her and pulling her bowstring back with an arrow nocked. A wide grin across her face shows her passion for battle.
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[spoiler=GM stuff]
Bara favors Idris with a curt nod and a toothy, momentary grin as the two warrior women line up to disrupt the slurk charge. A moment later, the first of the disgusting swamp-dwellers rounds the corner and passes by the dead tree. Bara lashes out with her falchion, chopping the slurk's chest in a spray of ichor, slime, and blood. The slurk rears back, presenting a wonderful target for Idris, who sinks an arrow deep into its throat. Fatally stricken, the slurk lurches to the side and falls. Its boggard rider catches the brunt of Seraphina's spell. His tongue lolls out and he looks confused. Far too confused to make a safe dismount from his dying 'steed', the boggard falls hard onto the rocky ground, ending up prone in front of Bara and just a moment's travel from Idris. Not a great place to be!
Despite the calamity which befell the lead rider, his backup continues the attack. The boggard leans forward and strikes Idris with his spear, but she manages to evade the accompanying bite from the slurk.
Despite the swarm of incoming frogs, Only Sicarius receives any injuries from their flurry of bite attacks.
The boggard priest lifts his webbed arms and starts to invoke another prayer as Maja's arrow flies through the air. Her aim is true, and the sudden, sharp pain breaks the boggard's concentration and he loses his spell. You do have Comprehend Languages running, so you get to hear in great detail where that bow's going to end up if you are defeated.
Pretty moves with ease and speed, directly avoiding the frogs and their tongues, to end up flanking one with Sicarius, and she has the time to strike at it with one her daggers, certainly killing the disgusting creature!
Idris grunts stoically at the pain of the spear, but seizes the opportunity as the slurk misses its strike.
Idris smashes her boots into the monstrosity's face in a pair of vicious kicks.
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Seraphina looked over the field of battle and found she could not resist the cluster of enemies in front of Idris and Bara. Sinking her gleaming claws into the dead wood like a feline, she clambered over the log and plopped down on the other side.
"Mind your elbows, my dears. T'is only me. These fellows look rather drab... I think they could do with a bit of color!"
Color Spray DC:15 (Will)
rounds unconscious, blinded and stunned.
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rounds blinded and stunned.
Then stunned for one round.
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rounds blinded and stunned.
Then stunned for one round.
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If 5 HD then stunned for one round.
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Idris' boot kicks are deflected by the slurk's shining fangs, not accomplishing much besides slightly disorienting the monstrous frogkin. Fortunately, Seraphina's spell hits with much greater effect. The prone boggard felled when his mount died twitches and paws at its dazzled eyes, unable to take meaningful actions as he deals with the light. The mounted boggard shakes his head to clear the stars away, spraying spittle and slime from floppy, warty lips that flap aside to reveal wicked teeth. His mount, however, goes all cross-eyed and collapses limply, plowing up a furrow of soggy, sulfurous earth as it passes out. Its rider is unprepared for impact and tumbles off the back, separating from the slurk with an absolutely horrifying sucking sound and trailing stringers of mucous. It lands prone with a splash of goop.
Jegred pauses a moment to flick frog guts off his blade before coolly striding forward and slamming his sword into another frog. This one explodes in a fountain of innards - an eye goes flying some distance away to plop into the hot springs. Despite his dramatic victory, Jegred isn't flushed with battle. Killing these creatures seems to bring him no joy.
Sicarius lopes forward to stand next to Pretty. Perhaps it's the saurian's animal nature, or his longtime association with Jegred, but it doesn't shy away from the tiefling rogue and seems completely comfortable around her. Sicarius slashes the frog in front of him with a devastating blow that ruins the unfortunate amphibian's foreleg and slashes deeply down its flank.
Kivan will fire once again at the bogand priest.
Idris draws her backup sword and strikes at the prone Boggard, seething with barely controlled rage.
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Both Kivan's Missiles and Maja's arrow slam home in the boggard priest. It croaks in anger and makes some gestures, then disappears into a suddenly present bank of odoriferous mist. Not even Pretty's darkvision can pierce the veil.
Bara aids Idris in her assault, slamming her falchon down on the same boggard. It looks in pretty bad shape, but keeps fighting.
Kesten glowers with disapproval as the mass of enemies disappear into the fog. "Ware that! No telling what terrain you'll stumble into - perhaps a vent!" Moving to engage the only clearly visible toad, Kesten strikes it with his longsword, ending its suffering at the hands (claws?) of Sicarius.
The fight rages on in the mist while the riders try to pick themselves off the ground. Both remaining frogs bite ineffectually at the indruders as one of the riders stands to continue the fight on foot.
It's the last thing the foolish boggard does, however. It is just the work of a moment for Idris to take advantage of the dropped guard of the boggard as it stands to run the creature through. It grimaces and croaks in agony, grabbing the blade as if to wrench it free from its heart. You raise a booted foot and kick the dying boggard aside. The other rider and slurk are still overcome by Seraphina's spell.
Pretty steps deeper into the mist and strikes twice at the frog!
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!
Location: Hex P4 (Forest, River, ****)
Date: 5 Desnus, 4710 Absalom Reckoning
Temperature: 70° F
Weather conditions: Clear Skies,
Food: 22 days' supply
Pleased that her spell made easy work for the warrior women, Seraphina left them to it and moved to stand near Kivan, observing the cloud of fog. She faced west, her hair blown back from her face in the wind.
"Kivan, these are far from ideal conditions for such a spell, are they not? Surely it will not stand long against this wind. But we can play at hide and seek too." She then cast Vanish on herself and *winked* out of sight.|
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The swirling clouds of mist foil one of Pretty's strikes, but the other scores a cut across the frog's warty flank. The frog croaks in alarm and whirls to face the elusive tiefling, even harder to pin down than normal in the boggard priest's spell. Out of nowhere, Sicarius leaps on to the giant frog's back and finishes the job with a quick bite to the back of the neck. As the frog collapses, Sicarius trills at Pretty.
"I think he likes you!" laughs Jegred upon hearing the sound. Ducking his opponent's needle-like teeth, the tiefling druid sidesteps and slams his greatsword home into the frog once again with another mighty strike. It is perhaps merciful that the fog cloud conceals your view of the carnage, for the wet tearing sound is horrifying enough.
Kivan turns from the fog cloud and unleashes more magic missiles at the boggard next to Bara.