You manage to follow the tracks without too much difficulty, leading you to nearly two dozen people in the woods. They look like they've been out here for a bit -- many of them are wearing ragged clothes, and are quite dirty -- though they seem to have been relatively well-armed, each of them carrying at minimum a sling and dagger, with many carrying bows and swords. Arryn certainly recognize a couple of them as from Phaendar.
You can see several of them seem to be clutching their stomach, and you think in general they do not look healthy.
Arryn let’s a breath out when he sees they aren’t hobgoblins, but some bit of paranoia claws at the edges of his mind. He makes a shushing gesture to the rest of the group, then goes invisible and sneaks forward to get closer to the refugees.
Brostic is not as confident in his ability to be quiet so will not attempt to sneak up with Arryn.
Violet squints.
Violet shushes.
With no one speaking or conveying what is happening, Vexras mouths a few stammered words at Arryn’s back as the man vanishes, leaving the tiefling to draw his outstretched arm in and silently frame his chin as he frowns.
Shrugging in silence at the others, he waits.
If he can tell what's up without having to touch any of them.
Once the group decides it is safe to engage in a discussion with those discovered in the woods, Brostic will attempt to determine the cause of their discomfort.
Dorrin looks at the figures and seeing they're not hobgoblins, looks over at the others questioningly. "Why are we being silent? They're humans and look fairly ragged. I doubt there with the hobbos. And if they are, then we need ta take 'em down. Otherwise, let's see what they want. I've no time for all this."
Dorrin then calls out from the distance with his hands raised. "Hello! Not here lookin' ta hurt anyone just wonderin' if ye're needin' some help?! Ya lookin' like you've seen better days and we might could help ya if need be!"
Invisible-Arryn slaps his forehead, then drops to a crouch behind a tree trunk.
The figures jump as Dorrin call out, many of them scrambling for weapons. They relax as they realize that you are in fact not hobgoblins.
"Who are you?" one of them calls out, pushing through the handful of others.
After you've introduced himself, they relax a little more. "I'm Naspen Jarth," the apparent leader says. "We've been living out here after we were chased out of our homes, trying to take back what's ours as best we can."
Despite his brave words, it looks like many of these men are sick, and Brostic notices strange shapes moving and twitching beneath their skin. He's pretty sure they're infected with wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing eggs, which if allowed to develop will burst out of their skin into new monsters.
You recall that an indigenous shrub called glossleaf is highly toxic to wolves-in-sheep’s-clothing, but only mildly poisonous to humanoids. A tincture made from the plant’s berries would kill the eggs, curing the refugees of the infection. Glossleaf grows in shady areas along shallow streams throughout the Fangwood.
"Don't be alarmed. I'm going to appear now." Arryn materializes.
"We're from Phaendar, like you. We also escaped that night. I'm Arryn. You should also know Violet. Brostic lived outside the town, and Dorrin was a semi-regular visitor. Oh dear, that doesn't look good," he adds as Brostic starts looking at the wriggling things under their skin. "I can heal you of any injuries, but I don't think it'll help with that problem."
If he's allowed, Arryn will lay hands on all of them, using the aether to bind up any wounds, leaving them slightly tired in the process.
Violet tries very hard to not stare in horror at the eggs wriggling under their skin. She does not succeed.
"Hi, I'm Violet. We should probably--*huurp*--get you to some doct--*HORRP*--sorry, get you to a doct--*NGGGH*--to a doct--*HURK*--I'm going to turn around now."
After you've introduced himself, they relax a little more. "I'm Naspen Jarth," the apparent leader says. "We've been living out here after we were chased out of our homes, trying to take back what's ours as best we can."
Despite his brave words, it looks like many of these men are sick, and Brostic notices strange shapes moving and twitching beneath their skin. He's pretty sure they're infected with wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing eggs, which if allowed to develop will burst out of their skin into new monsters.
Nodding, "Good for you. We'll help ya any way we can." He then catches sight of the crawlies upon them. "Okay, that's not normal whatever that is," he motions to the crawlies. "Do all of ya have the same issue? Because I'm thinkin' we really need ta get you lot fixed up. I do not have a good feelin' about that, lad."
Vexras pulls a face and shakes his head. "I'm not quite sure how to tell you all this, seeing as we just met in the woods and all, but it looks like a fair number of you have caught a rather nasty ailment. If we can get our hands on some glossleaf, I think we could whip up a simple remedy. And, though I do not wish to alarm you, it would be best if we are quick about it."
Vexras then discreetly shares what he knows of the ailment with his companions.
"Glossleaf, huh? Let's not waste any time then. You lot hold right here. I'm gonna see if I can find that remedy." Dorrin immediately heads out and begins his search.
Dorrin's relatively quickly able to find some glossleaf, but unfortunately, not enough to help many of the stricken folk. But where there's a little glossleaf, there's likely to be more...
. Tits on a bull, Arryn’s new middle name.
Violet will also try to help search for glossleaf.
Brostic will attempt to assist in the search.
Even though he found so very little, that does not deter the dwarf. He's bound and determined to find enough for them all even if it takes several days.
It takes the better part of a day and night -- fortunately Dorrin can see in the darkness -- but you're able to find enough glossleaf to treat all the refugees. The treatment -- or at least its effect -- isn't pretty, but soon the ill people are starting to feel much better, albeit embarrassed. Some investigation reveals that they likely ate tainted meat from a wounded deer they found and killed. It seems clear that despite their successes so far, none of them are completely adept at woodcraft, and they soon ask if they can join you. Their leader, Jaspen Narth, seems a bit disappointed, but not wanting to be out on his own goes along with the plan. He admits he fled his hometown of Ecru in the Hollow Hills with a dozen others now in the camp when the Ironfang Legion invaded, and admits that navigating the woods has not been as easy as he assumed it would be.
Vexras offers Jaspen a smile and makes a shooing motion as if to scatter the man’s admitted failings away. ”My friend, I was captured by tiny fey, chained, and made a slave in these woods. You have done remarkably well for yourself and these other refugees. Some of our number are from Phaendar, and more yet are making their way to an old ranger fort near by that’s recently been reclaimed. I’m sure they’d welcome you if you and yours would like to trade being in the woods for being behind walls.”
”We’ll give you directions. Chances are good you’ll get there before our people. I’ll write you a note of introduction, and if you don’t mind, a personal note as well.”
Seeing that their leader is a little deflated, Arryn pulls the man aside.
”You’ve done great work keeping your people together, and you have one last task: get them to safety. As the highest ranking member of the Nirmathi militia, I hereby grant you the field commission of sergeant. Can you get your troops to safety, sir?”
He hands the man a note addressed to Aramis, explaining how they found these folks, and a private note to Phaistea, saying that he misses her and how sorry he is that they have to make this other detour. Neither note indicates where they are going, just in case.
Jaspen nods, face setting again in an expression of perseverance. "Yes, I can take us all to the fort. This should be more than enough to get us there. You all seem to be able to handle yourselves. If you can, kick those monsters out of Ecru! My village deserved better."
Dorrin catches Jaspen's words and responds. "You can count on it, lad. When we're done, there won't be one left standin', I promise ya that," he states with absolute confidence.
With these new refugees headed towards the Fort early the next morning, Arryn will be eager to continue on to Longshadow, though before they go, he will ask them if they know of any hobgoblin bands in the area.
They do not -- which they're quite grateful for -- so you continue west, toward the Hollow Hills.
As you travel, you come on a clearing where a massive tree stump rises from the center of this area. Its surface is polished smooth and set with cups, plates, and pitchers all carved from wood. Fruits, roasted meats, cheeses, and red wine overflow the serving dishes. Four half-naked and exhausted dwarves sit around the table, feasting and drinking. A fifth figure -- a beautiful woman -- dances around the table playing a lyre and exhorting the dwarves to feast to their heart’s content.
"Pleajh, join uus!" one of the dwarves calls out as you get close, though his words are mumbled through the mouthful of venison haunch. "It'sh d'lishush!"
”What in six and a third hells is this?” Arryn mutters, glancing askew at Dorrij to make sure he’s not in the process of disrobing.
Brostic approaches the creature, his head down, his eyes averting the woman. As he gets close, he kneels saying "Oh beautiful one! I am not worthy of your attention. Would you do me the honor of partaking in a conversation?"
Um... we're all agreed this is highly suspicious, right? Violet mutters to her companions.
She will attempt to Sense the Motive of these dwarves and the nice lady.
"Or maybe not. I mean...open air restaurants are a thing, I guess.
Dorrin raises an eyebrow at the odd scene. "Ya got me, lad. One of the oddest things I've ever seen ta be sure." He then glances over at Brostic with an even greater confused look. He then looks to the others and shrugs, completely at a loss over the healer's actions.
"Oh, what a delight," she coos as Brostic falls to her knees. "Of course, I'll talk to you, dear boy, but please. You look famished. Eat something, drink something! I wouldn't want you to talk if you're weak from hunger."
”Dorrin, is this woman some sort of fey creature, nymph or something?”
Arryn will move a little closer and attempt to discern if these dwarves are good exhausted or in danger exhausted (exhausted from some sort of supernatural nature).
Brostic will attempt to discern the nature of both the woman and the food/drink on the polished stump. In addition to his eyes, he will also use his sense of smell on the food/drink.
As Brostic considers consumption of the food/drink, he sends a message to Blider (his hawk) asking it to make noises and dive down towards the half naked dwarves. Using the hawk as a diversion, Brostic will attempt to spill the liquid instead of drinking it.
"Thank you so much for this. It will surely give me strength."
Vexras arches one devilish eyebrow and watches the scene unfold, though his hand rests on the hilt of his sword. He remarks flatly to his remaining comrades, ”I suppose one way to see if fire is hot would be to cast oneself into the midst of it.”
Dorrin looks to Arryn before turning his attention back to the woman. A moment later, "What are you about, lass?! The lot of us find this whole thing a bit odd and I'm not so sure we can be trustin' ya. What's yer name and why are ya interested in feedin' everyone?"
Brostic is certain that she's a lovely forest lass -- maybe a nymph, but he could be thinking that just because of how lovely and pure she seems. Dorrin, on the other hand, suspects she could just possibly be a maenad, a creature of unbridled violence and decadence that invites others to join in on their debased revels.
Arryn can't quite tell what state the dwarves are in. As Brostic lifts the goblet to drink it, the woman continues to urge him to drink. "Yes, it's so good and will help you relax and take your mind off your troubles!"
And, oddly, Brostic suddenly feels a bit inclined to trust her. After all, the dwarves seem to be having a nice time.
Brostic changes his mind and decides the drink looks cool and fresh. He decides to consume the drink rather than spill it.
Can Arryn use a ranged disarm check to knock the drink out of Brostic’s hand?
The woman pouts as Arryn knocks the drink from Brostic's hand, though that doesn't leave the cleric wanting any less to join the feast.
"That's not very nice," the woman pouts. "Surely, a good drink would be nice, wouldn't it? Something to eat?"
Damn. :)
"I'm sorry. Yes, it would be nice. I am hungry."
Dorrin pulls out his crossbow and aims it at the forest creature. "Okay, this party stops now! Everybody needs ta stop drinkin' and eatin' because this lass is all kinds of wrong! Stop what yer doin', lass, or I'm gonna be forced ta shoot ya!"
Violet's head snaps from Brostic to Arryn to Dorrin. "I feel like we're somewhat divided on the issue of the pretty lady and her weird forest picnic. Should we have a group meeting?"
Eating the food fills you with vigor: You gain a +2 bonus to Strength and Constitution, 1d8 temporary hit points, and a +4 morale bonus on fear saves for 12 hours. You also take a –4 penalty on Will saving throws (this penalty does not apply on saves against fear), and find it more compelling to engage in debauchery, excess, and violence.
You also think this woman is your friend.
The woman scowls. "That's not nice at all!" Her dancing takes on a horribly frenzy, and you find your brains muddled.
At the fey's response to Dorrin’s threat, Vexras sighs. ”It was bound to go this way eventually. I do not know why I am surprised.” With a shrug and a remorseful ”Ah well,” before darting past Arryn, slipping around Brostic, and bringing his sword free in a sudden silver flash as he rushes up beside the madly dancing woman.
HP: 51/51
AC: 24 (18 T / 16 FF)
Resist 5: cold, electricity, fire
CMD: 20
F/R/W: +8/+7/+7
Arcane Pool used: 1/7
Extend charges used: 1/3
PoP used: 0/2
|Prepared Spells|
Cantrips (4): acid splash, detect magic, mage hand, read magic
Lvl 1 (4): mage armor [X], magic missile [ ], shocking grasp [ ] [ ]
Lvl 2 (4): mirror image [ ] [ ], scorching ray [ ]
Lvl 3 (2): haste [ ] [ ]
Ongoing Effects
mage armor, extended (12 hours): +4 AC
arcane pool: +1 keen (1/10)
piranha strike: -2/+4