The rest of the night passes uneventfully, and you wake in the morning, though the strange mist continues to cover everything, hiding sight of the sun and keeping you from seeing much more than 20 feet ahead of you.
Koremar spent the morning studying his spellbook and dwelling on the spriggan's dire warning. He wondered if the elders had an inkling of what was coming for he wasnt the logical choice to be sent to a wedding. But his skills and training were perfect for the mission as it stood now. After a quick repast he went through his basic forms and then packed up his belongings just as the others were ready to go.
Fare you well Palombier and Fira. I hope we can meet again under happier circumstances.
The elf fell in line at the rear of the group; trusting in Abigail's local knowledge and Asbjorn's woodcraft to lead them the right way.
The miles pass swiftly beneath Asbjorn and Bror's paws when suddenly massive footsteps shake the forest floor, and then a loud thud rattles
the nearby trees. One of them suddenly crashes to the ground in a cloud of dust and debris.
With a groan, it rolls over and starts to right itself. Two large, bleary eyes blink open.
“More visssh… vish-uh... visitors ta the forest?” it slurs in a deeply drunken, booming voice.
Then, its eyes narrow in anger. “Why, I’ll drive yuh right inta the earth for what yuh done!”
It stands upright and takes an errant, off-balance swing with a giant, gnarled fist, shattering a nearby treetop in a spray of bark and twigs.
“Yuh won’t be foolin’ me again! Now stand still!”
Diplomacy -
Hold! We mean you no harm!
Koremar wasnt in the habit of participating in needless violence. Now necessary violence was another matter altogether...I sure hope this thing doesnt want to fight...but if it does we will have to take it down quickly...id hate to see what one of those fists would do to me...
“Thorn and shadow!" the massive tree hollers, seemingly to a space about 20 feet to your right. "They’ve found a way out! And they’re here! We gotta hold ’em off and send ’em back ta the Fellnight Realm!”
Koremar's brow furrowed at the thing's strange reply and yelled to the others
There could be more spriggans around too. Be on guard!
The elven magus strained to spot any more enemies.
Perception -
"What?" the creature replies, suddenly seeming to notice your presence. "Who're you? Spriggans? Where?" It looks around, as if trying to spot the threat.
Abigail, Koremar, you don't see any spriggans. However, you see what looks like it could be a body at the far edge of the mist, about 30 feet away.
Sensing that the creature's confusion was wearing off Koremar dared approach it.
Sir, we most certainly are not spriggans but we are familiar with them. Unfortunatley so. We consider them our enemies and those fighting them our friends. My name is Koremar and this is Abigail and Kregimie. Are you well?
Kreg follows Koremar in case he needs any help, and to get away from the large confused creature. He does his best not to be noticed when approaching the figure with Koremar.
Stealth:
"What?!" The creatures eyes widen again as it lashes out at air with one branch-arm. "Begone, beashtsh, lesht I call the might of the foresht up againsht you!"
Koremar took a cautionary step out of the creature's reach and hailed the priestess.
Abigail! This thing is acting strangely. It sees enemies everywhere. Can you do anything about it?
Abigail, you think he is, in fact, somehow quite drunk.
Koremar shakes his head when Abigail says that the creature is drunk.
This is either going to be very interesting or very annoying then. It's obviously fought spriggans so it could very well be worth waiting until it sobers up to hear it's tale. I just hope he doesn't turn on us in his state.
Hmmm...I wonder if he has any bottles left Kreg thinks to himself.
"OK," the creature slurs, surprising you with the fact that trees can slur their words. "A drink to new friendsh!"
He pulls out a large gourd and, raising it to his lips, takes a deep slug. He then holds it out to you.
Dubious and not prone to drinking; Koremar decides to drink none the less and takes the gourd and a short chug.
New friends indeed.
and passes it on to Abigail.
Koremar, the drink is incredibly powerful, and you feel your head swimming a little bit after just one swallow. Your skin feels tight for a moment, though perhaps that's just lack of awareness of what alcohol can do.
Kreg will take a swig when the gourd comes his way.
Abigail, you also feel your head swim and skin tighten a moment as you drink, but the liquor seems to affect Kregimie -- perhaps because of his size -- much more strongly. You instantly feel drunk and your skin suddenly takes on the look and feel of rough bark.
Immediately afterward, the tree creature suddenly spins around, apparently startled by something. "Rije up, world," he hollers. "Shake off yer dreamsh fore the nightmaresh reach ush! If'n they want to play with nature, we'll show 'em all!" He gestures and two other trees suddenly pull themselves up from their roots -- one moves toward an apparently empty area in the woods, but the other begins moving purposely toward Koremar!
Initiative -
A bit shocked at the tree's sudden animation and apparent intention of coming towards him; Koremar took a defensive action and cast blur on himself and moved away from the tree.
"Phew, this if potenth sthufff!" Kreg says with a smile before looking up to see the Koremar's plight.
Initiave:
"Wait, waith! This 'ere elfy ish a goodh guy, weh don'wanth any problemsh!"
The tree moves toward Koremar, but before it can reach him, Abigail casts. The drunken tree creature suddenly stops and looks toward you, seemingly trying to focus. "Why d'jou get sho blurry?" it asks. "And who are youje?"
I made myself blurry our of self defense. Please talk with us. We are friends good sir.
Abigail, you believe it would, as would delay or neutralize poison.
"Friendsh? I don't think I knowj you..." the tree creature says. The other two trees seem to root themselves back in the ground as the one you're speaking to turns its attention away from them.
But we shared your drink. Isnt that what friends do?
The magus is completely outside of his realm of expertise in dealing with an individual so out of his mind with alcohol and is seriously hoping they dont have to put him down.
"Absolutery!" says Kregimie as he sways back and forth a bit. "You jush shared drink swith usth. Thats shwhat friendsh do, right?"
Diplomacy:
The tree creature seems to shudder as the magic flows through him, and then clutches his head.
"Oh, my poor, achin' head. Who're you lot then, and what do you want with ol' Vinroot?"
Greetings Vinroot. This is the Lady Abigail and Sir Kregimie. I am Koremar. We are seeking the druid Devarre and happened upon you. Can you help us find him?
"Ah'm just a treant standin’ in this forest far longer than any other. Name's Vinroot,” the tree says. "Y'don't need to be bowin' to me."
"Findin’ Devarre’s tricky. He made his home near a site o’ powerful sorcery. The dryads could prob’ly tell yuh where it be.”
“Those brambly spriggans're runty little burrs! A blight on the land, they be! Their presence means the Fellnight fey broke free o’ the faengard barrin’ ’em from other planes.”
Well met Vinroot. The dryad's did indeed give us directions to Devarre's. I was hoping you could confirm that we are still headed in the right direction. And who is that man lying over there? Is he alive Abigail?
Who? what ? Where? the pale man sits up with a start. He looks around at the scene with blinking yellow eyes, looking confused. Oww . He rubs his temple with both his hands - it appears that he is quite hungover, which would explain how he managed to stay asleep sofar. At his feet a wolfish dog stirs, looking no better with hanging ears and tail.
"Oh, yeah," the treant says. "Yeah, yer going th'right way. What man?" He looks around and seems surprised to see the paladin stirring. "What's he doin' there? I don't remember him bein' here yesterday."
Koremar regards the newcomer with curiosity.
I dont think he remembers being here yesterday either Vinroot. Perhaps you two shared in your spirits. You both look to be feeling the effects.
The magus will hail the man.
Good sir, are you ok? Do you know where you are? Or how you got here?
I will be - as soon as the world stops spinning Cyrus replies.
He takes a deep breath and concentrates intensely for a few seconds. After that he is visibly relieved, and when he turns back to the party his gaze is steady and he is sitting straight.
I am Cyrus Abergail - knight of Andoleta - and I sincerely hope that I am still in Verduran forset, and not some far fay land...
The dog growls at his feet, and he reaches out to calm him with his touch.
And this is my trusted tracking hound Ace. We ventured out from Bellis yesterday, as far as I can tell, to lend our hands in the investigation of the foul wedding crashers.
"Hi! Nicesh to meet tyou..." Kreg says as he stumbles over to Sir Abergail. Along the way, the normally sure footed gnome trips over a tree root.