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"What is happening, Gurra?" the first head asks as you wake the ettin.
"I don't know, Gurra. It's dark. I think something's covering our eyes!"
"Are you sure we're not dead, Gurra?"
"Yes, quite sure, Gurra."
"Then, who is that talking, Gurra?"
"I don't know, Gurra. You should ask."
"OK, Gurra, I think I will. Who are you, voice?"
"And how do you know Gurra's name?"
You do not believe she's lying, Tsin.
Pems sighs. "Gurra, my name is Pems. Please know that your life depends on answering our questions promptly and without lying. If you lie, if you try to escape, you will be executed. Now, who runs this place, Gurra? And where is Baba Yaga?"
"Jadrenka is the warden of Artrosa, Pems," the first head replies.
"But we don't know where Baba Yaga is," the other adds.
"Please don't kill us. Do you think he will kill us, Gurra?"
"I don't know, Gurra. He said he wouldn't if we didn't lie."
"That's true, Gurra. Be sure to not lie. If he kills you, I shall surely die too."
Immediately following Pems's two-part question, Tsin applies the second surge of aura detection, and watches closely as the two heads take one part and answer it sequentially.
She nods her head or shakes it, depending on the shift in aura. Well, that is interesting... the aura remains serene as a still lake, as long as the speaker maintains a truthful disposition... wonder what it looks like when one lies...
Pems nods. "Who is Jadrenka and where can I find her?"
As the ettin answers more questions and Tsin's sword does not fall, Hektir feels the pig (and its promises of delicious ham sandwitches) metaphorically flee his grasp, becoming greased in truth and a deal fair struck, though he still holds the pig tightly.
No, stop talking! Stop talking! Be unhelpful! LIE! LIE!! There is bacon in the balance!
Quinn nudges Hektir, "Quick, hide the pig!"
"She is the warden of Artrosa," Gurra replies to the halfling's question, "but I don't know where she is. Do you, Gurra?"
"No, Gurra. I can't see anything..."
"Neither can I, Gurra, neither can I."
Pems frowns. "How do you find Jadrenka when you want to speak to her? And who did you let in earlier that you were regretful about letting in?"
"Ask if she'll fight us if we let her go, lad." Malavarius nods encouragingly as he strokes his beard in thought.
"Mal, you mentioned that the pig is the conduit, right? Why not simply slay the pig, and end her ability to pull from those magics? I didn't realize how vulnerable Pems has become because of the rabbit..."
"Well, for starters, my dear, it's just a theory after all. But the pig's already given her, them- oh for heaven's sake! -given the giant power today, hasn't it? Who can know how much of that would linger if the familiar perished? More so, though, I'd like to leave a friend behind us if it's at all possible." Shooting a sideways glance at Hektir and Quinn, he then adds, "Despite how eager you all seem to be to spill porcine blood all of a sudden."
"Despite how eager you all seem to be to spill porcine blood all of a sudden."
"Spill the blood, Mal?" Hektir interrupts the coot. "I think you misunderstand completely." Hektir holds up the pig so Mal can see it clearly.
"Unless Tsin doesn't know what she is doing, we don't want to spill the blood at all. " Hektir explains the obvious.
"We want to collect it all for blood sausage."
Hektir nods to himself, happy to have cleared things up.
Quinn appreciates Hektir's wisdom, certainly the party would starve if the menu was left to the old man.
"How about Gurra and Gurra watches our backs while we go clean up the trespassers that Gurra already let through. A fair bargain if Gurra includes a few trinkets from past travelers that didn't have Gurra's permission to pass."
For all the priest's exposition, he certainly has an ear for negotiations... He's likely talked many a lass out of her bloomers with 'fair bargains'...
Tsin stops monitoring the ettin's aura. This one is too simple to deceive.
"Yes, I will agree with Mal, then, if friends we are to be. If Gurra-Gurra surrenders her sharp objects for now, and Malavarius holds onto the pig as security, should one of the two minds decide to change, then we can be off. Though, I would like to hear an answer to Pems's question, regarding the earlier group to pass by."
"Oh, she found me, I guess," the ettin responds to Pems' question. "Unless you had some way to find her, Gurra?"
"No, Gurra, I assumed you did," the second head responds.
"I wouldn't see we let anyone in, per se," the first head continues.
"Oh no, it was Caigreal, she said they were her guests. It was definitely she who let them in."
"Caigreal is another of the guardians of Artrosa, like Jadrenka."
"But not the warden, Gurra, so not exactly."
"True, Gurra."
They will eventually reveal that the guests were a fierce-looking centaur and a band of six giants.
"Oh, no, we wouldn't fight you again," she responds to Mal's question. "Clearly that would be silly. I think even Gurra would agree with that, wouldn't you, Gurra."
"I would indeed, Gurra. Would you?"
"Oh, most certainly, Gurra. No, I think we have decided to leave Artrosa. I think Jadrenka will be most upset at our failures."
"I agree, Gurra, most upset. I'm am sure she won't teach us anymore."
"Ah! See there? A sensible giant. I'd hoped so. Yes. Well then." Presuming Gurra's bonds are loosed, Malavarius leans forward, both hands wrapped high around his staff and speaks in, he presumes, Gurra's native tongue.
"How do you do, Gurra? I'm Malavarius. I don't suppose you'd care to tell us anything else about Artrosa that you might know, would you? Helping us would be helping Baba Yaga, if you can believe such a thing, and I dare say the Old Crone might reward what this Jadrenka would otherwise punish."
Hektir waits, pinch the haunches of the pig, trying to decide which one he wants to BBQ first.
He spits and waits, wondering if the ettinwitch will fess up or whether it will be luau time.
Tsin hears Malavarius, and his desire to share a moment with the giant. She flicks Eye Gouger, and the eye bindings fall to the floor, having served their purpose. She watches Mal for any signs of witchery, keeping her place behind Gurra.
Tsin occasionally looks towards the far side of the room, where she expects they will proceed, once they've seen Gurra exit. Will the Witch Tree let her pass as easily as it let us pass, I wonder...
The backside of Gurra's two heads seems to hold her attention more than the hallway that awaits.
Both of Gurra's heads look confused at Mal's words, exchanging glances.
"What did he say, Gurra?" one asks in Iobarian, according to Pems' translation.
"I don't know Gurra. I think it was something about a malady, maybe that he brings a malady to Artrosa from Baba Yaga?"
"Why would Baba Yaga send a malady to Artrosa, Gurra? That doesn't make any sense."
"I don't know, Gurra, but that's what he said. I think. Perhaps she's upset with us?"
"Why would she be upset with us, Gurra? We never even met her."
"Not us specifically, Gurra, but everyone in Artrosa."
"Oh, that makes more sense, Gurra."
After this discussion continues, Pems interjects and translates Mal's introduction and questions.
Eventually the ettin explains that Artrosa was supposedly set up to protect Dear Grandmother's treasures some thousands of years ago, though Gurra (and Gurra) only came more recently to learn witchcraft. They've been apprenticed to Jadrenka. There are supposedly rooms in each of the three statues, along with various guardians, though Gurra has only spent time in the Maiden statue.
Going through the doorway to the west, crude stone stairs twist through this wide, winding passage, which like the previous hallway is carved on both sides with depictions of wide fields filled with wildflowers and springing deer. The temperature drops sharply and a rime of hoarfrost settles upon the walls.
About 100 feet down, a door appears in the northern wall, while the passage also continues to descend if you continue going straight.
Hektir reluctantly lets go of the pig, the sweet, sweet pig and waves farwell to the witchyporcine and his dreams of ArtosaLuau.
Hektir, completely unsatisfied by the lack of walking bacon in the party, continues on down.
"Why did it get so cold in here? What's going on, Mal?" Hektir says with a spit.
Tsin proceeds down the hall, only after Gurra is well gone.
Getting her pacing back, she strains to listen at the door in the northern wall.
"Yes, Mal, what have we come for, exactly? Will we know it when we see it?"
You don't hear anything at the door, Tsin.
Tsin takes the quiet in stride, knowing all too well what lies behind strange doors. She takes hold of its handle/knob, and opens it wide, intent on knowing what might be left behind them, should they pursue the stairs further.
It appears to be a tunnel leading downward .
"Do you suppose there are stairways going up and down in each of the statues?" Quinn wraps his cloak against the chill and follows along with the group, eyes searching the gloom ahead.
Hektir spits and follows Tsin thought he open door.
Malavarius strokes his beard as the others call attention to the hoarfrost clinging to the walls.
---
"Stairs inside each of the absurd statues? Why, yes Quinn, I think that's very likely as a matter of fact." He scratches his beard and asks as a follow up, "The centaur are in constant conflict with the giants of the region. Why do you think one would bring a gaggle of the enormous brutes with them into Artrosa? Do giants come in gaggles? Hmmm.... yes, that seems right. 'A gaggle of giants.' Yes, I rather like the alliteration."
Tsin makes sure everyone is through the door, then closes it behind them, to at least slow down any engagers from their flank. She returns to the front, sheathing her falchion, and producing the magicked ranseur instead. If we're dealing with giants, let's see how this helps to keep distance...
"The centaur are in constant conflict with the giants of the region. Why do you think one would bring a gaggle of the enormous brutes with them into Artrosa? Do giants come in gaggles? Hmmm.... yes, that seems right. 'A gaggle of giants.' Yes, I rather like the alliteration."
"So the giants took centaur prisoners. Gave one of them up for sacrifice to the witch tree for safe passage? That's unfortunate for the centaurs." She keeps her eyes down the corridor, expecting conflict shortly.
Malavarius strokes his beard, considering Tsin's explanation for the centaur's presence. "Hmmmmm. Perhaps, Tsin. Perhaps."
Mal, you're not sure what would be causing the frost in the first tunnel.
--
As you travel down the tunnel, you hear the faint sound of pipes coming from ahead and Mal feels a strange certainty that they should continue on into the room ahead.
Pems lets out a startled squawk as the wizard advances as quickly as his old limbs will take him, followed by the rest, into a warm, humid natural cavern that stinks of stagnant water. Wisps of water vapor hover just above the floor, somewhat concealing a swampy morass of fungus. In some areas of the cave, large lumpy piles of fungus rise from the slop like fetid islands, and long, rubbery fungal strands hang from the ceiling and walls.
As you enter, you see a winged humanoid, with goat feet and horns, take 20' to the air as he plays a set of pipes.
You think it's a fiendish satyr.
You feel the urge to continue into the room, toward the northwest.
You also note one of the piles of fungus -- mushrooms on a pile of wide leaves and vines -- in the northwest twitch slightly.
You think it's a tendriculos, a plant creature brought into being through a corruption of nature, often where foul magic has seeped into the environs for many years, or where the boundaries between the Material Plane and the mysterious realm of the fey have worn thin.
Hektir:
Malavarius:
Pemsworth:
Quinn:
Tsin:
Antagonist:
Antagonist:
Hektir:
Malavarius:
Pemsworth:
Quinn:
Tsin:
Antagonist:
"Mal! Malavarius! Where are you going?!?" Pems darts forward to chase after Mal and hopefully stop him!
"Why, I'm going that way, of course." Malavarius waves his hand toward the northwest corner of the chamber, obviously intent to continue marching in that direction.
Round 1, Init 20
Hektir spits, giving a glare to the piper, then again at the flora.
Know (Nature)
"Tsin, watch that blubbery mass of fungus...no, not Quinn...over there. I think it's big and mean," Hektir spits again, pointing at the flora, then looking up.
Hektir sniffs the air, then sniffs again, drawing in more air. Then again, and again...becoming more and more airy as he does. He draws in more and more of the elements of air, fusing them into his being.
Hektir continues until he, at last, becomes a being of air: ZephTyr, a mighty element of moving air. He flies up to be face to face with the piper.
AC 3 NA + 2 dex + 2 dex + 1 ring +3 barkskin +4 mage armor= 25
HP 83/83
Mage Armor (7 hours)
Endure Elements (24 hours)
Resinous Skin (160 minutes)
Barkskin(160 minutes)
Round 0.5, Init 20
AC = 21
HP = 74/74
Weapon Equipped = +1 Ranseur
Condition(s) = None at present
Pharasma's Blessings = 3-1, 2-2
"Pipes. Why do they always have a musical instrument to harass passersby?"
As Hektir points out the plant, Tsin regards it cautiously. She grips the ranseur tighter, the friction becoming glowing lines along the wood.
She braces as she sets to closing the distance. I'm sure it moves too. Not content rooting itself and waiting...
Pemsworth: 9
Quinn: 9
Malavarius: 3
Hektir: 20
Tsin: 20
Antagonist: 13
Hektir transforms and takes to the air as Tsin calls on fire, imbuing it into her weapon.
As she does, the flying figure maneuvers toward the plant creature, his pipes continuing to play a bewitching melody.
Round 1
As soon as the notes start playing, Quinn fires his crossbow at the winged piper. "Don't listen, Tsin, block it out!"
"Block what out, priest? Why would anyone want to turn a deaf ear to such magnificent playing? Oh, the hours I could spend... it's been too long, hasn't it? What, since the last pipers were so rudely interrupted..."
Tsin sees Quinn, sees the look of strain on his face, hears her words, words that echo in a voice very much like her own, and she tenses. Not... again...
She shrieks loudly, looking up at the piper... "Yours will not be a quick death, piper... I'll show you organs you never thought existed within your ribcage..."
Round 1, Init 20
AC = 19
HP = 74/74
Weapon Equipped = +1 Ranseur
Condition(s) = None at present
Pharasma's Blessings = 2-1, 2-2
Heading in his general direction, Tsin charges the large plant, worried that the satyr shares a bond with the monstrous shrub.
Let's see what this creature can do...
Round 2, Init 20
ZephTyr 'spits'...a poof of air sails unseen by the piper.
You're going to play that pipe from an entirely different airtube when I finish with you...
ZephTyr 5' flaps at the piper, slamming it with airy, magical, fisty slams.
to hit; (power attack)
slam damage.
to hit; (power attack)
slam damage.
AC 3 NA + 2 dex + 2 dex + 1 ring +3 barkskin +4 mage armor= 25
HP 83/83
Mage Armor (7 hours)
Endure Elements (24 hours)
Resinous Skin (160 minutes)
Barkskin(160 minutes)
Greater Longstrider (8 hours)
Combat:
Attack: +6 BAB +5 Str +1 Amulet =+12
Slam: [dice]1d6+7 /dice] slam damage.
Pems grabs Mal and tries to dig his heels in, stopping him from blindly striding into the giant plant monster and horny goat-man.