|
"We should certainly remove any traps we find, and dispense with Breeg's remains," Ahto says. "I cannot find any intention of harm in your account, Perlivash. Certainly, you aren't strong enough to move a large log, and if you made an effort to assist him, you were not negligent of his suffering. Assuming the evidence at his location matches what you have told us, I think we can declare Breeg's death as accidental."
Ahto's judgment evokes sighs of relief from both of your fey companions. Nevertheless, Perlivash still seems quite harrowed by the experience, but he soon calms down as he realizes that it is not the end of the world for him. The faerie dragon's confession proves to be the most interesting thing to arise from this night camped out in the forest.
"Horace usually keeps west of the river," Tyg says in the morning. "He likes to be all elusive and mysterious, so he keeps to the deeper forest. There's a sandy ford not too far from here that you can use to cross."
|
Before her sleep, Wonky again tries to pry the secrets out of the strange round rock.
Wonky approaches Ahto by the morning light as the campsite slowly moves into daytime action. She addresses him in a low voice meant for only his ears.
Wonky readies herself for the day.
Addy is relieved to hear Ahto's ruling. She offers no opinion but is clearly happy with the outcome.
Addy replies, "If yer unicorn friend likes the mysterious..."
Ye'll don the mask!
The thought in Addy's head throws her. Her face remains composed, but internally, she is flustered.
That's not what I was gonna say, Vix. I forgot what I was gonna say, but 'don the mask' definitely ain't it. I wanna see that unicorn with me own eyes.
That ye will, Child. Yer masked eyes. Ye know ye need me in control when we travel a potentially dangerous route. In other words, *any* route.
During her internal spat, Addy's spoken words are paused only for a second, but in that one second, her emerald eyes focus on no one. She looks annoyed. Annoyed and maybe a little defeated.
In the next second, her emerald eyes are bright and focused, fake smile overcompensating for her failure to maintain a neutral expression as her two personas 'argued' about whose turn it is to drive.
Addy finishes her sentence, "...I best don me mask."
And with those words, she takes out her 'mysterious' accessory and slips it on.
The Vixen wishes Addy didn't don her mask while otherwise clad only in her bathrobe, but her masked face shows no expression at all.
She mechanically moves into the tent to change...
|
|
Still distracted thinking over Perlivash's confession, Eunomia doesn't catch Addy's hesitation. "I'm afraid I'm not very good at mysterious, but I'll do what I can if it helps."
The Vixen replies to Eunomia, "Mystery's overrated anyway. Ye're way o' speaking the plain truth's far more valuable."
This somehow leads to the Vixen's feelings on Pervalish's confession and how it was dealt with.
"Truth is, Ahto, I'm happy with yer call regarding Pervalish. Unsurprised by it meself, but the Child behind this mask was praying to Shelyn 'til ye spoke.
"I've been in the same boat, meself having confessed to a lawman. When I killed Gill Bluebeard, I was ready to hang for it. I was lying beside Vikki—her in this very dress," she interjects, hands caressing the trim of her vermilion qipao, "me in her bridal gown—praying me good deed earned me the rope, so I'd go to Vikki feeling exactly what she felt in her last moments."
The Vixen isn't bothered by this at all. Her plan to avenge her friend and die for it is something she never spoke of before. If asked why now? her reply might be a casual why not?
"One o' the investigators whose name I'll not mention told me what to say: 'self-defense.' I said 'revenge,' but 'self-defense' is likely what was written in the report.
"I don't know or care what the report said o' me. All that mattered then and matters now: with Mr. Bluebeard dead, there won't be another Mrs. Bluebeard." And her point is, "With Breeg dead, he'll not lay another trap as likely to kill man, mount or beast."
The way the Vixen speaks of Breeg is punctuated with an implied eff him.
Eunomia isn't quite sure how to react to the Vixen's matter-of-fact statement. Even in her worst moments she'd never felt the urge to join Pina in death. That the Vixen had...well, it made sense, given how she'd described her state of mind at the time, but it was still disturbing.
Then of course there's her casual admittance that the investigators had likely reported the murder as self-defense. It wasn't because the Vixen herself had lied, which helped, but still...
For Zohls and her followers, covering up a crime was one of the worst things you could do.
It doesn't matter. She would almost certainly have been pardoned anyway, given the circumstances.
It does matter! The truth always matters!
Pinching the bridge of her nose to ward off a headache, Eunomia sighs and puts aside the thought for now. "You say that all that matters is preventing another Mrs. Bluebeard. I have to admit I disagree with you there. That Bluebeard deserved to die isn't in question. By killing him the way you did, you eliminated a monster. But if he'd been tried for his crimes, legally executed...then that wouldn't just have eliminated one monster. It would have been society as a whole agreeing that monsters aren't acceptable. That's...that matters."
Glancing around to make sure their fey friends aren't in earshot, (or at least as much as one can make sure of a thing, given that they can turn invisible), she adds, "Breeg's case is different for a number of reasons. From what we know of him he was a cruel man. Even a despicable one. But if he committed any crimes worthy of execution, I haven't heard of them. And what happened to him wasn't an execution. It was a slow, torturous death. Maybe that's fitting, given what he did, but I've been honest about the fact that I'm not comfortable with torturing anyone to death. No matter how despicable they might be.
That doesn't mean I think Perly's a murderer. I said earlier that it was more of an accident, and I meant that. But he's still responsible. In Liberthane, if someone causes another's death through carelessness or negligence, the person responsible has to pay a fine to the family members of the victim and is subject to a period of indentured servitude, much like what is done with repentant bandits. Breeg didn't have any family that we know of, but I admit my suggestion that Perly help us bury Breeg and disarm the traps was meant to reflect that period of servitude." She smiles, very slightly. "Not that Liberthane's laws apply here, but I do tend to rely on what I know."
The Vixen replies, "Ye know truth and justice well enough that I trust yer judgment, Eunomia. Maybe I can explain me line o' thinking."
...starting with her own past first:
"Bluebeard's one o' two men I brought down who were executed on the spot. With Gill, I was inexperienced... and lucky I came out on top, really.
"But the other was recent, and respecting that me badge comes with rules, I recommended we kill a man we'd just captured." She doesn't remember the man's name, so she simply calls him "The Geezer...
"He was an old creep who tortured men for fun. It's not what he did that meant he had to immediately die—it was flight risk. Being a shapeshifter, he could've taken the form of a snake and slithered through any cage or bonds. Or he could've taken a winged form, making pursuit impossible. Ahto agreed to executing the Geezer before he could wake up."
There is a hint of sentiment.. (The Vixen is Addison after all, no matter how much her "condition" makes her seemingly believe otherwise.) ...as VV considers how a trial affects the survivors.
"I see your point about trials, but I'd only one goal when it came to Gill: never again." I'd never forgive meself if I let a killer slip away, and an innocent died as a result."
...she also considers Eunomia's words on Breeg:
"Breeg ain't Bluebeard or the Geezer, but he still got his kicks from causing suffering and was a menace to his fellow hunters. Maybe there should be something in writing—not by pencil-pushers, in Legalese—I mean a code o' conduct written by actual hunters."
She adds, "Mother was a Huntress, if ye e'er need me to find a hunter willing to write that sort o' thing."
Once camp is struck, Tyg and a now-calmer Perlivash lead you through the forest towards the crossing of the Skunk River that they spoke of. At a remote bend in the river, you find a small collection of sandy islets that form a natural chokepoint in the waterway. What's more, a jumble of logs, branches, stones, and other detritus has piled up and created an easier ford.
"It looks like there's a nest nearby. Is that related to Horace?"
You spot a second such creature hidden among the debris, confirming your suspicion that this is some sort of nest.
You spot a second such creature hidden among the debris, confirming Eunomia's suspicion that this is some sort of nest.
You come ever, agonizingly closer to unlocking the deepest secrets of this lorestone. You are quite confident in your understanding of the "what," even as the "how" continues to elude you. The coded patterns within the stone's inscriptions contains information about rare, extinct, and nigh-mythic variants of animal species. Once you fully decipher whatever ritual or formula might be encoded within, you believe you'd be able to magically unlock an animal's primal form, even if only temporarily.
What might have first been mistaken for a mossy rock upon one of the islets is, in fact, the coiled bulk of a very large reptilian creature. It's body is serpentine, with only a pair of forelimbs visible, tucked beneath a broad, toothy snout.
You spot a second such creature hidden among the debris, confirming Eunomia's suspicion that this is some sort of nest. Furthermore, you recognize these creatures as Tatzlwyrms, a very rare and primitive offshoot of the draconic family tree.
|
|
"We must halt immediately!" the gnome whispers with urgency, her arms holding the growling Sprocket in place. "There is a mating pair of draconic creatures secreted away here! They are known as tatzlwyrms; they may have already sensed us!"
The Vixen sees one herself, and her reaction is to keep one hand in her purse, clutching the invisibility potion.
"I see one," she confirms as she remains in place.
”I see them as well. Do we want to try and ambush them?”
Harmond freezes, a brief look of panic on his face before Wonky speaks up and his face resumes his normal free spirited look. "Yes, I see them. What do we do?
He draws his wand and taps himself with it before pointing it at one of the creatures.
"Say when."
|
|
The Vixen says, "I'll move close, quietly as I can. Just signal the attack with yer actions. If ye've any specifics I should know o', speak now."
With that, she brings the Invisibility drink to her lips and vanishes. She will not move quickly, and she'll remain still if spoken to or if a plan is announced. Otherwise, she merely gets into position as Wonky said.
If she can move within striking distance stealthily, she does so.
Her destination is either (A) one of the creatures on the side (left of guy-on-the-left or right of guy-on-the-right, so she won't be betweeen does when she appears after attacking)...
...or (B) if there's no way to get close, she will instead wait in the position where the party will presumably shoot and draw enemies out.
She will have her bow in hand either way.
When the Vixen and Wonky start disappearing, Eunomia says, "Wait just a second." She quickly casts Message on the party. "There. Whisper to me really quietly once you're in position. We'll start blasting them with spells from a distance, letting you both ambush them from behind."
While waiting for them to get into position, Eunomia casts Mage Armor as well.
The wyrm stretched out, sunning itself upon one of the sandy islets, turns slightly as it rests and offers a grumbling sigh of contentment that briefly exposes its sharp teeth. However, it remains utterly unaware of the invisible Vixen and Wonky moving near its lair - and its sleeping mate is yet more oblivious to the interlopers.
The Vixen takes a look at the body.
She's not particularly perceptive, and knows it, so she uses Enomia's Message spell to communicate, mouthing words that magically enter Eunomia's thoughts (which VV presumes can be passed onto others).
Bandit or not, we got a few minutes o' being invisible. So I'm wondering... are we about to exterminate a menace, or attack a nest full o' baby lizard-peeps? Are these sentient creatures no different than the boggard we spared, or the unicorn we seek? Is Pervalish capable o' speaking the creatures' language?—assuming a creature with 'wyrm' in its name's a sort o' dragon.
Eunomia hesitates as she's moving forward. She quickly whispers to Wonky.
The Vixen draws close enough to the body heaped among the debris, as pointed out by Ahto, that she can better assess its condition. The remains are skeletal, having clearly been dead for a long time. Bite marks and fractures along the arms suggest that this explorer fell prey to the tatzlwyrms, as you've seen few other creatures in the region with large enough jaws. In addition to the long-dead explorer's well-made if neglected sword and armor, the Vixen also spots a nearby moldering leather satchel, its nearly severed strap still looped around the skeleton's arm.
The Vixen doesn't notice any indication the dead man (or what's left of him!) was a bandit. More likely, an innocent who ventured to close to this lair.
She doesn't touch or open the satchel (as the satchel or its contents would likely appear to float, and the skeletal arm would quiver or 'wave'), so it's likely she won't learn anything from just looking at it. She doesn't expect to see a silver stag, but wonders if there is another symbol or the man's initials.
|
|
Wonky mouths her reply to the question, making use of the message incantation.
”They possess nothing more than an animal intelligence. Other dragons view them as primitive relations. They are cunning predators that would not be part of a natural ecosystem. I am a fan of the natural world; they are worth removing.”
In her invisibility, Wonky prepares a further extract.
Just loud enough for Ahto and Harmond to hear, Eunomia relays this back to the Vixen. "Wonky says they're not sentient. They've clearly been killing people, so they'll have to be removed just like the spider and frogs."
"Now that's been established, is everyone ready?" Assuming the response is positive, she starts counting down. "Three, two, one, now!"
She blasts the sunning creature with two Magic Missiles.
The Vixen follows Eunomia's lead. As soon as the magic missiles strike, VV attacks the same target.
Even her weakest strike seems powerful after adapting her fighting style to emulate Sams' nonlethal bareknuckle blows!
The sudden onslaught of attacks sends the sunning wyrm jolting upright to its six foot height. Wracked with pain, it delivers a bellowing howl that echoes through the trees on both sides of the river, waking its mate.
Near death, the first tatzlwyrm prepares to lunge for the Vixen with its jaws.
The Vixen is grateful for Ahto stepping in. She shows her appreciation with a slight grin, but otherwise wastes no time attacking the remaining beast!
Her charge leaves her wide open, but she wants to put this creature down quickly.
Ahto's mighty blow beheads the snarling tatzlwyrm.
Freed from the first foe's reprisal, the Vixen charges forth and delivers a leaping spin kick to the waking tatzlwyrm's broad skull.
Seeing the first tatzlwyrm fall, Eunomia immediately turns her attention to the other and blasts it with the same spell.
Eunomia's bolts of magic impact the wyrm with as much force as a stout club; meanwhile, Harmond aims another crackling ray of electricity for the second beast, but this one manages to evade the arcane attack.
The wyrm opens its mighty jaws and lunges for the Vixen. However, despite being somewhat off balance by her recent jump kick, she still manages to evade the arsenal of sharp teeth that snaps shut just a few hairs' breadth from her arm.
The Vixen is surprised to remain unscathed. She says to the beast, "Sorry, dragon. This cat has claws."
"Fox. Whatever."
If the beast falls from the nonlethal blows, VV checks for any signs of young or eggs.
What Wonky lacks in martial prowess, her alchemical acumen easily makes up for, and her coin shot strikes the second wyrm square in the flank. Ahto marches up the sandy bank from the shallows, raises his sword, and delivers a bloody wound to the beast. Finally, a pair of stout, bone-cracking kicks to the skull leaves the tatzlwyrm to flop down upon the edge of its nest. The creature yet lives, but it will not be rising again soon.
The nest contains no young or eggs. Either this mated pair had not yet produced any young, or their offspring have already long since left the nest. Retrieving the dead adventurer's pack from the mud and debris, you discover that it contains a smaller sack filled with coins, as well as a pewter drinking stein, a silver ring on a length of twine, a rather lewd figurine of a nude, female elven monk carved from jade, and a watertight scroll case.
The Vixen is relieved. She says to the others, "No young; no eggs. I s'pose it's best to put the beast out of its misery?"
The Vixen doesn't kick the creature while it's down. Her bow already in hand, she uses an arrow to deliver the coup de grace.
The Vixen takes careful aim. Just like Mother taught the Child...
She looses the arrow, delivering death.
The Vixen just stares at the corpse for a moment, then turns away, leaving her arrow in the creature.
She looks picks up the jade figurine, rotating it, wondering what the elf is portrayed to be doing exactly. What's with the beads? VV's lips form an expression of confusion, as if she is trying to solve a puzzle. Those're... monk's beads? As much as she might normally appreciate this sort of thing, the words from her mouth are, "Why a nun?"