"Cyflymder's spell corrupted their minds when he turned them into half-fey. There's no saving them," the pixie girl responds to Fiona.
A search of the hut results in you finding a journal, presumably Hemzel’s. It's written in pidgin shorthand of Common and Druidic.
"Why are you here anyway?" the pixie asks. "I'm Gire, by the way. Who are you people?"
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As Locke reads Tereze glances at Gwen and says:
I think you made Ery jealous with your comment about kissing Urbar. It's funny how fragile the male ego is.
As Gire asks her question Tereze answers.
Just a simple group of Pathfinders, here to discuss ze exchange of knowelege with Hemzel. I am Tereze , it is a pleasure to meet you Gire.
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"That's awful, so then these people may not be in their right state of mind? If that is the case, I do not feel comfortable with just executing them for their crimes. Perhaps there is a way to free them of their curse? Were the terrible people before the transformation?"
Gwen cocks her head to the side when she hears Tereze speaking in their racial tongue. She huffs and rolls her eyes as she stands. "Spune-mi că glumești! Poate că ar trebui să le cumpărăm toate scutecele și să le spunem că sunt speciale."
"I have no idea," Gire tells Gwendallyn.
The pixie turns to Tereze: "Oh, oh! I DO know THAT!"
"Cyflymder went north to a druid circle so he could destroy that lorestone thingy he stole from Hemzel."
Locke meanwhile learns several things from deciphering Hemzel's journal:
- The lorestone is keyed to druidic circles, and one lies several hours’ travel north from the hut on a lake island.
- A band of fey has recently been harassing Hemzel and threatening to destroy the lorestone.
- Hemzel assiduously avoided exposing the lorestone to sunlight.
- The sun’s rays striking the lorestone inside of a druidic circle disintegrates it.
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"Well, well, this journal's got some interesting details."
"That lorestone is an important to druidic circles, and one is mentioned to be several hours north from here, on a lake island."
"It says there that he was being harassed by fey, who threatened to destroy the stone...and, hear this."
"..i must avoid exposing the lorestone to sunlight at all cost.
If i would do so when standing within a druidic circle, it will disintegrate."
"Oh, yes! That's the druidic circle where Cyflymder's going, the one on the lake island!" Gyre exclaims. "I will lead you there!"
Gyre tells you all she knows about Cyflymder and his many, absolutely horrifying allies: "They are very very evil! They do evil stuff, like, horribly evilness! Like, lots of carnage and blood and scary stuff! And doom! Lots of dooooom, like, everywhere! And they're powerful, like, whoosh-whoosh and paw-paw! So much carnage and blood! And doooooooooom! Scary, oh yes, for sure!"
During Gyre's nonsensical rant, you see a party of four gnome warriors approach the hut from the south. As they draw near, one of them calls out to you in a hostile manner: "What have you done to Hemzel, you fiends?!"
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Ery turns to view the approaching, hostile gnomes.
Holding up a hand and holding a stoic expression, Ery chimes in.
"Hold, Friends. I would advise you watch the accusation. Me and Mine are in short supply of Mercy. Any perceived aggression will be met with vicious impunity." He lowers his hand, tilting his head to give a good look at the gnomes.
"Perhaps you'd like to try and engage in a less hostile manner?"
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Easy Gwen. Zey just don't know what happened here yet.
Tereze turns to face the gnomes.
Let me show you how to greet strangers: Greetings Friends! Are you by chance allies of the poor mistreated Hemzel? We came upon a group zat had just set his place on fire, and we were about to try to track zem down. Unless you wish to attack us here and let zem get away? Considering zey are probably who did zat to Hemzel...
The gnomes come to a halt and the one who called out to you goes wide-eyed. "I apologize!"
They quickly close the distance to you, and you explain the situation more thoroughly. Boomroppel, the gnomes' leader and the one who called out to you, constantly apologizes for his rude approach as you do. When they see poor Hemzel's mistreated body, they become very angry again.
"That darn Cyflymder! He's become such a menace to this part of the Verduran Forest, and now he's done this!" Boomroppel yells.
"We're not strong enough to follow where you're going, but take this healing wand instead! That way we may still be of use in defeating that menace!"
The gnomes then leave, and you head toward the lake island where the druidic circle is. You notice the tiny pixie girl has vanished during your conversation with the gnomes.
After a long trek the thick trees, brush, and brambles of the Verduran Forest finally give way to a glassy lake with a small tree-studded island just thirty feet offshore. An improvised bridge of mossy logs stretches toward the island from the near shore, though some of the trunks have tipped nearly vertical into the water, leaving gaps along the makeshift bridge.
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On the way to the next combat, Tereze uses the wand to make sure everyone is fully healed.
As they arrive, Tereze looks over at the island and says.
Somehow I doubt zis will go peacefully. I zink the blessing of the drunken hero is in order.
At which point she raises a her arms and casts bless on the group as they reach the bridge.
Then she stands by the entrance to the bridge and bestows divine guidance on each of her companions before they attempt the bridge.
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Ery watches the group, then, taking a queue from the others taking a cautious approach to the log hoping, he too becomes careful.
"I have faith that only fools would dare ambush us as a group. Though, if I was to consider the idea of being ambushed by a legion of ransom oriented women... I'd hold them off so the rest of you could escape."
Locke and Gwendallyn spot two snare traps and warns Urbar and Eryzule in time for them to stop, lest they'd walk into the traps. They immediately point the traps out to everyone , but Locke doesn't have any time to disable them.
Two human size vipers fall out of the overhanging tree, and drop onto the bridge. They don't seems to do anything just yet.
What's potentially even more troubling, is the crocodile that emerges from below the surface and decides to attack you.
The crocodile attacks Eryzule, who'd barely moved onto the log bridge. Its jaws close around the Lord of Tea's leg, its many sharp teeth sinking into his thigh. As the crocodile clings to Eryzule, it tucks in its legs and rolls rapidly in the water, causing Eryzule to trip over and nearly have his fibrous leg torn off.
Round 1:
Crocodile (Grappled)
Gwendallyn
Urbar
Locke
Eryzule 10/23HP (Prone & Grappled)
Green Viper
Red Viper
Fiona
Tereze
Gwendallyn dives into the water and atop the crocodile, which she manages to grapple while it's grappling Eryzule.
As Urbar gets out his sling and loads it, Locke concocts a bomb and throws it. The bomb explodes and covers the crocodile in a layer of ice, leaving it both wounded and staggered. Eryzule, sputtering wildly, sends a couple of magic missiles into the crocodile's head.
The red viper looks at Eryzule, then turns around and slithers up to Ulfa. It lashes out at the wolf, but its fangs find thin air only.
The green viper triggers the snare trap next to Urbar. The snare closes around its slithering body, and the snake's pulled ten feet up into the air.
Round 1:
Crocodile (Grappled & Grappled & Staggered) -19HP
Gwendallyn (Grappled)
Urbar
Locke
Eryzule 10/23HP (Prone & Grappled)
Green Viper (10 ft up, in snare trap)
Red Viper
Fiona
Tereze
Fiona casts a slumber hex that causes the red viper to fall asleep. Meanwhile some of Eryzule's pain is transferred to Tereze, who begins casting a spell to summon help from across the planes.
The crocodile maintains its hold on Eryzule and rolls again. Eryzule's leg is barely attached to his body when the crocodile stops rolling, only a few strands of flesh and fibers still connecting it to the rest. The shock and the blood loss are too much for the fragile's elf's body. He can feel his conscious slip away and blacks out.
Round 1:
Crocodile (Grappled & Grappled & Staggered) -19HP
Gwendallyn (Grappled)
Urbar
Locke
Eryzule -7/23HP (Prone & Grappled & Dying)
Green Viper (10 ft up, in snare trap)
Red Viper (Asleep)
Fiona
Tereze 37/42HP
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Gwen desperately clings to the crocodile as it begins to thrash about with Ery in its mouth! She sees Ery's limbs go limp and with a primal scream of fear and frustration she shoves both hands into the mouth of the beast to attempt to wrench open its mouth to free Ery and then pin the creature down from moving! "Tereze!" She shouts between mouthfuls of river water. "He's unconscious!"
Urbar slings a stone at the crocodile and knocks it out. Gwendallyn forces the creature's mouth open and pulls Eryzule's barely attached leg out. Locke's about to throw a bomb, but sees it's no longer needed.
The trapped snake slithers out of the trap and drops back on the log bridge. Locke tosses his bomb on the snake, and the snake explodes.
Tereze's life link continuous to heal Eryzule, and Eryzule opens his eyes.
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In preparation of whatever is coming next, Locke works on a few flasks, gulping the content of the result down, before drinking the next.
The empty ones put back in the pack, Locke heads over to Urbar when the other side is reached.
"Hold on a moment, i think you will enjoy this."
Locke touches his shoulder, and Urbar grows to large size.
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Tereze finishes call for aid, bringing forth a giant frog ahead of Urbar to hop across the rest of the bridge and guard the other end. (hopefully triggering any traps) and carefully moves onto the rafts herself.
When she gets near to Ery she casts cure light wounds on him.
Then same on herself.
A few seconds later after making sure Ery is up, she heals herself again.
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Urbar follows the frog a few paces behind it and immediately slips, falling face first into the swampy water. He pulls himself back up and tries again, his face dark with anger.
He slowly makes his way to the second gap and hops over it easily, making his way to the shore safe and sound. Once the others follow he turns big, as Locke injects him with super powers. He grins, happy at the change.
He pulls out both his swords and makes his way into the stone circle.
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Ery looks about, his eyes briefly lined with disappointment. He shakes his head as Gwen approaches, finally coming to the realization he didn't die.
He smirks, rubbing his the back of his neck. He says nothing but places a hand on Gwen's shoulder. "Nope. Just as surprised as you." He offers a hollow wink then waves to Tereze with a thankful smile.
He treads a little water to return to the others, joining them with a limp. He looks to his legs, the cloth of his pants shredded but the flesh healed. A slight bend in the tissues about his high seemed twisted out of place, visible even at talking distance with a small divot and odd bulge stretched about the area. as if tissue had wrongfully healed.
"Huh." He whispered to himself. trying to push the muscle in place before catching himself in the ridicules act.
with a heavy sigh, he followed after the group, each step adding embarrassment and shame.
Shifting to join Locke at his side, he speaks natively.
"Have I become a liability?"
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Locke is relieved Ery's ok. Comrades dying was not in Locke's book of things enjoyable.
"No. If anything, Desna wasn't paying attention.
A case of animal instincts and bad luck just now. We're all glad you're still among the living, so let's have a drink on that when this trip is over."