"This here Elf" Jerks thumb toward Sylvanis "is the one with a task. As fer meself, I'm just stompin' around where I wish. Fer the time bein', I'll travel with ye, if ye're willin' to put up with me." Chuckling a little.
"Putting up with you? Well that doesn't seem hard to do. You look like the kind of people I would want hanging around anyway. Nox came across me as I was traveling from town to my next performance. Being as I was alone, they offered for me to tag along. They being Nox and his group, which is now just Nox and Perrin. You can see that we are in needs of someone of your stature.
So anyway, I was alone and they came along, and they offered for me to travel with them..."
Laucian in his all to common non stop talking, tells the whole story of getting the moss, and the encounter with the serpent at the tree, and unless someone stops him, he continues to tell the story embellishing it as if he was talking to a large captive audience...
After Laucian finishes,
"As you can see, friend Laucian has a nack for spinning a yarn. He is correct though, I think we would be fools to not invite both you to join us if you would like to join.
Your talents should round out our group rather well."
Turning to Sylvanis
"You have been rather quiet, perhaps you can tell us of your quest, and your striking companion as we continue. I expect that every predator, animal or not, within a half days walk heard that commotion."
gesturing to Winter and then down the road, respectively.
"I'm in." Nods with finality.
"I am on route from the Verduran Forest to the Darkmoon Wood. Once there I am to take care of the forest's young trees until either of the La'Athvanna druids return to take up permanent residence, and I return to my old charge."
"La'Athvanna you say....I take it that my homecoming has not become public knowledge just yet heh. It is good of you to come to protect my home.
My father was the Druid of Darkmoon woods and I am now the holder of that charge."
"In that case pleased to meet your acquaintance. I will of course remain in your presence until you reach your station, before I get reassigned or take back my old post."
Stands there with a big grin plastered on his face...
Thinking: "What in the nine hells have I gotten myself into? Do no Dwarves venture out of mines around here?"
"It is good to know you, and I agree that is wise for all involved for your to travel with us. These do not appear to be the peaceful woods I remember from my first 50 years."
Pausing for a few seconds and gazing into the forest, he then turns back
"Which reminds me that we should be moving along. The question is, how shall we form ourselves? Shall we Druids move along in the woods with our animals to disguise the groups strength, shall we advertise our numbers to discourage attention, or perhaps something else entirely?"
"I ain't fer carin' either way, meself." Resting my war axe on my shoulder, shifting my stance a little for no apparent reason. "Ready."
"I am generally not one for conflict of this nature. I would prefer to show strength in numbers if wolves have been your biggest trouble so far. That way only a very large party would dare try and start something. Besides for the first time in ages I have run short on healing for the day."
ooc: any suggestions for marching order?
Having been oddly quiet while everyone else was talking, Laucian jumps on a natural break in the conversation as the group heads out and starts walking. He picks back up with his story as if it was never split by other conversations.
"... after getting the moss from the tree, we decided to split up so that two of us could deliver the moss back to town, while Nox and I continue on to the witch's hut. Right Nox? The witch's hut is our destination? What why are we getting all of this stuff again? Trying to cure something?"
The pause in conversation is merely a few seconds as Laucian waits for Nox's reply; however, to Laucian is seems like hours.
"There is a blight which is ravaging Falcon's Hollow. An old friend of my family is the herbalist for the town. She asked our aid, as she beleives she can put an end to the community's suffering.
She called it the Blackscour Taint. It comes of drinking bad water that was affected by the Blackscour fungus. Somehow, the stuff got into one of the wells that the town uses. She gave us a list of items.
First was was Elderwood Moss, the "bark" that you have heard referenced. We retrieved it from the Forest Elder not long ago.
Second is Rat's tail, which is a specially pickled root. It is that which we will seek at the Witch's cottage. She is known to be a mean-spirited sort, but she will trade if we can bring her something that she values.
Third is 7 ironbloom mushrooms. Apparently these fungi grow in dark places in which the ground is thick with metal. There is myth and story that point us towards the location of an ancient dwarven civilization. It was rumored to be on, in, or near Droskar's Krag
We do have a rough outline of the area, but calling it a map may be too kind."
Nox will point to the mountain in question if it is visible from their location, if not he will gesture in the general direction.
OOC: if milon's map can be uploaded, Nox will share that rough drawing to give them an idea of where the group is headed
Not paying all that much attention until the Dwarven civilization is mentioned, then Gilgar listens intently.
"I've heard tales of the Dwarven city ye seek. It fell centuries back, and none really knows where 'tis anymore, though legends say that it had quite a temple to Torag in it."
"Have you heard anything more in your people's legends about the Dwarven city?"
"Naw..."
"The place sounds very interesting by the way. I wasn't sure I would be able to go along with the group if I was hired to perform magic for in town.
I am thinking though that I might have stumbled upon, well actually it stumbled upon me, a great adventure to add to my list of stories to provide.
Who knows, maybe I will be able to work on some tricks as well. I have been wanted to try to expand my skills, yet I have not had the time. I think it is about time I go on sabbatical..."
Laucian is quiet caught up in the adventure and appears very glad to be with the group. He obviously doesn't need much time with someone (the two new members) to get comfortable with them.
OOC: Down the road we go
Walking with the group down the trail, Laucian is still going, "... and that is why peanuts and handsaws do not go together. So Nox, do you know how far we have to go to get to this hut? I know that map isn't to scale or anything, but isn't this your neck of the woods."
Laucian laughs as he realizes the woody area around the path, "No pun intended. " he finishes with a big smile on his face.
A little farther on and around yet another bend in the trail, the sounds of the forest become suddenly distant as the trees part, opening into a small, almost perfectly circular glade. The nearest stands of pine, eyln, and darkwood—all typically sturdy woods—twist away from the clearing, as if bent by some impossibly strong wind or seemingly in an attempt to flee despite their paralyzed roots.
At the glade’s center squats an ugly cottage, little more than a pile of twigs, shoots, and ivy stacked upon mud walls. From the thatched roof dangle bundles of gnarled roots, old dried beast carcasses, and knucklebone bangles, all clattering together like gruesome wind chimes. A dozen small thatched fetishes—each shaped like a tiny man, imp, or rearing serpent—stand propped in the yard, keeping guard before a rickety plank door.
Answering Laucian "Oh, I don't think it's much further" Nox says with his ever present smirk.
"The question now is, how tricky is this witch?"
perception roll looking for movement or hints of any traps, prior events, or other items that may lead to cause of concern.
Nox will also Cast Detect Magic
"Well I hope she doesn't turn us into that." Laucian say while looking at statue like figures.
Answering Laucian "Oh, I don't think it's much further" Nox says with his ever present smirk.
"The question now is, how tricky is this witch?"
"Well I hope she doesn't turn us into that." Laucian say while looking at statue like figures.
Hesitating at the boundary of the glade, smoothing the top-knot that no one here has seen me touch or pay any heed to since they met me.
"So, uhhh... Ye've ideas on how to handle this... Witch?" There's a definite edge to my voice as I say the word "Witch", my arms are tense and stiff...
The glade is so unnaturally quiet after the sounds of the forest that the your voices take on an eerie quality. Both of the animal companions have stopped just outside the tree line, looking very much like they've gone as close as they wish to -- but neither of them indicate that they've seen or heard anything, either.
You notice that the game trail you are on does not truly enter the glade. It's like whatever has made the trail over the years came up to the edge of the clearing, thought better of it, and went around. As a result, while you can step off the trail directly into the glade (where you are currently standing), you will be leaving the trail itself when you do so.
It appears that the trail runs about halfway around the glade before continuing it's meandering way through the trees.
Standing at the edge of the clearing, but not entering Laucian hollers out into the clearing,
"Excuse me. Is anyone home? We are looking for a person that can help us."
Diplomacy:
Standing at the edge of the clearing, but not entering Laucian hollers out into the clearing,
"Excuse me. Is anyone home? We are looking for a person that can help us."
The clearing continues to regard you silently.
Can we see windows, or just the door, and is the door open or closed?
Turning to Gilgar, "Well there was my idea." Looking to the rest of the group, "Maybe the witch isn't here, and if that is the case I would hate to intrude while she is away. Maybe we should come back another time to see her."
"One of you tree huggers go. I'm here if'n she needs killed."
"We should stay in pairs. I will stay here with Gilgar." With that Laucian moves over beside Gilgar. "Don't. Worry. We will be behind you all Ethernet way," he finishes with uncertainty in his voice.
"We should stay in pairs. I will stay here with Gilgar." With that Laucian moves over beside Gilgar. "Don't. Worry. We will be behind you all Ethernet way," he finishes with uncertainty in his voice.
Nox, stepping to the edge of the clearing.
"Ulizmila, I am the Druid "L'Athvann, protector of the Darkmoon Vale my friends and I need speak to you.
There may be a bargain for you to be found here.
May I approach in safety?"
"Ulizmila, we will take your silence as there is no objection to our approach or that you are injuried and need our assistance."
Wait 30secs and if there is no response slowly make my way to the door unless something of interest catches my eye.
Nox will move forward with Sylvanis.
Perrin will flank Nox opposite Sylvanis.
"Ulizmila is rumored to be a bit of a trickster, so if we have caught her in a foul mood, things may get exciting.
Be ready."
Standing by Gilgar, Laucian waits.
Perception :
Laucian, Will save, please.
"Nox!" Laucian yells out to him, "That figure right there," pointing to a figure Nox had passed already, "I saw it move. She must have animated them or something."
Laucian turns to Gilgar and in a softer tone, "Did you see it move? I know it did."
Tensing up, veins starting to stand out on my forehead, neck, shoulders, chest and arms... "I see naught, Elf. This devilry makes me uneasy."
"It was that one right there." still pointing to the same stick figure, "It isn't moving now, but I swear I saw it move."
Perception :
Second, my will save: