As they walked Kara kept a careful eye on Karrick. She wanted to ask what had caused his fit back in the city. From what she knew of him he would be a hard man to shake. Whatever it was back there had to have been a big deal. Since Karrick wasn’t know for his open nature she decided to ask him later.
”Not as open minded. But then not all of your faith are as kind as you are Muziel.”
It was true enough at least to Kera. Everyone back at the embassy had been slightly beyond creepy. Compared to them Muziel was a prince. She nods about the Reidford bunker but thinks this will be an easy enough task.
”Agreed but her gun might come in handy down there. Plus it seemed Pervince has her wrapped around his little finger.”
She teases him slightly about his new love interest. Though he can tell under the good natured ribbing Kera is happy for him.
Listening to Ythl speak Kera wonders what kind of creature this witch is. She also wonders if she had been twisted by a Mana storm. Did Kera now have some aversion to silver? Trying not to think of such things she forced her mind to concentrate on what Ythl said.
”Just the witch for now Ythl.”
She said to him when he asked about the giants. Since they were out of the city Kera put her hood down and smiled to the dark pixie. Patting her shoulder softly (if he isn’t already there) Kera will allow him to sit there and prattle on as they walk. He was a good distraction from her own thoughts.
"Do you think the witch will count a gnome as a monster? I heard that they are thought to be monsters in some so-called fourth land. I could disguise myself as a gnome. Far prefer that to being considered a human child. To a witch, that is. This is, ah... the evil sort sort of witch, isn't it."
Pervince expects the others to shrug or give baseless encouragement, but hoped that encouragement might have some truth in it. Even though they looked suspicious by their actions or history, he felt that they were truly a force working toward good. Was it this that made so many of his kin find comfort in human cities?
"I'm ready to go see her, in any case."
Ythl blinks invisible and Kera can feel his weight on her shoulder
I like you, you remind me of my sisters. I do not know about gnomes, I haven't met one yet that would talk to me. They call me Arazni spawn and fire their weapons at me!
As you walk through town on your way out the gate, the people of Martel whisper as you pass. There are rumors that a Cult of Zon_Kuthon is in town made up of mutants.
"I wouldn't say I'm kind," replies Muziel to Kera. "I simply understand the value of alliances. Whereas the Niven are so eager to make me an enemy. It is their loss."
"Ythl, how are you related to Arazni? Did she create you? Do you know her?"
Ha! Another human that believes that! No she did not create me! Why do people think that? I am as old as her silly human HA HA ha haaaa! AH ha Ahhhahaha! Ythl laughs for another thirty minutes. Then he continues Arazni used to be just a normal fairy, but I thought she was beautiful so I convinced my Lord Geb that he could make her like me and that would show those mean humans for trying to attack us and stuff. And so he did! And now she rules over Geb! Isn't that neat?!
For a few seconds, Muziel starts laughing politely with Ythl, glad that she wasn't offended by the error. But then she keeps laughing, and laughing, and Muziel was feeling offended. "It wasn't that bad of a guess, was it?" Ythl just keeps laughing, apparently oblivious.
Muziel turns to Karrick. "Where did you find her again?"
Muziel's question throws Ythl into another fit of laughter, in-between gasps for air Ythl reveals he is a male.
"It seems I cannot get anything right today," says Muziel. He decides not to hazard any more guesses for the remainder of their journey to the Desert Witch.
Having been quiet for a while on leaving the guildhouse, Karrick finally speaks up when a question is asked of him. "It found me" he clarifies with a shake of his head. "At the city gate, guess it'd followed me on my way from Alkenstar." Offering a side-long look at Ythl, Karrick exhales a sigh. "It's pretty much always like this."
Less to Muziel's point but more for his own curiosity, Karrick wonders aloud about the group's present direction. "I was a little distracted back there," he admits with glance to the Nidalese man. "Why, exactly, are we going to talk to some witch? How does this seem like a good idea?"
|
Ythl points to the South West of Martel. This away! and he promptly sits back Kera's shoulder.
"Ok. Because I know her. As long as you don't steal something from her there won't be any problems. Are you ok with that Karrick?" Miikae didn't like being questioned much. She would sooner go alone with Sands but knew that wasn't the best idea. Looking in the general direction of the voice near Kera, "Thank you. Feel free to tell the good witch that we are your friends when we arrive mister Fey." A friendly pixie wasn't the strangest thing she had seen and she was quite suspicious.
You travel for about an hour in the direction Ythl has directed
Remember you are Flat Footed at this time
Sneak Damage + Damage to Pervince for total of 10 damage
*Roll Fort Save Pervince DC 14 or suffer Str Damage
**Roll Initiative, Miikae and Sands will get to act in Surprise round**
Kera had been about to speak when suddenly she found herself on the ground. Well that wasn’t right. Looking up she saw the mutated Knolls had gotten the drop on them. With a growl she started to get up.
Initiative:
Miikae directs Sands to charge the gnoll giving the commands and the next instant starts chanting in druidic, casting a spell directed at the same, affecting as many enemies as possible.
Sands charges and tries to bite the gnoll that was doing the yelling.
"Gnoll mutants? Are they allies of the desert witch? " she lifts her right hand over her shoulder to grab hold of her cold iron weapon. Hopefully it continued to be effective against these creatures.
Muziel grows weary with the travel through the barren desert, gazing listlessly into the distance. He is utterly shocked as bolas and javelins fly at the party.
. Caught by surprise, Muziel is slow to respond to the Gnoll threat.
Round 1
24+ Gnoll Mutants(4)30' away from party
24-Kera *tripped by Bola
13 Miikae/Sands Sands in melee, almost killed one Gnoll already
10 Karrick
? Pervince
? Muziel
The Gnolls are dispersed in an ambush type formation, but Miikae is able to Dazzle two of them.
Fails
fails
Pervince yelps, but once seeing what hit them, pulls his musket out and takes aim at any gnoll hit by another or the closest one.
_/
Sands screams loudly as the attack misses him and continues to attack his target.
Miikae charges the other dazzled gnoll, sliding her Cold Iron Scimitar out as she runs and slashing down, unfortunately the gnoll turns to the side and she misses.
Muziel pulls out his bow and takes aim at the nearest enemy.
24+ Gnoll Mutants(3)30' away from party Starting out the Round
24-Kera *tripped by Bola, still has action from Round 1
13 Miikae/Sands Sands in melee, wounds a second Gnoll, Miikae now in Melee
10 Karrick Still has Action from round 1
7 Pervince Finishes off a Gnoll with a well placed shot
5 Muziel Hits a dazzled Gnoll doing minimal damage
The Gnoll Mutants begin to withdrawal from combat, they have incredible speed on the desert plains.
Directing his dog to move closer with his legs, Pervince seemingly leisurely pulls his double barreled pistol out and aims for the furthest gnoll within 20'.
_/
_/
"Don't let them get away!" Muziel moves forward to try and close the distance, then fires at the most distant enemy.
"I'm not a thief," Karrick mutters to Miikae as she makes that accusation. "Last time I checked, you didn't have a problem when I dug up that document from the Ni--" The whistle of the bolas catches Karrick by surprise, by as he abruptly cuts off his conversation with Miikae the scoundrel has just enough time to leap to the side to avoid their incoming. The bolas strike the dirt with a puff of wasteland dust.
Rolling across his shoulder and into a crouched position, Karrick spots the gnolls up ahead. There's a knowing sense about them, and Karrick keeps that information to himself for the moment. "Ythl, slow 'em down if you can. Let go an' have some fun."
Once he's gotten his bearings, Karrick pushes forward from his crouch into a sprint, unsheathing his paired knives in the movement, running across the ragged terrain with a focused look at one of the gnolls not targeted by the others. While his newfound armor has slowed him some, it's not enough to save the gnolls from him.
Bounding up onto a small rock and then springing off at one of the mutants, Karrick comes down with his knive, carving a gough across the gnoll's armor. Before he can find purchase any deeper, the gnoll throws him off and onto his back on the ground. Karrick rolls back onto his feet, spinning his knives around into a backhanded grasp, jaws clenched.
Seeing the gnolls retreating, Karrick backs away instead of pursuing. He falls back to Muziel, leaning in to the Nidalese alchemist. "[b]If we don't get 'em all, I know where they're going. Think I found their den on my way to Martel. If we wanna' cut this problem short, we can set up an ambush for 'em."
___________________
Standing and taking out her normal bastard sword out (round one action) she readies herself for battle. It pisses her off that she was the only one that got tripped. It seemed Karrick was either very luck or very good…she believed it was a little of both.
Moving up to the rest of the group she watches the Gnoll’s retreat. Hearing Karrick send off the dark pixie then say he knows where the creatures den is Kera nods. Then starts after the Gnoll's (thirty foot move to get to them) then attacks.
Attack =
Damage =
The Gnolls are easily slain once they attempt to retreat. They have MW Javelins and each carry 10 doses of Medium Spider Poison This group seems to favor gems, and decorates their Manes with Gems and semi-precious stones.
Upon finding the spider poison on the corpses Ythl pipes up Oh, these are Gnolls from the hill tribes to the south. It is probably ok that we killed them, The Desert Witch doesn't like them because they steal the Oasis Spider eggs for their venom. Yeah, I will tell her we killed the "mean spider egg stealer Gnolls from the south, but not to far south, cause those are my friends and they like Ugathoa too, tribe" and she will reward us with some honey dipped frog eyes! Yes! Those are my favorite. I am glad we are going to the see the Desert Witch. I have known her for a long time... Once Ythl starts to speak only time can stop him.
You travel for a few more hours and there is a large dead tree and a very small drinking hole. You are all thirsty from the travel.
When you get closer to the tree you notice a Raven on the top branch that starts cawing. Oh! There he is! Ythl says excitedly, like he says most things, and flies up to meet the Raven. He begins to caw with the raven, and the raven leaves south. Ythl flies back down to the party.
That was Her Raven, I told him to tell his mother we are coming and not to change into a wolf and eat you like the last friend I brought to meet her.
A few hours having passed, Muziel forgets that he's supposed to avoid questions to the fairy. "I didn't realize you speak Raven, Ythl." Muziel does his best to determine whether Ythl is acting suspiciously when he spoke to the bird.
Also, Muziel offers a cure light wounds elixir to Pervince before whipping up another. "I will trade you for a spare pistol."
Ythl's mannerisms are strange, but you believe he was not betraying you. Ythl is a creature that lives without fear in the Mana Wastes, and even though he admits to worshiping a goddess of the dead, for some reason you find him reliable and true.
Of course I speak raven! Silly human. I can speak with any animal. I am a fey don't you know nothin'? Oh, by the way where the Witch lives is strong in magic. I usually have to try hard to make myself visible here in the wastes, but in her house it comes easy. The Desert Witch calls it a gift from her patron, but I don't know what she means. Anyways, we will get to have lots of fun there! I can use all of my powers without any headaches. Ythl says the last part while rubbing his head and going invisible again, and promptly siting on Kera's shoulder.
Miikae watches the gnolls retreat and be cut down then inspects them, helping collect weapons and valuables.
Nodding thanks to Ythl as they continue their trek she asks, "Why aren't all fey as friendly as you?"
When they get to the drinking hole Miikae inspects the water and warns them not to drink. "Unless anyone can purify water, this is far too alkaline to drink."
Let us hope for the best... Miikae keeps an extra eye out for any more ambushes and continues walking alongside Sands.
Some think I am not friendly, but I just like to play tricks. Karrick wasn't scared of me like the other humans so I decided we could be friends. Then I meet you all, and I think you are interesting. I think some other fey are scared, but I am not scared.
Kera was glad the battle ended easily. She was in no mood for something long and drawn out. It seemed they had a decent amount of loot on them so it was worth the trouble. When Ythl speak she listens intently and smiles when he seems so excited about his treat. His incessant talking doesn’t bother Kera in fact she enjoys the sound of his voice. Though she does raise an eyebrow at the thought of being eaten by a witch wolf.
The exchange between Ythl and Muziel has Kera smiling again. It worries her that becoming visible causes the little pixie pain. When she feels the weight on her shoulder Kera lifts up a hand an pats his back softly. When he whispers about his sisters Kera nods slightly. The fact that he just said they eat a giant doesn’t make her want to jump right into a trip to meet them.
”Maybe after my missions are complete. I would like to meet them as well.”
She whispers back truly intrigued about meeting others like Ythl. Miikea seems to be of the same mind as Kera about keeping Ythl happy and with the group. The news about the water has her frowning. When Ythl speaks of Karrick she looks over to him with a smirk.
”Karrick isn’t afraid of much. Are we very far from the witches home?”
____________________________________
Quiet while they travel, Karrick hangs at the rear of the group so as to distance himself in some small part from Ythl's chattering conversation. While glad that the group didn't have to track the gnolls back to their den, he would have appreciated seeing that through to a more clear end. With more of them potentially out there, the party could be ambushed again.
"I still don't like this," Karrick notes over the sound of wind whipping across the wastes, "Just... for the record. Witches are only ever trouble, sometimes big, sometimes small. Sometimes trouble for you, sometimes trouble for someone else." Furrowing his brows, Karrick looks down to the ground beneath his feet.
"They always want something, too."
In the distance you can see a small hut next to a good sized oasis of a forested pond in the arid plains. As you get closer to the house, there is odd patterns of ash on the ground. It is unavoidable to reach the hut with out stepping on the soot.
There is her hut! Oh and I can see she has a pie on the window! I hope it is honey and maggots, it is her specialty. Oh wait, I didn't bring her a gift. She won't share her pie if I don't bring her a gift. Does anyone have a gift I can give her? For the first time, Ythl sounds slightly depressed at the thought of not having a gift.
Watching Karrick gather up all the loot had Kera quirking an eyebrow. She wasn’t about to forget that he had it and was going to make sure she got her cut. After all Karrick owed her for using her living room like a morgue. When he started to grumble about a the witch she turned to him.
”Sounds like you speak from experience Karrick…care to share?
She asked smirking again. Then Ythl started in about a pie and a present. Even squinting Kera could make out a pie but then Ythl was a pixie. Reaching up she patted him on the back again.
”Calm Ythl…be calm. I am sure we have something to give the witch. Would she like one of the gems we got? Maybe something else?”
Kera felt a kinship with the dark pixie so she felt the need to keep him clam and happy. Plus he was huge help and the longer he stayed with them the longer he would help them.
"Just storybooks," Karrick murmurs to Kera, "I used to be a kid, just like the rest of you. Whether its the White Witch of Karlsgard or Baba Yaga herself, withces in storybooks always want something." While it may seem hard for Karrick to be seen as a person who was once nothing more than an innocent child, his reinforcement of that history comes as a reminder that even the most hardened criminals start out as children.
"Why don't you take someone's hair?" Seems like a harmless suggestion for Karrick to make, after all. "Witches love having somebody's hair," isn't really fact, but was a point of focus in the Princess and the Crone, one of Karrick's favorite stories as a child.
The witches up north are nice, but its too cold for Ythl there. I think a small gem from those gnolls will be fine. Thanks Kera! She might like hair, she sometimes feed hair to her raven. One time I had to get her some hair from some weirdo named Grachius in Alkenstar. He wanted to keep me prisoner, but he was too stupid to keep me locked up! He didn't think I had my powers or something I guess. I went to the Desert Witch to ask how I could get revenge and she asked me to get some of his hair. So I did! That a was a few days ago though, so I don't think she would want any more. Ythl is back to his cheery self now that he has a gift for the witch.
___________________
Wait.
Grachius.
What.
Full stop.
Karrick slaps a hand on Muziel's shoulder and squeezes, "Did you hear what-- he-- said?" There's a sense of disbelief in Karrick's tone as he tries his best to make sure Muziel is full aware of what they're walking into. Any association with Grachius, whether weird witchy-voodoo or not should be fully examined.
”Storybooks?”
It was hard to picture Karrick as a kid. How different had he been? Very? Not at all? It made her smile to think about and she stepped up to him to whisper in his ear.
She smiled then moved away from him. Kera wasn’t sure what had gotten into her…she was teasing Karrick as he had teased her before. She blamed this all on her new condition and moved on.
”Hair? I think a gem will do…especially since you don’t have any hair to give Karrick.”
When Karricj and Muziel stopped so did Kera. It was then she noticed the soot. Looking back at Muziel and Karrick she places a hand on her hip.
”So he mentioned Grachius…so what? Of course he was mean to Ythl…and the witch no doubt cursed him after getting the hair. Your making something out of nothing Karrick. To many fairy stories if you ask me.”
She waited to see what the others would say but she really thought all of this was silly. The witch was flesh and blood not some goddess out to smite them.
Muziel peers closely at the fluid that Karrick handles him. Opening up the stopper, he wafts the air above, to get a hint of the scent. "Some sort of spider venom," he says simply, replacing the stopper and handing it back to Karrick. "I'd be careful when applying that stuff, if I were you."
Muziel takes a look at the pattern of ash and soot on the ground, to see if he can understand their cause.
As he studies the pattern of soot, he hardly registers the prattle from Ythl. But Karrick's shaking makes sure he pays attention. "Woah, woah, what's the matter?" Then he hears Kera explain. "Wait, you mean to tell me that the witch has hair from Grachius? That's brilliant! This is one fairy's story I'm ready to believe!"
Ya she said she was going to use it to summon him and punish him. I was able to give her the hair just the other day when I saw him traveling to Martel. I sneaked up on him while he was fighting some tremors muties and took it. Then I gave it to her and then I meet Karrick. I have had a very fun few days! I hope it lasts!
Miikae looks at the window but can't see the pie. "Ythl would the witch be offended if we gave her the poison?" She looks at Karrick and the 'stolen' poison according to Ythl.
At the mention of Grachius Miikae whipped around to face Ythl again. "Did you just say, Grachius?" She looks around at the others, this was news.
Recognizing the pattern on the ground, Muziel stops, and backs away a few steps. "Wait - this soot, it's a problem. That this circle of ash and soot looks like part of a magical spell. This entire area could explode in a fireball with the right magic. Ythl, is this ash always here around the witch's home?" Muziel was not keen on becoming extra crispy.
(or take 20 if possible).
Oh ya the Desert Witch has many enemies. The Charu-Ka tried to attack her in force last time they fought the Dwarves in the GunWorks. I love to watch her use her ash it is so cool! Last time some Giants throw a rock at her Raven. She was sooooo sooooo soooo very very mad that she lured them in with her special voice and then....BAM!!! She blew them all up in a GIANT Fire Ball!
Oh ya I think that was his name. He was kinda weird. He wasn't scared of me so I thought we could be friends, but then he tried to be mean to me. He let me come into this fancy tower and meet Lord Vyktor, who is a close friend of Arazni. I gave him a gift from her and then I showed them how I could cast magic in the wastes, which isn't that hard really if you practice for a very very very very long time.
He pretended to be impressed, then took me to the base of the Tower. Then he tricked me and tried to lock me in! At first I played around like I was really caught and scared because I thought it was a game, but then he just left and didn't come back. And I gave him a long time to come back, like a few days even, but he never came back. If it wasn't for the tasty spiders I found there I would have been really really really mad. After I was done eating all the spiders I just blinked out of there and went to see the Desert Witch, because that is not nice! Ythl fills you in on any details you wish to hear.
Pervince had slowly reloaded his weapons, when Muziel asks about a pistol. "Oh, I thought I handed you one already. Here." He draws out one of the looted pistols from his pack on the riding dog, and holds out the handle end for Muziel, along with a few shot.
Looking at the soot, Pervince shakes his head in disinterest. "She has to have a way to protect herself. Fireballs seems like a good way to do exactly that. So long as we don't give her a reason to blast us apart, I hardly think we should concern ourselves with it too much. You don't mean to revive Gracius as undead or any such nonsense I expect." Looking ahead to the hut, he pats his dog's side once. "We'll get a break soon, buddy."
Muziel offers the healing elixir to Pervince in return for the pistol.
Muziel, suspicious by nature, isn't keen to be the fist to test the trap. "Well, if you're so sure it's safe Pervince, then lead the way. I'll follow once I see someone make it to the other side."
Pervince marches forward bravely. Once he gets about 10' from the Door of the hut it swings open. The oldest Drow and possibly the only Drow Pervince has ever seen stands in the doorway.
Not another step or I will turn your mount against you and watch him devour you and send my raven in to clean off the bones. What do you and your companions want? The woman says in a strange dialect that is hard to make out at first.
Before Pervince can answer Ythl pops into view.
Hi! I brought my friends to meet you! I told Tsvaros to let you know we were coming. I hope he did, he wanted to stay and watch things die in the western ravages, but I told him it was important.
SHHH! I have pie in the window for you go eat it! The woman knows how to stop Ythl's rambling.
Ythl has an oddly kind heart, I am not so forgiving. You better have a good reason to seek me out Halfling, or I will make you suffer for every step you took coming here. The Desert Witch seems capable of making good on her threat.
Patting Sands neck and whispering for him to stay, Miikae studies the witch for several moments when she emerges.
She slowly moved towards the witch. "Do not hurt him. It was my idea to come here and seek your help," she looks at her unafraid and walks forward until halfway to the witch. "We are here for two reasons. Firstly, we seek knowledge regarding secret underground entrances below Martel. Second, Ythl has told us you plan to deal with a man named Grachius? We would talk to him once captured if you allow us." She watches Ythl devouring the pie.