DM:
Findor nods in understanding, accepting the potion.
"Well then, thank you for the potion and your understanding, I suppose I only have questions now that you might be able to answer. Do you know why the hobgoblins are attacking now, or what might be meant by the People of the Dragon?
** spoiler omitted **
DM
Maysalkirii asks Findor if he can arrange purchase of the potion of Cats Grace from the Wizard.
Findor returns to the inn, lays claim to his portion and returns to Sertieren the next day to pay his costs in full. If there is nothing preventing him from doing so, Findor spends the rest of the day in his room preparing a scroll of shield.
As the group continue onwards, Maysalkirii gives each member of the group two of the ten potions he successfully identified, explaining their purpose is to sharpen the senses of the drinker for an hour. He distributes them so everyone has two in their backpack.
Dragox: 300gp for the dispel magic and 100gp for the lesser restoration.
Anyone have anything else before they retire for the evening?
Findor returns to the inn, lays claim to his portion and returns to Sertieren the next day to pay his costs in full. If there is nothing preventing him from doing so, Findor spends the rest of the day in his room preparing a scroll of shield.
After a restful night's sleep, your party prepares itself to journey to Jorr Natherson's cabin. Following the directions given you by Captain Anitah, you head west on the Dawn Way for several miles before spotting a small trail leading north.
The trails leads past a small cabin in a deep forest glade. A ramshackle front porch is littered with fishing baskets and skinning frames. The cabin overlooks a dark bayou or lake, with old gray cedar trees draped in moss rising out of the water. An old skiff is tied up on the shore nearby and a little smoke curls from the fieldstone chimney.
perception
Not seeing anything out of place, Maysalkirii tentatively moves and scouts slightly ahead of the group, gesturing for Narses to watch his flank. In this manner, the group approach the cabin...
Perception
As you approach, three large dogs emerge from the shadows underneath the porch. They charge out, baying loudly. They stop about ten feet short of you, growling and snapping ferociously.
"Be still, everyone," Adele cautions. "We would hardly receive a warm welcome if we were forced to injure the man's dogs." Raising her voice, she calls out toward the cabin pleasantly, "Mr. Natherson? We've been sent from Drellin's Ferry by Captain Soranna Anitah to seek your aid and advice in ridding these lands of the hobgoblin invaders."
As the dogs bark and snarl, you hear one of the shutters of the cabin creak open loudly, "You can't fool me! Get away from my dogs you mother-humping goblin!" An arrows flies from the window and just misses Maysalkirii's head, taking a bit of cloth from his hood with it.
As the dogs bark and snarl, you hear one of the shutters of the cabin creak open loudly, "You can't fool me! Get away from my dogs you mother-humping goblin!" An arrows flies from the window and just misses Maysalkirii's head, taking a bit of cloth from his hood with it.
Feek leaps to the ground, trusting that cooler heads will prevail....
Adele raises her weaponless hands appealingly. "Yes, our companion is a goblin," she admits, "but he has turned from the wicked ways of most of his race and now serves the goodly god Cayden Cailean. Indeed, his hatred for the hobgoblins must rival even yours, as he was rescued from cruel servitude under slavemasters of that race. If you had seen him only a few days ago, as we were ambushed on the road to Drellin's Ferry, it would have done your heart good to see his blades at work in the flesh of those monsters." She smiles gently. "I assure you, we are on the same side in this fight. We have been officially deputized by Norro Wiston to clear this road of the hobgoblin menace, and Captiain Anitah said your information about the lay of the land would be invaluable. We do not seek entry into your home but would gladly accept any intelligence you may have about the location and movements of the enemy through this wood. I hope that our future actions against the hobgoblins will win us the trust that no group of strangers may claim to expect."
Findor strokes his chin in contemplation.
"As usual, hindsight is near perfect. A transmutation or illusion spell would have been slightly more effective."
Wild Empathy
Making himself unthreatning to the dogs Narses tilts his head and looks the dogs over, making gestures and using boby language he seems to be comunicating non-verbaly with them.
"The halfling speaks the truth, friend druid. The goblin is a friend and worthy companion to those seeking to do good, as we are hoping to do, by eliminating the hobgoblin threat."
Aid another to Adele's Diplomacy
The cabin's door opens and a lean woodsman of indeterminate age steps onto the porch. (pic) The hounds break off from their barking and circle around him. He has a seamed, leathery look to his face and arms, and a nasty-looking woodaxe is hanging from his belt. "Don't get many visitors out here," he rasps, "And I'll be humped if I've ever seen a civilized gobbo before. Who're you, and what d'ya want with me?"
He appears capable, if a bit dim.
Alighting from her pony, Adele replies, "I am Adele Poesie Bonchance Dujardin, late of Galt and recently a traveler to whichever lands lie in need of help, along with these good companions: Dragox, servant of Sarenrae; Findor Liamiel, a student of the arcane and enemy to Lamashtu and all her minions; Narses Kale, a man of the wilds much like yourself; and our unlikely friend, Maysalkirii Weyog. As to what we want with you, the leaders of Drellin's Ferry have charged us with the defense of the Dawn Way from the hobgoblin invaders who threaten it, and Captain Anitah specifically recommended that, if we were to travel the Witchwood, your expertise would prove invaluable to us."
Nodding witha hint of respect as he is introduced he spits and adds "Yup, got tol' you was the man t' see about these woods. Your turf we was told."
Jorr snorts, "Well I'll be a Calistrian whore, they finally sent someone to take care of those little nasties. Wiston's a good man, but he don't stick his head outside of town often enough. Can't unnerstand the problem we have up in these parts. I seen worg riders and troublemakers all over, especially along the Dawn Way. They live up yonder," he points westward to the mountains, "in the Wyrmsmokes, but seems like we got a big war party in the forest. Maybe they come down the Old Forest Road, or might be they came by the Skull Gorge. My money's on the Gorge."
One of the hounds at his feet curls its lip and begins growling again. The woodsman scowls and swiftly kicks the dog in the ribs, eliciting a yelp of pain. "Git unnerneath that porch!" He turns back to you, "Pardon. Anyways, they've been raidin' more than usual lately, and coming back faster than before. I'm pretty sure they have a smaller force at Vraath Keep. You're gonna go west on out to the big road, keep's maybe eight miles north of there. Wouldn't surprise me if they were holed up there. Just the sort of thing those damn gobbos would do. Just a sec."
Jorr disappears inside his cabin, then emerges holding a scroll. He unrolls it to reveal a map (pic) of the Witchwood drawn on deer-skin leather. "Here, this should help. I unnerstand you're here to help," he gives a sidelong glance to Maysalkirii, "but I would appreciate it if you didn't linger about."
"We thank you," Adele says sincerely, as she takes the map. "Your dogs are well-trained, and I know our friend's presence here confuses them; we don't want to intrude on your hospitality. May I ask, though ... Vraath Keep? Is this a manned outpost or a ruin?"
Feek removes his hood, fully showing his goblinoid heritage as he strides confidently towards Jorr. He meets the woodsman's eyes, showing no sign of weakness, and then says in a soft voice.
I cannot help my heritage, woodsman. I was born and raised as a slave to Hobgoblins, toiling in a mine under their cruelty until these good folk found me.
The goblin bows before Jorr before returning his steely glare to the human.
I am young, and I still have much to learn of the world, and I understand these racial prejudices will probably always be my curse. But know this- I would fight for your freedom, and I will fight for the people of Elsir Vale, whether they know I am a Goblin or not. My race does not define me- my actions do.
Feek lets out a long sigh, as though saying something he had wanted to say for some time.
I shall not linger. Out of respect to Jorr, I shall make my way towards this Vrath Keep. I'll be half a mile or so ahead Adele, i'll wait for you all to catch up.
With that said, Feek begins to jog at an impressive pace back onto the main road, hood up once more.
Watching Maysalkirii jog back to the road, Jorr snorts and spits off to the side. "Whatever. Vraath Keep? It was built by the old Rhest kingdom. It's been abandoned for a century or two, but always has some critters or monsters holed up in it. Even had a nobleman from down south try to secure it a while back. Didn't work too well. Don't know what's up there now."
"Thank you for speaking with us, Jorr. May the fires of the Dawnflower keep you warm. To the keep everyone?" Dragox says out loud, giving a slight bow to the druid as he takes his leave, following after Feek.
Giving the woodsman a litte glare for his treatment of Feek, Narses nods in agreament to Dragox. "Yeah, let's be off." Turning with a "Erastil's blessing on you woodsman." as a farewell, he hitches his thumbs on the straps of his pack and sets off down the path.