Road to Whitethrone: Day Five
The night passes uneventfully, though you remain vigilant. There's a certain comfort to sleeping within the simple, rustic hunter's lodge. The ever present cold isn't banished, but the warmth of a crackling fire and many bodies keeps the worst of winter's bite at bay.
You wake to a plain but filling meal of hot porridge and tea. The woodsfolk family again give you their profound thanks. Before you part ways, Ishka slips a small charm on a string into Irina's palm. The older woman embraces the witch and kisses her gently on the cheek.
"May the Everbloom keep you safe, child. Your road is much harder than mine, I fear. But do not lose faith. Summer is coming. You will see the signs as have I."
Unless you have further questions or remarks, both parties depart - they to the south to Walsby... and you north to Whitethrone.
Stuff
"Thank you Grandmother. I will hold this dear and look for the signs as you've suggested." She returns the embrace. "How many more days to the city?"
When she's alone she'll slip on the charm.
"Yes thank you. Your warnings will be helpful. Let's be on our way. I would like to have the children somewhere safe as quickly as possible."
Cylina left the lodge more hopeful than ever, even as the bright sun brought no warmth to the frigid lands around them. To think that Irrisen could one day enjoy a true summer, and Cylina could play a part in bringing that about. Milani taught that freedom was the ultimate goal, no matter the role one played, but the priestess couldn't help but feel proud that she had been chosen for a large part of it.
When Goliath mentioned the children, the young woman looked to Nadya and then her young boys, hoping that the young lads would soon reach their destination and be in safe company as the group made its way to Whitethrone and their ultimate goal. She felt bad for their mother, but was glad that the capable woman would be continuing on with them.
Road to Whitethrone: Day Five
The older woman grasps Irina's hand a bit longer, then releases. Her son, the woodsman answers your question as best he can.
"You're a good two days from Ellsprin, and another two or three from Whitethrone. With luck, you could make the Fish Camps outside the capital by the fourth evening. But I'm sure you're well aware ill weather or misfortune are common on the roads, and pushing yourself as hard as you can in travel makes you easy prey. Be safe... and you have our humble thanks."
You indeed part ways, and quickly lose sight of the other party on the endless snowy horizon.
You travel a solid six hours until just before noon, and prepare for a stop when you spot a rough wooden cabin. It stands just inside a small wood. There is no sign of activity around the cabin, but smoke rises from the chimney. However, as you draw close a strikingly
beautiful, red-haired woman in a hooded coat comes out of the cabin and hails you.
"Well met, travelers! I am Sylgja, and am in dire need of timely aid. And, well, you seem very suited for my problem. Will you hear me out?"
She waits a few steps from her doorstep, waiting an answer.
Stuff
Irina slips behind Goliath so the woman can't get a good look at her.
Cylina looked at the attractive woman with a bit of suspicion at first, the group's travels on the roads leaving her a bit jaded as to the prospects of such a woman having a problem they could solve instead of leading them into an ambush. The priestess shrugged the thought away, wanting to not lose that core of herself that wished to help others.
"Well met, Sylgja. We'll hear out your situation and see if that is something we can help you with." The cleric smiled as she spoke, but made sure to make no commitments beyond just listening to the woman's tale.
"Good day." The large man waves.
Road to Whitethrone: Day Five
Cautiously, you step forward. Nadya remains with the others at the sleigh. She whispers sagely to Irina;
"Don't eat or drink anything you're given."
Sylgja retains her warm grin, welcomes you like old friends... despite never having met. She beckons for you to follow her, but doesn't press the issue.
"We shall be more comfortable inside, no? I have little food to spare, but the fire is lit and the walls keep out the wind."
If you follow her, the conversation takes place inside. Otherwise, she doesn't complain and instead asks the inhabitants of the cabin to join you.
Three men, all appear to be human, seem to have already answered the woman's call. They are well equipped and armed, but don't appear to be the usual fare you've seen in Irrisen. Travelers?
Conversely, the three newcomers (Adrian, Grimgisli, Vincessno) were just finishing a few mugs of spiced cider with Sylgja when she spotted your carriage... You had heard the woman out but not agreed yet whether to pursue her request. Furthermore, when the carriage arrives you see two women, one of which looks like she might be Jadwiga, and a heavily armored grim man in the company of a woolly beast larger than a mastiff.
The woman exclaims:
"The gods favor me today! Six capable saviors sent to me in my time of great distress. My beloved, -my husband Finngarth was taken by a moss troll that just took lair in a cave close to our home. I told him not to go, but the brave fool couldn't suffer such a dangerous creature to settle so close by us."
She fights back a tear and continues:
"Please, bring back my husband. Or... avenge him, if the worst is true. But I feel in my heart that he still lives! In either case, I can offer you safe and comfortable lodging, as well as a magical treasure that belongs to my love. His life is worth more than any treasure, and if... well..."
Sylgja cannot bring herself to finish the thought. She gives you time to discuss.
Goliath and Irina can't get a fix on the mysterious and captivating woman.
Cylina senses no malevolence or threat behind her words, though she's clearly not telling you everything. There's a sheer desperation that is pushing her past any sense of normal reservations. Again, this isn't a desperate hunger or the anxiety of a killer, but more someone who has lost something precious.
Sylgja CR7 (advanced huldra sorcerer 5)
The relatively short Ulfen man is in white and pale grey clothing and gear. There's no obvious sign of armor, but the nearby bow, quivers on his legs, and two small blades on his belt suggest he's not a stranger to combat.
"Be healthy and happy! I am Grimgisli. Sylgja was just explaining her predicament. I believe she deserves to know the truth instead of cowering here in fear of it." The traditional greeting is delivered without any sign of mirth, and the tone of his statements about helping your hostess makes it even more obvious that he thinks you'll be looking for a corpse.
A woman on the shorter side enters the room. When she lowers her hood you see there's a streak of white running through the black of her shoulder length hair. She's dressed in a sturdy dress and cloak. She doesn't seem bothered by the cold of outside at all. She wears a dagger, and a small pouch on her belt. Irina enters the room and stops when she sees three men in the room as well as the woman. Her shoulders sag slightly then she straightens and enters the room with a regal air.
She takes a seat. "My name is Irina. Gentlemen what are your names? It seems odd that three such warriors would find themselves in the same place at the same time."
A comedically tall man ducks his way under the frame of the door. He is careful not to let his furs or stoneplate catch on anything. He sets his shield down against a wall. A nosey furry pachyderm pokes his head in the door. "Therm mind yourself." The man's voice is deep and resonant as it echos about the room. There is a gentleness mannerism that softens his gruff exterior. "Sirs pleased to meet you. I am Goliath. It is very nice to see some friendly faces out here in the cold."
Failing to completely conceal a smirk at the 'Warriors' comment, the gangly youth, almost as tall as Goliath, sketches a preemptive bow in Irina's direction. "Дајем вам добар дан." He rejoins, "Бојим се да нисам ниједан човек под оружјем, само путујући учењак."
"I'll answer to Vinccenso."
Although the name he offers is Southern, his features show clear Northern stock, though the only arms he bears are the dagger at his belt & the staff leaning against his chair. It's also fairly apparent he is unlikely to have met his second decade yet...
His clothes & gear are almost aggressively drab & worn, though well cared for.
"I fear I am no man at arms, only a traveling scholar."
Adrian's gray eyes narrow behind wisps of his inky black hair at the sight of the witch, but something inside him immediately recognizes a sort of kinship. When the others approach, it becomes rather obvious that, if nothing else, she's not like other the Jadwiga he's encountered.
Standing up straight and offering a pale hand to the large man, Adrian smiles a warm but tight-lipped smile. Despite having been inside near the warmth of the fire, though, his hand retains little heat—poor circulation probably. "Adrian Arsbeta," he says. Then, to Irina, "Odd indeed, but it feels somewhat... serendipitous."
The priestess started heading toward the lodging, giving the three warriors a friendly wave. Entering the home, she was somewhat tall for a woman, with a sturdy frame that still housed a womanly shape under her armor. A well-used morningstar was tied on her left side, a crossbow strapped to her back. Flame-red hair framed a comely, pale face, fierce blue eyes peering out at the others in the room.
"Cylina, my friends. Well met to you all." She smiled at each of the other three strangers before turning to Sylgja. "My lady, can you give us an idea of where this troll's lair might be?" Although the cleric was certain the woman was leaving something out of her story, Sylgja didn't seem to harbor any ill intent. Perhaps the group would find out more as they investigated Finngarth's fate.
"Nice to Meet you Adrian. It is said by the druids of this land that our people's blood never thaws. Maybe we share Kin many generations back. My great grandfather was half frost giant on his mother's side or so they say. Have you and your friends decided to help this family? We have been inclined to help in these situations in the past."
"That may be, friend," Adrian replies with a sly smile.
At the mention of his "friends," Adrian looks briefly confused. "Ah yes... 'Friends' may be a strong word. Not that they strike me as hostile or malicious, but we've only just met. Indeed, it feels as though our meeting here is... more than mere coincidence."
He pauses, momentarily lost in his thoughts, before adding, "Oh! but to answer your question, we had only just been apprised of the situation before you joined us, so I cannot speak for the others, however, I have never been one to shy away from hunting monsters."
Road to Whitethrone: Day Five
In response to Cylina's question, Sylgja replies directly:
"There's a small cave not half a mile from here, due northwest. If you follow the frozen brook, you'll find a small grove of gnarled trees, and in the hillside just beyond there's a cave. I've been there a few times before when it wasn't occupied to gather mushrooms and roots. Finngarth said he was heading that way. I imagine the troll will have left a great deal of evidence of its occupation, they aren't know for subtlety. I've never had love for the brutes before, but now one taken my husband."
With the redheaded woman's directions, you believe your should be able to make the journey in an hour or less.
You both know that while moss trolls are some of the weakest of their kind, they are true trolls. And they carry the same resilience and voracious hunger legendary among their kind. They are humanoids with the giant subtype, and another subtype. Not unlike ice trolls, moss trolls are more cunning than their more common kin but no less ferocious.
Each of you may ask one question. A (incomplete) list of suggestions:
Senses
Defenses
Special defenses
Weaknesses
Movement
Attacks
Special Abilities
Special Qualities
Stuff
He shakes his head. "That should be enough for it to find us. Seems the obvious path into the area, so a predator should be watching for prey to come along. Don't know the area well enough to have confidence trying to flank in, though. We'll need to be ready."
"It should go without saying, but this is Irrisen," Vinccenso's eyes flick directly to Irina's as he says that, " own home-away-from-home. I don't recall you telling us earlier," turning his attention once more to Sylgja, "if either you or your husband did attempt to treat with the Troll before he chose such, martial interactions with it?"
"Ettinvolk* are bestial, not beasts. Indeed, Moss Trolls are rather infamous as among the cleverer of their kind, bribery
might have served better than violence."
"In case you were familiar with it's cousins, it's worth noting that moss trolls aren't susceptible to acid like some of their kin," Adrian warns, "but fire is even more effective than usual and frightens them. They are, as Vinccenso pointed out, however, more discerning than other trolls, and, if they suspect you can threaten them with fire, you can easily become the singular target of their ire."
"I have access to fire and can take a punch. It will damage how effective I can be as a combatant though."
Goliath can use produce flame.
Cylina scowled at Vinccenso's words, shaking her head. "Perhaps it would be more prudent to try to bribe the creature to leave you alone, good sir, but often such actions invite violence if the beast thinks he can take more by force. If Finngarth went forth to try to purge this troll from his home, I praise him for it."
The priestess shared a short smile with the other redhead before continuing, "And I can keep us all upright, hopefully. The lair isn't far, let's be on our way. We can talk more strategy on the way."
Road to Whitethrone: Day Five
Sylgja scowls at the young Vinccenso, regardless of whether he speaks his piece in or , as she seems to understand both. However, she continues in her native tongue.
"Treat with a troll? You've clearly had little experience with with them, boy. Certainly, you can assuage their hunger for a time with gifts, but they'll always come back asking for more and more. Intelligence and savagery are by no means opposites, I'm sure you know. But I ask you only for vengeance in the case that my husband cannot be returned alive. If you wish to treat with the monster, be my guest. But my deal stands."
Assuming you've finished conversation with Sylgja, you find her directions to be quite serviceable , though the terrain is rough and wild. Your journey takes about an hour and ten minutes and the frigid nature of Irrisen begins to wear in those not attuned to it .
Nevertheless, you find your destination, a squat hill dotted with bulbous, knotted trees of dark wood. An earthy cave yawns ahead surrounded by black dirt, icy slush, and small sprouts of hardy fungi. The area is less brutally cold but surprisingly damp, and steam rises from patches of the ground. Bones litter the the area along with less pleasant refuse. This looks more like the den of a beast than a humanoid.
A great, gnarled tree stands sentry over the cave entrance, overgrown with fungus. It's roots flank either side of the lightless burrow - you'd think a troll would have to stoop a bit to travel in and out of the 7 ft. opening. The cave seems to widen deeper inside, but the cold daylight doesn't pierce far.
There's no apparent movement.
Adrian (repeated from OOC):
A moss troll's regeneration can only be overcome by fire, not acid. Additionally, they are vulnerable to fire and it terrifies them (nearby open flames of at least torch size cause them to become shaken, and they often panic when on fire).
Conversely, they focus on foes who wield fire (or they expect have fire) with single-minded focus.
Grimgisli: Beyond their tremendous regenerative abilities (overcome temporarily by fire), you're not aware of any particularly special defensive abilities. You do know that Moss Trolls are prolific climbers, able to move as fast in the canopies as foot. They're also exceptionally resilient to falling and often surprise their foes in this manner. It's not unheard of for a Moss Troll to simply drop out of a tree on their unsuspecting prey...
Vincessno: You don't know anything that the others don't. You do know about the weakness and vulnerability to fire, plus the type and subtype.
Sylgja CR7 (advanced huldra sorcerer 5)
Encounter: +1 Moss Troll (tree form outside), +1 MS Mold
Before we get too close, Grim shares. "As I said, a predator is likely to watch the approach. Thing is, Moss Trolls easily move through the trees, and frequently drop on their prey from above. It is typical for such a hunter to pick off those in the back, hoping to keep the herd from noticing the beast's success as long as possible. We'll want to put somebody harder to kill in the back, just in case."
As they approach the cave, Grim just shakes his head. "Feels like bait. Don't let the cave distract you. Seek it!" The young human follows his own advice.
Cylina kept her eyes wide as they approached. She had heard the men speak of the beast they were seeking as a 'smaller' troll, but that was surely relative. Her morningstar was out, gripped tightly in her right hand as she walked with the others, taking to the middle of the group with Irina, unless someone else preferred that position.
Road to Whitethrone: Day Five
The more perceptive among the party keep their eyes and ears open, feeling something is... wrong about the situation. You don't spot any movement, nor trolls hiding in in the trees. Therm catches a number of scents, seemingly coming from the lichen and fungus covered tree over the entrance and from within the cavern.
Further investigation reveals that the tree above cave is just vaguely humanoid shaped enough to be creepy, but is actually a tree and not an illusion or plant creature best you can tell. It certainly doesn't move when approached or even touched, nor does it actually have any features like a creature petrified.
However, you can hear movement from inside the cave, heavy breathing, and occasionally what sounds like metal scraping on rock. There's definitely someone or something in the cave. Therm can smell them and it's on edge. It shows no signs of coming out to you, nor do you actually know the depth of the cave.
With no better option, you press into the darkness by means of magical illumination and lit torches if needed. You press through fungus caked mud and gnarled roots, the place stinking of earth and sweat. But you need not go far, as you delve no more than fifty feet from the entrance into a wide, squat chamber. Inside a small forest of fungi choke the floor while roots dangle from the ceiling.
A single creature is present, about six feet tall and covered in fungi is what appears to be some sort of disheveled humanoid. From the rust colored beard and soiled furs, the description fits Finngarth. But he looks at you glassy-eyed and slackjawed.
Behind you, near the entrance, you hear the sound of heavy footsteps. They appear to be making their way inside.
Sylgja CR7 (advanced huldra sorcerer 5)
Encounter: +1 Moss Troll (tree form outside), +1 MS Mold
Sounds like we need to take stock of what's making the noise behind us! Grimgisli will give a look. How could he not?
Bow in hand, Adrian creeps into the cave ahead of the others as a cloak of shadows envelops him. He does not see the troll, but he does see a man covered in fungi matching Finngarth's description. Given the man's glassy eyes and slackjaw, Adrian suspects he will not be easy to extract stealthily and signals to the others to join him.
As the others arrive, they hear heavy footsteps behind them. Adrian quickly weaves the somatic components of a simple spell and, muttering a short incantation, vanishes from sight. "I'll go check it out," he whispers as he quietly makes his way back toward the cave's mouth.
"You never meet a an old scout." Goliath says as he shakes his head. "Get ready to run in. Hopefully, what every is behind us is the real threat and we can stop it here. I don't like having a cave at my back. Next time we clear everything behind us first."
The Troll Burrow: Round 1
Battle Map Link (also at the top of the thread)
Adrian weaves an illusion which hides him from sight, then prowls back the tunnel to investigate the incoming footsteps. Grimgisli follows at a close distance, while the others remain in the large chamber with Finngarth.
A sudden flash of... not awareness, but disconcerting, almost puppet-like movement takes the previously torpid Finngarth. He hefts a dangerous looking axe in two hands, and begins to jerk forward. He speaks, but his voice is hollow and without inflection:
"Drop... your weapons. Do not fight. Do not resist."
Down the tunnel, Adrian sees the lumbering form of a troll - a moss troll. It carries a crude spear, but there's something... wrong about it. And this whole situation. Like Finngarth, the giant's shoulders and back are covered in a blanket of fungi, and its eyes glassy and face slackjaw. All the same, despite Adrian's cloak of invisibility the creature seems to notice his presence, sniffing the air as it catches the man's scent.
These events happen so simultaneously, had anyone witnessed both they'd notice the impossible synchronization...
Unknown 20
Moss Troll 20
Finngarth 14
Goliath x
Irina x
Cylina x
Adrian x
Vincessno x
Grimgisli x
Finngarth Hp: 30/38
Moss Troll Hp: 30/30
Mindslaver Mold 1 Hp: 30/30
Mindslaver Mold 2 Hp: 30/30
Irina begins to cast the Sleep spell, and stays put with the rest of the group. "Try to get them together if you can. Maybe I can put them both to sleep. If not, I'll try to make the man sleep so we can deal with the troll."
The Troll Burrow: Round 1 (continued)
Battle commences!
Taken off guard, the party is attacked on two flanks, one of which is the man they were sent to save. And quickly you realize something is quite awry with the situation...
The Moss Troll moves forward into the cave, it's moments wooden like a puppet. It sniffs for the unseen intruder, recognizing his general location on coming within five feet. The brute blindly stabs out with its massive spear, but the strike only comes close enough to Adrian to cause damage to his calm.
With a terrible sucking sound and then a pop, a strange bundle is expulsed from first Finngarth and then the troll, aimed at Goliath and Adrian respectively. But neither but their mark, exploding into a cloud of spores on the cavern wall.
The infested man stares at you blankly, mouth moving mechanically as if unused to speech:
"Submit... do not fight..."
He then rushes across the room, axe gripped expertly in two hands for a devastating overhead chop. But Goliath manages to intercept the blow with his shield just in time. Whoever Finngarth is our was, he's an skilled warrior.
Moss Troll 20
Unknown 20
Finngarth 14
Grimgisli 19
Goliath 18
Adrian 11
Vincessno 11
Irina 6
Cylina 5
Goliath recognizes the fungus on both creatures as Mindslaver Mold, a rare, intelligent and parasitic fungi native to the realm of the fey which infests and controls hapless prey. Once he sees the troll, he'll know it is infected too.
Goliath has 2 more questions he may ask.
Finngarth Hp: 30/38
Moss Troll Hp: 30/30
Mindslaver Mold 1 Hp: 30/30
Mindslaver Mold 2 Hp: 30/30
Finngarth: Readied Charge/Charge
Mindslaver Mold 1: Spore pod at Goliath FF TAC
Moss Troll: Move forward to Adrian
Mindslaver Mold 2: Spore pod Adrian (50%)
-4 range, Goliath FFTAC 10
Adrian FFTAC 10
Adrian FFAC 11
PA, Charge; Goliath AC 22 (shield out)
Not aware of the information the player is reading, Grimgisli steps forward to clear the cavern corner from his line of fire and lets two shafts fly at the troll, trying to ease Adrian's situation as much as he can, without getting that close himself!
Adrian falls back and casts another spell. As his disembodied voice fades, a wall of dancing flames silently erupts between the two archers and the troll.
"Flank."
Therm starts to move around (5ft step) but does not get fully in position. If Irina's spell fails or the mold wakes the person up Goliath and Therm attack the mold.
The Troll Burrow: Round 3
The battle continues, a muddled and frantic fight in the dark and claustrophobic confines of the cavern.
Grimgisli starts with a pair of well-aimed shots at the lumbering troll, both shafts digging deep into its flesh. But the monster doesn't seem to react, even grunt as it staggers forwards, and you see both arrows slowly being pushed out as the giant's flesh knits back together...
Goliath brings a mighty swing down on the mold that infests Finngarth's back, and while it attempts to twist away the scimitar strikes true. Fungi and lichen falls into the muddy floor.
Adrian conjures a wall of silent, but otherwise very believable illusory flames, hoping to ward off the troll's advance.
Vincessno fumbles with his spell components, conjuring an orb of caustic liquid but failing to hurl it past his own allies - it splashes on an exposed root, noxious fumes rising from it.
Irina finishes her incantation and Finngarth falls instantly asleep - but uncannily stays on his feet as he snores... weapon still in hand.
Cylina invokes the favor of Milani to the party.
The troll steps backwards and hurls is spear through the flames at Grimgisli, but it slams into the ceiling above you.
The moss monster on its back fires a spore pod at Adrian, but misses by a wide mark. The other digs its tendrils into Finngarth, waking him.
The warrior Finngarth takes a second swipe at Goliath but his axe merely glances off the man's thick wooden shield.
Moss Troll 20
Unknown 20
Finngarth 14
Grimgisli 19
Goliath 18
Adrian 11
Vincessno 11
Irina 6
Cylina 5
Finngarth TAC12 (-4 fire into melee, miss)
DC16 Sleep
+4 cover, DC25
Power Attack, Goliath AC22
Adrian TAC11
Grimgisli AC 19
DC15, +2 no scent or sound
Finngarth Hp: 30/38
Moss Troll Hp: 24/30 (regen 5)
Mindslaver Mold 1 Hp: 23/30
Mindslaver Mold 2 Hp: 30/30
Finngarth: Power Attack Goliath, 5 ft. step north
Mindslaver Mold 1: Wake Finngarth
Moss Troll: Throw Spear at Grimgisli
Mindslaver Mold 2: Spore pod at Adrian)
"Flank."
Therm gets into position (5ft step) Goliath and Therm attack the mold.
Not seeing any glaring options for changing tactics right now, Grim continues pumping shafts at the troll.
"Mindslaver Mold, it controls prey. Kill the mold on the man. Kill whatever you want with the troll."
"I'm not sure for how much longer, but my little trick seems to be holding it at bay for now. You should help the others with Finngarth," Adrian says quietly, now behind Grimgisli.
Irina darts around the corner trying to get into range to give the Evil Eye to the Troll. She readies the spell to go off once the Troll is in Range.