I think I can take care of this, just in case you may want to stand back
after giving everyone a chance to move back...
Valgor steps forward and tries to disable the tripline buried in the snow.
With the trap successfully disabled, Mayumi approaches the chest carefully, crossbow aimed and ready. "What's in the box?"
Faux nods appreciatively at Vaethic and Valgor in turn.
"Now I believe it comes to my usual role in this situation."
Faux stands before the chest, on the now disabled trigger, places the off-gauntlet on the sword pommel, and tries to open the chest.
Yank and...
The lid swings up and there is nothing inside.
Valgor searches the Chest for hidden compartments
Looks cleaned out already
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Vaethic steps up to the opened chest and peers inside.
Hmmm. AnemptyvesselburiedinthedriftingunseasonablesnowbearingthemarkofLadyArgente a. Eitherthisiswherethebanditschosetodividetheirill-gottengainsorthisissimplya placetoambushwould-bepursurersandthinournumbersviaawellplacedtrap. Mymoneyisonthelatter.
"Spread out and search the area. There are always clues left about. I'd wager that this is simply a method devised by the brigands to thin our numbers whilst we are in pursuit. Be cautious ladies and gentlemen - for if this is laying in wait for our arrival, they are on to our pursuit and grow fearful of our advance." And with that Vaethic beings to search the area for further clues to he direction the villians have fled.
Hazé scans the area, curious as to why forest creatures would want to attack anyone to begin with.
"What profession did you claim to serve again, Valgor?" Hazé asks as the party searches for clues. "What path in life directs one to be adept at that particular skillset?"
The chest position is sort of strange, it seems too high off the ground.
There are some really tiny people hiding in the trees around you. They have a slight bluish tint to their skin and insect like wings. They also have tiny weapons at the ready and look hostile. Seems like they might be waiting for the group to dig up the chest before attacking.
"Perhaps there is something under the chest." Hazé offers to the party at large.
Vaethic beings walking around the chest, keeping his eyes on it for a time and seemingly stepping in front of anyone attempting to approach the buried chest.
"Sir Faux, you are a learned one, are you not? Do you remember the tale of Lady Sasha Wartherington of Belhaim?" Vaethic says speaking more to the group than to just Sir Faux. "If the stories are to be believed on the eve of her wedding to Lord Chelidraxian Mondathero her caravan was waylaid by a small group of creatures. She only barely escaped with her life by hiding amongst the trees. It is said that Great Dreamer herself," he says nodding in deference to Zypher, "rescued Lady Wartherington by giving her a pair of gossamer butterfly wings. So instead of having to prepare to fight, the Lady simply fled."
After concluding the verbose non-story Vaethic grips the handle of his cane tight and twists the handle ever so slightly.
Andthesethingsare...
Perhaps I can shake the chest loose.
If the chest comes free, Valgor will lift the chest out of the ground.
Wealday, 1 Erastus, 4715 3:00:00PM
Valgor lifts the chest out of the snow, there is a small pit filled with weapons and armor of Taldan design. Just as he gets the chest up, the forest suddenly fills with twelve diminutive glowing forms, flitting about the trees.
Iniative Order
Mayumi
Valgor
Haze
Faux
WTS
Zephyr
Vaethic
Round Suprise; Init 2
Vaethic stumbles slightly, drawing forth his sword and calls out, "TO ARMS! We are beset upon by First Worlders. Hit them with cold iron if you can!"
Wealday, 1 Erastus, 4715 3:00:06PM
Valgor is holding the chest up, as twelve glowing figures come out of hiding amongst the trees about 10 feet up on both sides of the path. Vaethic draws his sword with a warning.
Iniative Order
Mayumi
Valgor
Haze
Faux
WTS
Zephyr
Vaethic
Round 1; Init 22
[b]"These must be poor Yuln's attackers! Get them!" shouts Mayumi as she steps over a bit to get a clear shot with her crossbow. Taking aim at creature #12, she takes a deep breath, holds it and gently squeezes the trigger.
Round 1, Initiative 20
Hazé takes a step between the horses, noticing the tiny things stepping from the bushes.
"Is the woman amongst them?" Hazé asks the party.
Changing tongues, he speaks to the little creatures in Sylvan. "Why do you attack? These ones are not ready to depart their mortal coil. If you wish, we will free your souls from your tiny bodies, so that they may roam larger than they did in life." A flame appears to illuminates the warning.
Round 1, Initiative 22
Valgor drops the chest off to the side.
My new friends, together there is no threat we can not overcome!
Inspired Rage (+2 Str/Con, +1 Will, -1 AC) (Su) for anyone who wants it.
Draws his Greatsword, and takes a 5 foot step towards the potential threat.
Little monsters flit from the trees. Good. I’ll go them.
Faux moves into the treeline, drawing the sword on the go. The sword comes down on the first creature in the trees.
"Spank."
Round 1, Init 17
The cold blue fairy(#7), points a hand at Vaethic and Zephyr, and then waves of color, spray from her fingertips enveloping you both and also washing over Noble Steed. The group of 3 fairies nearest Sir Faux flee to the north at top speed, getting about 100 feet away before their glow winks out in the trees. The other groups just hover there.
rounds
rounds
stunned 1 more round
The clusters of glowing lights, aren't actually living creatures. They are just glowing lights, like the dancing lights spell...
Valgor's speech begins to stir potent emotions within Vaethic.
Howdaretheseinterlopersattackus? Dotheyknowwhoweare? DoTHEYKNOW No,Icannotsuccumbtoemotionforitisbaseanwithoutmerit,breatheandremaincalm.
"Blast! Cover your eyes!" Vaethic says choking back the anger rising in his voice. He steps towards the closest winged-creature and swings with his sword cane.
Wealday, 1 Erastus, 4715 3:00:12PM
Faux and Mayumi quickly dispatch two of the fey creatures. Haze wounds the one on the north side, but not badly enough to prevent her from casting color spray at Vaethic, Zephyr and Noble Steed, which has little to no effect at all. Zephyr returns fire with a lightning arc but misses with all the colors still slightly clouding his vision. Vaethic swings his sword and it passed right through the glowing body of one of the fey. As the other two creatures drop, the groups of three fairies still visible no longer move and just hover in place.
Iniative Order
Mayumi
Valgor
Haze
Faux
WTS
Zephyr
Vaethic
The clusters of glowing lights, aren't actually living creatures. They are just glowing lights, like the dancing lights spell...
Round 2, Initiative 20
Hazé sighs as he continues in sylvan: "તમે તમારા પૂર્વજોની પ્રેમ શોધી શકો છો."
Hazé lets loose another blast of fire at the one he wounded previously.
Valgor's singing seems pleasant enough, I wonder why he always does that during battle.
"Excellent job absorbing that, old friend. I shall fetch you a carrot upon my earliest convenience. For now, however..." says Faux, patting Noble affectionately.
Faux dashes to Vaethic's side, seeking to aid the young man. Sadly the encumbrance does little to aid the knight's speed.
Round 2; Iniative 22
"The groups of three aren't real! Those are just a distraction! Attack that one that just color sprayed us!" shouts Mayumi after realizing that there is only one real target left. She then fires a shot at the real sprite to the north, missing horribly.
Vaethic's thoughts turn inward as he is gripped by body's natural inclination to hasten one's pulse as adrenalin courses through his body.
Quiteanoddexperience, Icanmostassuredlyrememberthismeleebeginningbutamomentago, butitdefinitelyseemsasthoughquitealongtimehaspassedsinceIlastacted.
Round 2, Init 17
With her color spray being completely ineffective, the single sprite (#7) turns and flees north into the forest at a surprising speed.
The dancing lights continue to hover, in their groups of three, and without their casters around to manipulate them they refuse to dance.
"Not ready then..." Hazé whispers to no one in particular as the attackers flee.
"Where shall we be ambushed next?" he half-heartedly inquires, slightly louder.
Round 2; Iniative 22
Valgor looks around, confused, still taking everything in. He then moves to the hole where the chest was and inspects the items that were beneath it.
In the hole under the chest there is:
five sets of leather armor
three sets of studded leather armor
a masterwork chain shirt
two light wooden shields
seven longswords
two spears
a masterwork dagger
three light crossbows with a total of 25 bolts
Hazé gazes at the forest canopy as Valgor parses the inventory.
"Looking up, one can see the sky and the snow in the trees. If we were to never look down, we would never know the troubles that the ground knows, would we?" he asks to no one in particular.
"This beauty is not forever." is whispered as he turns his attention to the rest of the party.
"If no one objects, I lost my dagger in my travels. And while it may delay my... the chain is would be a boon to you if I wore it."
Ah.Finallytherapidityinwhichthebodyadaptstotheclarioncallofcombathassubside dandtheworldcomesbackintoitsnormalpace.
"Looking up, one can see the sky and the snow in the trees. If we were to never look down, we would never know the troubles that the ground knows, would we?"
Ofcoursewelooktothegroundandthesky. Howwouldoneparsetheinformationpresentedifoneneversawtheentiretyofthepicture ? Thatsoundsmorelikeprosethanthecasualobservations,hmmm...curious.
In a rare showing of courtesy, Vaethic keeps his thoughts to himself.
"If no one objects, I lost my dagger in my travels. And while it may delay my... the chain is would be a boon to you if I wore it."
"Please, the dead have no need of it any longer and I am certain that Lady Argentea would consent for its usage in her eventual rescue. Speaking of which; eyes open ladies and gentlemen, for there might be further clues to the whereabouts of the villains who have absconded with the Lady." Vaethic says surveying the area.
As the party's diminutive assailant fades from view, Faux's mind whirls.
Too fast for my armor to keep up, too dense a forest for Noble, and it's flying as well. Sir Lancaster's Treaties on Aerial Warfare for Non-Aerial People warned me of this. I recall a lengthy section on asking for the aid of a wind god... Faux turns to find Zephyr somewhat morosely looking through the cache, obviously disappointed.
Bit too soon for that then. And here I am, so unprepared as to be devoid of a ranged weapon. Sir Lancaster would be ashamed.
Faux hangs the helmet in a show of shame, sheathing the blade after a quick wipe down. After a short, silent march, Faux retrieves a light crossbow and 10 bolts from the loot.
"If no one minds, I apparently have some need for this."
" Speaking of which; eyes open ladies and gentlemen, for there might be further clues to the whereabouts of the villains who have absconded with the Lady."
"I apologize, Sir Vaethic, I am not a well equipped tracker. But, if I may, we might see if the creatures Lady Sasaki and I downed are, firstly, real and not illusions, and, secondly, perhaps not quite bled out yet. They might be a viable source of information we will need, as we have likely lost any element of surprise with the last one's escape."
"I'm not well versed in monster lore, I just shoot things that are threats or the commander points out. These do look like the creatures that Yuln warned us about, but these weren't that much of a threat. Maybe there is more of them? Or maybe a different kind..."explains Mayumi. She walks up to the one she shot and nudges it with the toe of her boot, "this one doesn't seem like it will be talking again."
Was I supposed to take it easy? Take prisoners? Hmm... Back in Varisia nobody wanted monsters alive, they only wanted ears or other appropriate parts as proof of kill...
Looking around the clearing, she notices Faux acquire a crossbow. Her face breaks into a smile and she speaks to Faux, "If you need any training with that, let me know. I am an expert with crossbows and we can spend some time off in the woods practicing together. Well, after we rescue the damsel in distress, of course..."
While the party examines the area for further clues, Hazé takes the time to stow his leather armor away and put on the chain shirt, and secures the dagger onto his belt.
Would those who have seen death run to the ones they care for, or obscure the path to them?
"I was not familiar with these fey before today Mayumi. Perhaps Vaethic can tell you more about them."
Hazé peers off into the trees in the direction the surviving fey ran. "But I can tell you they now know loss. If they run back to those who took the noblewoman, they will spread their fear. If they are now alone in this world, then the bonds of their friendship will be stronger for their experience."
Hazé hums a quiet somber tune to himself as he helps examine the snow for tracks.
Valgor stores any remaining items from underneath the chest in his pack.
We should be able to sell these at the local markets for something unless anyone has use of them. Which way are we headed?
A curious shot is fired towards a distant tree.
"That would be much appreciated, Lady Sasaki... And apparently needed," says Faux, loading then stowing the crossbow.
The armor's shoulders perform some semblance shrug in Valgor's direction. "I assume that the presence of this trap and ambush somewhat ironically means we are going the right way. If we have found nothing else here, and the fey are beyond our ability to question, then we must simply follow the trail further, I suppose."
With nothing else to add, Faux begins towing Noble Steed down the trail once more.
The snow begins to pick up intensity, making travel and visibility more difficult. You trudge through the miserable conditions for another hour. While following a narrow game trail winding its way through the trees and undergrowth, hoof prints mark the underlying snow, leading in both directions. On the trail ahead, a stag stands casually observing your approach.
"Greetings travelers. What bring you into this portion of the woods in such horrible weather?"says the stag.
Valgor Slaps himself...sounds like it hurt
"Normally I would think the gods have smiled upon me by bringing me such an opportunity for dinner in such horrible weather, but you are talking to us...
Valgor look around to see if he is missing something
are there more of those glowey Fae creatures around...?"
"Yes, my kind is usually considered delicious by the two legged folk. Glowy fey? I haven't seen any. Do you know why there is snow in the season of hot?" converses the stag.
"Snow falls from the chill hearts of cold beings, beautiful and unnatural. We hope to warm their hearts, or allow them to feel the warm embrace of their gods."
Hazé looks past the stag. "Have you seen a woman being carried off by cold creatures?"
"The many men and 4 legged beasts, passed through yesterday. Do you hunt these men as you would hunt my kind?"answers the stag.
Talkingstagsinthespringtimemonthsthataresnowcovered? DidImakeanotherbatchofhallucinogenicsandaccidentlyimbibeit? No,thelastimethathappenedwastheGoblinFleaMarketin4706A.R.andIwassmartenough towritemyselfanote.
Vaethic searches his pockets for any note that he may have left for himself indicating that he has indeed dosed himself. Finding none, he shakes loose the dust from his head and really looks at the situation.
Faux bows to the stag.
"Greetings, most regal of beasts, I am Sir Faux the technically not currently Errant, and these are my valiant companions. If you use a name I'd be pleased to learn it. And to answer your question, we do not hunt these men for food nor sport, though I doubt a creature blessed with speech such as yourself has much fear of that. Rather, they have committed a number of wrongdoings and we are trailing them in order to bring them to justice, and rescue the fair lady they have captured. We'd accept any help in that endeavor you may provide."
If Hazé is surprised by a talking stag, his demeanor does not show it.
"These men and woman hunt them. Not for sport or food, but to rescue a poached human they have taken."
"If you tell us more of them, or where they went, then we shall go to thaw their frozen souls, and perhaps this pretty snow will disappear and bring back the forest's summer green."
"Names don't translate into your human tongue, though you may call me Gren. These men you hunt are many in number and of a bad sort, so I didn't follow them. Though the path you follow seems to be the direction they went." comments Gren.
Well met Gren, I don't mean to pry or be rude, but are you a stag or something else? how is it you can speak with us?