"If we fly high enough we can avoid the spriggan, but I'm not so sure about the bees. Unfortunately, my most powerful spells have already been exhausted." Troxell whispers to the others.
Sense Motive
"It'd take too long to get everyone flying again, Trox. I don't see a way it of this.. Teena casts Vanish on herself, and pulls her wand of Fly, just in case it might be useful.
"I can create an obscuring mist, and place entangling plants between them and us. That might provide you enough time to grant flight to everyone. At the very least, it cuts down on the spriggans' enlarged advantage."
"Go for it!"
Troxell nods and casts Entangle wherever he can catch the most spriggans, "I'll create the mists next. Once Teena casts the spell on you, move above the mists so we don't get separated."
After Teena vanishes and Troxell casts a spell that snags up the group of spriggans on the rocky path, the rest of the army raise javelins, rocks, and crossbows.
"Do not let them leave!" Tenzekil cries out. "Kill them! Kill them all!!"
A hail of projectiles fly your way!
Targets 1 Teena 2 Troxell 3 Myhm 4 Mikmik 5 Xerexis
Though he is the smallest target, and scrambling for cover, Mikmik is shot in the leg with a bolt and impaled by a javelin.
Troxell is also caught by a well thrown javelin that lodges in his leg.
Myhm takes a bolt in the shoulder and a javelin in the arm, but his armor absorbs a thrown rock.
Xerexis tries to take cover as well, but is hit a glancing low by a rock.
Pinned down for the moment, Xerexis raises his hands and channels healing energy. "I'm not sure this was a good plan!"
"I surrender! I surrender!!!" Mikmik cries, but the spriggans seem eager to follow their murderous command without mercy.
Teena, stil invisible uses her wand on Mikmik. "Fly, Mikmik...get out of here. Go with Troxell!". She next moves to Mhym's side, ready to use her wand in him next round.
Myhm suddenly feels like a trapped animal, even more angered that it is at the hands of a disgusting fey that he could crush with one hand.
"Where are you?!", he howls, seeing red he charges at the source of misery, "UuuAhHH!!!".
>>
Mikmik is still in panic mode as Teena casts her spell on him. "Fly?? Mikmik don't know how!! Oh!!" He grabs at the ground as he suddenly finds his feet floating. "Wait, wait! They shoot me out of sky!!"
Meanwhile, Myhm grabs a big rock of his own and hurls it down the path, smashing into one of the spriggans and sending it falling back down the hill and getting stuck in the entanglement.
As promised, Troxell casts Obscuring Mist to mask his party's retreat tactical repositioning. Although he flies a few steps away from his original position, he remains near the ground for now to make sure the fog properly forms around him.
Mists rise, leaving no visible targets for the spriggans, but the area is still subject to another hail of javelins, rocks, and crossbow bolts. Luckily, only Troxell suffers a wound, being hit by a random rock.
"What!! No! Your petty magics will not save you!" Tenzikil cries, his voice emanating from somewhere along the northeastern ridge.
The air fills with the buzz of bees as the swarms descend into the mist. For them, finding targets it easy, and limited visibility seems to have little effect with so many swarming around.
1 Teena 2 Troxell 3 Myhm 4 Mikmik 5 Xerexis
Myhm grabs another rock and hurls it into the mist. >>
Fort
Coughing and hacking, all Tena could do was to try to move out of the range of the awful swarms.
Resisting the urge to be distracted by the various bee stings, Troxell moves just out of the swarm and casts Flaming Sphere into the edge of them he can see.
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From somewhere in the distance.....
"Greetings friends it seems you have made the acquaintance of some of the more unfriendly fey and their crones well let me introduce some of the Fey friends I have made recently.
With that said you hear someone start singing.
inspire courage +2 att and damage and saves vs charm and fear.
As Shane's voice rises in song, the sounds of combat change. Screams - some of surprise, some of pain, some animalistic, and others high-pitched and almost jovial, are heard building all around. The deadly hail of missiles begins to subside.
Stumbling out of the mists in the direction of Shane's voice you find yourselves at the edge of Dead Man's Drop. All around the spriggans are fending off other creatures of the Feralwood. Sprites dart about with small gleaming swords, pixies flash into and out of sight, a treant smashes about with its wooden limbs, bears and wolves growl and snap their jaws at spriggans heels, and a flock of ravens swarm the bees. At first it seems the tide of battle has changed, but you quickly realize that there are more spriggans in the woods and the surprise attack is not strong enough to defeat them all. Below you spot Shane, mounted on the unicorn Palombier.
“Kindness repaid, friends!" The unicorn calls upon seeing you. "Leap down and we shall carry you out of here!"
Teena uses her wand on Myhm, knowing that she just needs a few more seconds to use it on herself and Xerexis. "Fly Myhm. You'll be safe now," she whispers.
Troxell sends his flaming sphere towards Tenzikil, or at least the last place that he saw him stand, then flies down to the unicorn.
Slightly more familiar with the act of flying, Myhm wills himself into the air with the grace of a flying manatee. "Where are we going?"
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Flying out of the mists, Troxell spots Tenzikil lurking just inside the trees, glaring at the group as they begin to make their escape. Summoning a sphere of flame it appears right behind the traitor, who screams in pain as it sets his cloak on fire.
Before Teena can use the wand on Xerexis he has run and lept from the falls.
While the others fly down, Xerexis drags himself from the water. Though battered and bruised, he mounts up on the unicorn behind Shane.
***
Fleeing through the forest you manage to escape Tenzekil’s army, and are soon escorted to a glade unaffected by the strange mist that seems everywhere else. Instead, faerie lights illuminate the clearing, dancing between the trees. Several creatures look up at your arrival—a host of centaurs, satyrs, sprites, and a few treants, including Vinroot—all part of an encampment clearly armed for war. With them is the Fire Tender.
"You did it! Good good!" The Fire Tender congratulates you on the success of your mission with boyish excitement. "I am still working out how we are going to reset them, and I think it best you keep them safe for now. As you can see I have gathered some... Folk.. I'm not sure I would call them all friends and allies yet. More will arrive soon, and we will hold a conclave tomorrow. I suggest you get some rest tonight."
The next day a large group has gathered in an open glade. Once all are present, the Fire Tender introduces the leaders among them.
Oreius Dawnsprinter, a centaur chieftain who leads a tribe of his people called the Riders of Lost Hills.
Lielaera Shantru, an pixie who seems to speak for a motley contingent of local fey.
A satyr named Maligorn and his consort, a nymph named Aripha, both of which claim to represent the Fey Court.
Also here is Vinroot, representing a small, but influential group of treants.
Unfortunately, it quickly becomes clear that this diverse group hasn’t agreed how best to deal with the Fellnight army.
"I do not like that we are taking on these otherworldly forces." Oreius says. "Humans face the biggest threat, and they offer little to the fight. Why should centaur shed blood for them?"
"You do not belong in the Feralwood." Aripha says to Oreius, then casts a haughty gaze your way with eyes of light green within deep blue. "Nor do you. Change is coming. Forces from the First World move between the realms. Perhaps siding with Prince Rowan would be in our best interest. If we raze Cairllen’s Crossing as tribute we could likely find ourselves in his favor."
Lielaera giggles, which seems to encourage Aripha and Maligorn, but she does not declare a stance.
Vinroot stands in silent thought. Treants are not known for making quick decisions and unless pushed the war of the Feralwood might be over if he is left to make one on his own.
Troxell remains silent for the moment as he also carefully considers what to say. He does, however, look to Teena and Shane to perhaps win them over with their charming personalities first before the druid comes at them with wise words.
aid another Diplomacy
"Just so you know, after the humans fall, you do realize the attention will be turned directly onto you. What will you offer up as appeasement, then? The Prince will not need to negotiate with you as he will have all the power. If you don't do so,etching against him now, he will wipe out all of us, centaurs and fey and treants and humans alike."
While Teena makes her speech Shane approached the Firetender with a proposition. He considers a moment, then shrugs and nods to Shane.
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Shanee makes a few simple arcane gestures and touches Firetender on the shoulder and takes a few seconds to consider things.
"My companions and I have visited the First World and lived to tell the tale. We are more than capable of restoring the balance between the two worlds, but we cannot do it without your help. If you side with the Prince, you will be turned into his slaves, lorded over by the Cold Riders he keeps as his secret police."
"We now have the means to restore the barrier and return things to the natural order. If we do not do this now, you will lose everything. You are not protecting the humans, you are protecting yourselves. If you side with Rowan you will merely become his cannon fodder and die. If you help us, you will both save the forest and save yourselves. Otherwise, you will meet the same fate as all of those poor dryads the Prince's forces murdered."
As Shane completes his spell and reaches out to touch the Fire Tender, the red red-skinned man gets a startled look on his face. "Oh cinnamon sticks..."
A literal spark flashes where Shane makes contact. His eyes roll backwards and his body convulses. He nearly falls, but the Fire Tender grabs his arm and holds him upright. "If I had known he would cast that spell I might have reconsidered." He mumbles with a concerned look on his face.
Meanwhile, Shane's head is bombarded by powerful visions as his spell seeks specific knowledge. Most pass through his mind so fast that they are indecipherable, but a few remain...
***
A perfect chord of music comes from the mandolin cradled in the handsome man's hands. "The Queen has many minions, and powerful children, Prince and Princesses born of Eldest lovers. All are exiled away in their own realms and cannot return to the First World. But the ways into the mortal realms are not so secure. There are stories. Zuddiger's Picnic for instance..."
***
An old man sits near the fireplace in a small cabin. A worn book rests in his wrinkled hands, open to a page depicting a smiling woman handing a grinning young man a spoon and a crow in exchange for his sword. Only a few words are written on the page.
So I traded my sword for a spoon and a bird.
"She was no mere woman." The old man mumbles. "I brought back the first seeds. The Blooms are my fault..."
***
"The Queen nearly escaped once." A soft female voice comes from a glowing pool within a lush forest grotto. "A son, called the Fellnight Prince, opened a breach to the mortal realm with the aid of the cyclops and began to grow First World Blooms. The elves and fey of the Feralwood stopped him, drove him back to the Fellnight Realm, and convinced the Eldest to seal the breach with waystones..."
***
Around the lake the forest grows before your eyes, leaves spreading, vines crawling, flowers blooming in colors not found in nature. A whirlpool spins in the lake itself, and black swans fly in a wide circle above. In the space between a vision begins to manifest of ruined towers and shadowy creatures lumbering among them.
The Fire Tender raises his hands and and a storm of flames bursts from him, racing outward through the trees. All around him the world is turned to smoke and ash. The swans disperse, the whirlpool subsides, and the vision over the lake fades...
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As Shanee comes back to his sences he looks around at the assembled group eyes still a bit glassy and mumbles with as much poise as he can muster.
"I think we must all fight because they intend to free the Queen."
When his gaze land on Firetender he mutters. "Lets not let me do that again please."
Then he promptly sits down and pulls a bottle out of his pack and takes a long drink.
Once the bottle is finished Shanee adds looking at Firetender. "Ummm. . . I have questions but I am not sure I really want answers."
The conclave goes quiet at Shane's words. Most seem confused and the din of murmured questions begins to circulate among them. Those standing on the side of joining Prince Rowan do not look as certain about their stance now.
Conversations again... Myhm had wandered off away from the main group of discussion, opting instead to pet one of the rabbits that showed up in the glade. The floppy-eared fey was probably beginning to wonder why the giant human was stroking its head and murmuring, "There there." Eventually Myhm meanders back into the conversation, "Maybe we should tell the Red Haired Lord, he can help too. It would go faster, then we can go to My Scar and bring this to Dovan." He produces the grimoire orb.
What begins as murmurs among the conclave soon become heated arguments as those present discuss the meaning of Shane's words. The lines of allegiance shift, but are still erratic. Even Aripha and Maligorn, once a united front, seem at odds.
"Tell them what you know." The Fire Tender urges Shane, then turns to the others in your group. "You must convince them."
Teena is only too quick to tell everything she remembers about her time since she lost her memory. She does her best to recall every detail about the Cold Riders, the wedding, Tenezkil, the retrieval of the malfunctioning ward stones, and everything else that has transpired with her group in the last several days.
She again implores them to make a stand now.
Aid Another Diplomacy
After explaining what he saw in Fire Tender's vision, Troxell adds, "We offer your only option for freedom, the other option only leads to subjugation. Do not be fooled, once they enslave or kill the humans, they will come for you."
Myhm moves to stand stoically behind Shanee, giving at least the impression of support and unity behind this incomprehensible subject.
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"Well i have never had visions like these before so i think some higher power is involved in giving me these but it told me of the Queen and her minions and something about a Prince and Princesses born of Eldest lovers and how they were all exiled from the First World but somehow the barrier between that place and this plane is more week."
Still rubbing his head Shane continues
"Something about some guy and a picnic......Zuddinger I think and the blooms being his fault and the that the Queen almost got out once because of the Fellknight Prince and the Cyclops opening a breach and the Fellknight Prince is her son."
Looking around and trying to catch each persons gaze and get some idea who holds the most sway with the crowd Shanee finally adds.
"None of these people sound like they are any fun to have around and deserve to be where they are. Not to mention they are going to be more than a little upset with the people that live in the Feralwood for it was the Fey and the elves that stopped them last time. I assume that those Fey were your ancestors. I believe they at least would want you to do all you can from stopping this, this time.....Hell maybe it was they that compelled me to come here in the first place so I could bring you this news."
to add a little drama to his speech and play up how difficult the visions were on him.
Your words seem to break through and offer sense to those hesitating to commit to an alliance, and supported by the unicorn Palombier, the treant Vinroot, and the Fire Tender, they finally sway the members of the conclave to act as allies against Prince Rowan, Tenzekil, and the Fellnight Army. The rest of the day is spent deciding the best course of action to take against your common enemy, but while these factions have decided to work together, their nature makes it hard for them all to agree on anything. As the light fades to evening, then to the dark of night, a plan has yet to coalesce. Finally, the Fire Tender stands and holds up his hands.
"Let us sleep on the matter and approach it again in the morning." He says. While he seems to have become the unofficial leader of the conclave, he has spoken little during the day, offering only a few words in support or against proposed plans.
As the groups dissolve into their separate camps, he takes your group aside. "Fear not, I sense they will come to an accord tomorrow. Take your rest for now."
Teena nods at the words of the Fire Keeper. "Are you sure everyone can keep it civil tonight? Last thing I want to be woken up by is two centaurs locked in a fight."
If given reassurance, Teena finds as safe a position as possible and beds down for the night.
"These are dangerous times, we should keep a watch regardless of the security provided by the others." The wise (or paranoid) half-elven druid suggests.
The group beds down the night to the soothing sounds of Shane's singing. His performance is good enough to draw attention from the fey and even the dour centaurs.
On the second watch, you are all are awoken by Mikmik, who chatters worriedly. "Everyone, up! Up!!! Something is wrong with Troxell, and Mikmik cannot wake him!"
Troxell is tossing and turning in his sleep, and mumbling incoherently.
"....."
(+2 against enchantment, +4 against fey/plant abilities)