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Yndra grunts, baffled by some much ignorance. "Just make some fireworks, or something. Do I look like I care?" Angry, she stomps off to see what's taking the others so long in searching the buildings.
She eventually shows up with a lockbox. "Here, this might be interesting. It contains records of all operations here. Maybe we can learn when things went southways here. Speaking of which..."
Yndra dumps the lockbox with one of the others, and beckons Dusklord over while she examines on of the beast-men. "What do you make of this, Professor? Victims of the druid's rituals, as I supposed earlier?"
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Dusklord only shakes his head at Serak. "A wild card, that one. Like an errant student unwilling to learn that magic must be kept within strict bounds," the wizard says to Yndra.
As she points out the lockbox, Dusklord surveys the contents for any clues.
"I concur with your conclusion," the former evil villain says to Yndra. "I had shared your reasoning. We must be getting close, and these poor souls are but the first victims."
You make yourselves at home, and get a decent night's sleep. You rise early to get moving again, as time is still working against you.
Everyone make a Fortitude Save, DC 14.
You gain the bestial simple template.
BESTIAL SIMPLE TEMPLATE
PCs who fail to resist the effects of the druids’ ritual emanating out from Briar Henge gain the bestial simple template. This template only affects humanoids, and does not affect humanoids with the wild empathy class feature. Humanoids afflicted with this template gain traits of a random wild animal from the waist up, appearing much like a lycanthrope in hybrid form. Common animal forms include those of a bear, boar, dog, lion, or wolf.
Bestial Creature (CR +0)
Humanoids with the bestial simple template are more resilient and develop rudimentary natural attacks, but the transformation dulls the mind and gives those affected a brutish demeanor.
Rebuild Rules: AC increase natural armor by +1; Attacks gain 2 claw attacks and 1 bite attack dealing damage as though the creature were one size category smaller (Medium creatures deal 1d3 points of claw damage and 1d4 points of bite damage, Small creatures deal 1d2 points of claw damage and 1d3 points of bite damage; all three attacks are considered primary attacks); Ability Scores +2 bonus to Con, –2 Int damage, –2 Cha damage.
The path runs through a small collection of buildings deep in the forest. This place appears to be a successful lumber camp—nearly a small village—but seems abandoned. A few open doors bang softly in the wind, hanging askew on their hinges.
You wake up to have taken another -2 Int and -2 Cha damage.
A deep, placid river interrupts the path to Briar Henge. A few large logs have been placed across the river, providing a crude bridge to access the other side. Sunlight dapples the surface of the murky water, the result of branches crisscrossing the river high overhead.
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That night, strange dreams come to Aeleth. He dreams of creatures of the wild, and their strength.
"Aah, the strength of nature, and see, they come to make friends with me. Aeleth is always happy to embrace new friends," he mutters in his sleep.
When he awakes the next day, he feels oddly...refreshed. In fact he feels positively invigorated! He does find it a little harder to think than usual, but that is a detail he does not usually worry too much about.
"Aaah, good morning, my friends! I rested well and am ready to kick evil in the buttocks once more today!" he growls cheerfully as drool drips from his slavering maw.
"Does anybody smell wet dog?"
"And I still do not know who Pete is!"
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Dusklord awakens feeling off somehow, but manages to rouse himself after a bit.
He looks at the others curiously. Something seems...strange.
"Pete is a former acquaintance of mine, a tallish-short skinny fat man with thick black hair on his bald head" he responds sarcastically to Aeleth. "All that we do is for his sake."
As they reach the river, Dusklord says "Now Aeleth, kindly do me a favor and cross the bridge first, will you?"
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"Oh. Pete sounds like a truly wondrous being indeed! I know many will think that you were being sarcastic, but I know better, Duskie my friend, for I myself once met a man of butt-kicking justice whose guide was a miniature giant space hamster! Pete must be of the same sort, except less hamster and more man, but whether man or hamster it is substance that matters. If you see Pete again, be sure to introduce us!"
Exuberant at having solved the mystery, and having newfound respect for Dusklord on account of his knowing Pete, Aeleth is all too happy to indulge him. Throwing a massive arm around the wizard, he sets off towards the bridge with the wizard in tow.
"Of course my friend. Heroes of justice such as ourselves have no fear of little bridges. We shall cross first, you and I, that the others may follow in our righteous footsteps against the forces of villainy!"
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Yndra wakes early the next morning, and rouses the others. "Come on, chop-chop. We haven't got all day. We have a dangerous ritual to disrupt."
She shakes her head at Aeleth, but doesn't seem surprised anymore. [i]He's really far gone. I'll have to read Dusklord's notes on him, when this is over. "Yes, Aeleth. We are lucky to have one such as you with us."
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Dusklord looks inquisitively at Aeleth.
"I am glad that we have come to know each other better," he says quietly. "Now that you are calling me 'Duskie,' and we are seeking for justice together, and the bridges thing, and talk of our righteousness, have you given greater thought to the university's study of your brain? In the extremely unlikely event anything should happen to you, of course."
As Duskie and Aeleth approach the bridge, you all notice Aeleth's features have been changing throughout the morning. His nose has definitely become more snout-like, and it appears one of his teeth has begun to protrude like a tusk. The remarked drop in intelligence, however, goes largely unnoticed. Starling, though, seems to be isolating herself more from the group, continuing to display wolfish features.
As Aeleth and Dusklord begin to cross the bridge, a large swinging axe falls from the canopy above!
As the axe stikes, a streak of silver flies at Aeleth from across the river, and a thrashing of water appears next to him as a crocodile lunges his way.
The crocodile is ripped and torn by Aeleth and Starling. It sinks under the water.
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Yndra walks up to the bridge while drawing her sling. Way too crowded and slippery over there. Nuh-uh!
Instead of trying the dangerous walk across the water, Yndra contends herself with yelling some choice words at the unseen archer. "You think you're pretty tough over there, aren't you? Hiding in the woods and shooting at us like a coward. Well, you'd better think again! We have a grade-A pyromaniac with us. He'll be glad to torch that entire stretch of trees, just to get rid of you."
Where did that axe come from? Was the bridge rigged, or something?
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Serak looks at Yndra incredulously, his mouth open and his eyes wide. Finally, he shakes his head and looks back over to the tree line, speaking while another ball of fire forms in his hand.
What's the point of a threat if you don't follow through with it? I mean, do you want a reputation for being all bark and no bite?
He then squints one eye, and pokes his tongue out in concentration as he rares back for another throw.
The flames fly and land close to where you think the archer is, but as you cannot see him (or her), you cannot directly hit him. The forest is rather lush, so while the flames singe a bit, they do not start a forest fire.
Another silver streak comes flying from the woods, obviously targeting Aeleth.
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"Come on, we're not part of the Sitting Ducks Society, are we? Move!"
"Whaaaaaat!? WHO IS SITTING ON DUCKS!?" Aeleth glares at the archer that Starling has run up to. "Evil duck-sitter! Face my wrath!" he roars as he runs up to him and swings a fist at his face with a mighty bellow.
"Quuuuaaaaaaaacccck!!!"
Aeleth charges right up to where the archer is hidden, and crushes her.
You can still see the shock and horror on her face.
Silvered arrows scatter on the ground.
Gear found includes 4 scrolls of cure light wounds, 18 silver arrows, leather armor (worn), buckler, scimitar, and masterwork composite longbow (+1 Strength).
You continue on your way. Eventually, you see your target.
Briar Henge is a bristling fortress. The compound is roughly circular and approximately 100 feet across. The walls are made of tangled thorn bushes twelve feet high, although the compound does not appear to have a roof. The only break in the prickly wall is a gap five feet wide and eight feet high. Hanging ivy covers this doorway and blocks the view of the interior of the compound.
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Once the archer is defeated, Aeleth walks to Yndra and lays a heavy paw on her shoulder.
"Fret not, my friend. The ducks have been avenged. She shall sit on ducks no more!"
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Later at the Briar Henge, Aeleth observes the walls and nudges Serak.
"Oh great cleric of Pete, perhaps you could call upon Pete's fire to just burn the whole den of evil to the ground?"
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Yndra pouches the healing scrolls, and obliges Aeleth with some healing.
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On the approach to Briar Henge, Yndra motions for Dusklord. "We'd better hurry. It seems like some of us are already being affected by the ritual. I have no inclination to find myself snarling. If I'd even remember what we're here for."
At Aeleth's suggestion, Yndra puts a firm hand on Serak's shoulder. "Now is not the time to just burn things down. And remember, we haven't even threatened to burn everything to these druids. So there's no need to prove out threats yet. See?" Thinking herself quite clever, Yndra motions the others closer.
"We have the element of surprise, it doesn't look like they have guard out, and there seems to be only one way in. If we approach from the side, we could try peeking into that gap without them noticing. Gives us some idea of what we're dealing with..."
Go ahead and move your icons or put arrows to show your approach.
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Serak sighs heavily.
You don't have to threaten someone before you get your point across Yndra... In fact, it's really much more effective if you display your power before ever even opening your mouth. The survivors are much more apt to do what you say after you've razed their fortress to the ground.
As you follow your intended path, you hear a dog barking, and see a wolfhound bounding for you.
Yes, the dog is dead from an over-enthusiastic pat on the head.
Serak - you hear a tinny voice chanting some arcane language near you. Please make a DC 15 Fort save.
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The gnome feels a wave of magical energy wash over him, but he shrugs it off. He turns his head, slowly, deliberately, as a crazed smile slowly grows across his toothy maw.
Now Yndra, let me show you the real power of magic!
Once he spots the foe, he thrusts his tiny chest out, and then belches a blast of fire!
The spell fizzles, as you see a tiny fey flying near you.
At 1/2 damage, the little guys is singed, but not out of the fight!