Alexis listens to Rath's inquiry, his new hairpiece attracting her attention for a brief moment.
"Quist, did this woman say why she wanted everyone to leave?" She motions to the trees. "From what I can see, you are isolated and not in anyone's way. It sounds like she simply likes to push others around..."
Sounds like a powerful curse but why fight her in her territory, I say we wait for her tomorrow to come and pick up her "prize" and then I can put a few arrows through that witch skull of hers while the rest of you mash her to pulp...
"She not want us to leave, pretty elf lady. She want Quist friends for her cages. If we not fight her, we have to leave so we lose no more from village. Quist friends not want to leave village. Have lived here many centuries."
Biter yawns, trying to fight off another wave of their curious form of pranks, "Biter is'ing to agree with Long'Ears. Killing the witch then tracking back to her home should'ing allow us to save the little dragon people's captured friends."
Quist turns to Elorin and Biter. "Griselda not come alone. Griselda have three Kawacatoose women with her. They not as powerful as she is, but she use them to make her own magic very strong. She only need two for her magic to be powerful. Kill them first and Griselda easier to hurt."
"What is'ing Kawakatoose?"
"She not want us to leave, pretty elf lady. She want Quist friends for her cages. If we not fight her, we have to leave so we lose no more from village. Quist friends not want to leave village. Have lived here many centuries."
"I see what you mean now... Abbas, Gregor, Burnsten, what do you make of Quist's description of this woman's spellcasting techniques?" Alexis ponders the situation for a moment, trying to think on what sort of magical rites might require multiple celebrants, and what purpose imprisoning faerie dragons might have, and also to discern what attributes would make a woman a Kawacatoose, and if that is a part of Skraeling culture (i.e. a shamaness, etc.).
K: Arcana checks
K: Nature checks
K: Religion checks
Linguistics checks
Spellcraft checks
Kawacatoose is the name of a clan of native Skraelings which live along the Six Thunders River to the south. They are reknown for their distaste of outsiders and use of poison, according to Falcon Gray's book.
As for the style of magic, Alexis is aware of monstrous humanoids known as hags which can form covens to dramatically increase the power of their spellcasting, and can use human spellcasters of a more sinister bent in said covens.
"Hmm... It sounds like we are most-likely dealing with a hag using Skraeling witches to form a coven. This will certainly be dangerous, but from what I have read of the Kawacatoose, they are not exactly known for their hospitality..."
"Quist, are these three human women close to their tribe, or do they live apart from them? Also, how near will be be to the Kawacatoose's lands? We will help you, but this will be very difficult, and if we anger the Kawacotoose, they might very well attack our home too. Is there any help that you and the others can provide to us that will protect us in battle or make us stronger? If the Skraeling get close to my friends and I, can the others keep them distracted from finding us?"
Pete spent most of his time trying unsuccessfuly to convince the other faerie dragons to leave his beard alone. Judging by the cursing uttered from his lips, he was mostly unsuccessful.
Hearing talk of a covey of hags brought his outburst to an end. He looks over to Alexis and gives her a look, holding up one finger, along with a slashing gesture.
"Quist friends very scared of Griselda and Kawacatoose. They not warriors. Quist turn into butterfly when Griselda close enough to take 15 minutes to arrive, so you have some warning. Quist can put spells on people to help. Quist can make magical armour. Quist can give people resistance to magical energy."
"Our new friend here said that the witch expects Pupa to be at the foot of the tree tomorrow at sunset. Perhaps we can use this to our advantage and set an ambush for her and her friends when they arrive. Though this could put Pupa in considerable danger acting as bait, hopfully once the fighting begins she can escape."
"Quist can you or any of your friends make us undetectable by sight or help us hide better"
"Abbas 'ere be right on thar, 'n ifn we kin drop one o' them, it be weakening th' others. That be our goal."
"Those would all be helpful to us, Quist. Also, if we know the route along which they will approach, we should examine it for points where they must traverse difficult terrain. If we can identify a chokepoint or blindspots that give us the advantage while minimizing our risk, that would be best. Considering that many spells require a line of sight or effect, traps that could be sprung from out-of-sight would be ideal."
"If'ing we are to fight Kawakatoose dhal'kaan-drakaar... er..." he searches for the right word in Taldane, "spell-chanters, needing to killing them out-right." He shrugs as he looks over at Alexis, "or notting to see them at all. Instructions for the scouting and all."
Quist raises his front legs in what passes for a draconic shrug.
"Quist not sure. They come on foot, not boat, but Griselda hut 4 hours walk up river. Not sure where good terrain be. Land not too rocky or hilly between here and hut. Best place for ambush here. If you fail, they probably kill all Quist friends."
In response to the question about making people invisible, Quist shakes his head. "Quist only make person invisible for twelve minutes, not longer, but Quist turn into butterfly when Griselda get within fifteen-minute walk. Invisibility not last long enough."
Pete gets a calculating gleam in his eyes, "Aye, betteah let me check out th'path. Mebbe we kin construct some pitfalls fer them ta walk inta, then we kin separate one o' them from th' others. Once we do that, then it be a cinch ta take' em down."
There are certainly plenty of places to set up pit traps in the immediate area around the place Pupa is to be waiting for his abduction. There are also several large trees that would offer excellent cover and height advantage nearby.
I've posted a map for the area around Quist's village. Basically, the terrain is such that there's no way of predicting exactly what path Griselda and her accomplices would take, other than that they would follow the river, and then cut north. Quist tells you that they usually come from the southwest.
Pete walks over the terrain, nodding and muttering to himself. Once he has surveyed the area, he reports to the others: "Thar be plenny o' places ta dig simple pits, jes need ta dig 'em. Since we dinnae know th' specific direction thye be comin' from, a better option be ta ambush them farther up th' river. What say ye?"
Ordinarily, it would take quite a long time to dig a pit that size, especially given the amount of roots to contend with. However, you do have Pete's mining tools and experience, and a lot of faerie dragons who, while not very strong individually, can work quite well together carrying away small rocks and chunks of dirt that Pete and others break up with tools. You can dig two 10x10x10 pits in the time you have with time left over to camouflage them.
If you're planning on setting your pits and ambush further away from the village, you won't have the faerie dragons helping, and so will only be able to dig one pit.
So what's the plan? Pit trap out along the river bank, ambush at the dragon-napping site?
"It would seem reasonable to dig the pits here and wait here to ambush our targets. Especially if they are coming for our small dragon friends, we know they have to come this way."
Gregor looks around the area...
"On top of that, plenty of folliage for me to entangle them in too."
"And plenty of things for Biter to be hiding in to bite one magic'er quickly and badly."
So give me some grid co-ordinates for your two pit traps, and hiding locations for everybody.
"Agreed, this is the only location of which we can be certain they will traverse a given area of ground. Since we want Gregor to be able to pin enemies down with his spell, perhaps those of us who prefer ranged attacks should conceal ourselves within the boughs of nearby trees. That will keep us out of the area of effect, and grant us some cover."
"Elorin, why don't you take the large tree closest to the pick-up point. I'll take up position in the large tree to the south. The rest of us should then spread out and remain hidden so that when we spring our ambush, we can close-in no matter the direction should they try to fall back and regroup. Since they are presumably coming from the direction of the river, our stealthiest combatants should position themselves along that route."
"When they get close enough to be within our ambush area, I'll use telekinetics to release or move the cage so that Pupa can get clear of the fighting. Now to figure out what other spells to prepare..."
"Since they are presumably coming from the direction of the river, our stealthiest combatants should position themselves along that route."
Biter smiles evilly, "That is'ing to be me!"
"When they get close enough to be within our ambush area, I'll use telekinetics to release or move the cage so that Pupa can get clear of the fighting. Now to figure out what other spells to prepare..."
"So the cage moving is'ing to be our signal to attack?"
another thought occurs to him, "Biter is'ing to hear bad things about witches. Witches is'ing to steal a warrior's thoughts and make a warrior do the witch's bidding. Does Abbas, Gregor or Alexis having magic ot protect Biter from this?"
"Biter is'ing to hear bad things about witches. Witches is'ing to steal a warrior's thoughts and make a warrior do the witch's bidding. Does Abbas, Gregor or Alexis having magic ot protect Biter from this?"
"I'm afraid not, my friend. Or at least nothing that will last as long as we are likely to wait. I imagine you don't want my creaky old bones giving your position away, if I were to stay close enough to you to cast as our targets come into view."
"Biter is'ing to hear bad things about witches. Witches is'ing to steal a warrior's thoughts and make a warrior do the witch's bidding. Does Abbas, Gregor or Alexis having magic ot protect Biter from this?"
I will ask Sarenrae to give me a few blessings to ward off evil, but they do not last long no more then a few minutes. So I would need to be near to you to cast them on you as the witches approach. And I fear my lack of stealth might interfere with lady Alexis's plan
Biter shakes his head, "No. Biter is'ing to risk it, then. Notting to want to put Abbas in danger or blow our ambush with'ing Abbas's loud clanking noises."
He looks at Friend Rath seriously, If the witches are'ing to steal Biter's mind and Biter comes after the Pack, take Biter down."
"Quist friends very scared of Griselda and Kawacatoose. They not warriors. Quist turn into butterfly when Griselda close enough to take 15 minutes to arrive, so you have some warning. Quist can put spells on people to help. Quist can make magical armour. Quist can give people resistance to magical energy."
Quist doesn't name spells per se, but describes what they can do. These are the effects he can put on people which would last long enough to be able to put them on in advance. He mentioned later that an invisibility spell would only last 12 minutes, but he turns into a butterfly when Griselda is 15 minutes away.
To Biter's request, Rath nods. "If necessary, will do... but prefer idea of throttling life out of witch trying to control you. More 'satisfactory' solution, eh?"
'is'ing at least to be less painful to Friend Rath, huh?!" he hefts his blade jokingly.
He can give all nine of your resistance 10 to three different energy types of your choosing about an hour before Griselda is expected to arrive.
He can give mage armour to all nine of you as well.
He can give all nine of your resistance 10 to three different energy types of your choosing about an hour before Griselda is expected to arrive.
He can give mage armour to all nine of you as well.
Elorin will set up in the tree as suggested, just on the back side of the tree so he has some cover and take a 20 on stealth as we prepare. Since he will have the mage armor, he will loose the chain shirt in favor of enhanced skills.
Elorin will take Fire, Cold, Electric.
Elorins plan for the early part of the combat will be to stay trained on the main witch and ready an action to pop her if she tries to cast any spells or use a spell like ability.
Biter pulls the massive blade into his eager grayish green hands once more, running a thumb up its edge's length. Then he crouches down to wait, anticipation for the combat to come sending a thrill through his powerful body.