"I would say that it is not altogether unexpected. I have always associated Kobold society with that of Goblins, though the reptilian creatures seem smart enough to not attack a superior foe." From the way he spoke, it was rather clear that Teryan's perspective was based more on presumption and bas than any actual knowledge.
It quickly begins to darken within the Narlmarches, and finding a place to make camp for the night could be important. Grendolynn takes a few minutes to scout ahead and uncover a good spot with decent visibility but remaining a bit sheltered so a fire will not bring unwanted guests. Several times through the night anyone on watch can see ghostly lights enchantingly dancing about the woods in the distance.
Morning comes uneventfully and as the group prepares to depart they discover a few strange things happened in the night. Grendolynn finds all of her gear has been dump out of her backpack when she awakens. As Teyran prepares to re-saddle his horse he finds that his reigns and straps of his saddle have been knotted up and must take the time to work out the knots.
"Alright, who's the trickster?" asked Antha, prudently ignoring the fact that in times past it would likely have been her. "'Fess up, Tad!"
Grinning fit to split his face in half, "I admit NOTHING!"
"It seems ill timed to be performing pranks. These kind of delays can add up and cause us problems in the long run. If it was someone in our group, please try to hold your comedic aspects until we're siting safe at the keep. If it wasn't... then someone snuck into our camp as we slept to perform these acts..."
There are things in this world that are to remain wondrous. We too often succumb to the illusion of control. The horses didn't mind. I would trust their judgment. Valeska begins to ready herself.
"Looks like something a fey might do. I've heard that they're tricksters." Grendolynn muses.
"Shall we accustom ourself to this sort of activity during the night? If so, we may need to set watches in hopes of stopping it." Teyran was clearly irritated, and more than a little concern about his fellows apparent lack of concern.
"Spose so" Morley agrees while checking his gear for tampering. "See any tracks, Grendolynn?"
Let's break camp and move along... We can worry about it if we come back. Remember, that as far as anything is concerned, we're the intruders. Valeska finishes packing, finds her mount and coos to it.
You do not see any tracks on the ground that are out of place. You do not see any evidence of tracks being covered as well.
You do not see any tracks on the ground that are out of place. You do not see any evidence of tracks being covered as well. As your gaze wanders through you stop two strange creature staring at the party from in the canopy of the trees.
The first is a small cat-sized, butterfly-winged dragon with shining eyes. The other one roughly the same size as the other creature has the upper body of a waifish humanoid and the lower body of a cricket.
Their eyes meet your eyes for a moment then they both vanish in an instant.
Antha looks around at random, not expecting to see any sign of Fey.
So, are there Fey and Mites? Or are all the fey around here... mites?
"I've never heard of mites, but poppa used to tell me tales of the fey. They often played tricks on people in the stories. I can't say that's what happened here, I'm just guessing."
"Are we close to what the little lizard creatures described as Mite territory?"
"I am no expert, but if they were skilled enough to find their way into our camp to play such harmless tricks then they could have likely gravely injuried or killed some of us if they were malevolent."
"I am no expert, but if they were skilled enough to find their way into our camp to play such harmless tricks then they could have likely gravely injured or killed some of us if they were malevolent."
"Hmm, yes: true, Akiros. Given that, should we proceed on our way to the Temple? At least, once Teyran's finished unknotting his bridle."
Finally getting his snickering under control, Tad agrees. "Aye, 'at'd be rec'mendation..."
"If you are confident they are just having some fun, I won't worry too much. Just hope it doesn't go any further." He thinks for a moment if there could be some clue in the fey's choices of targets, but decides to forget about it and mount up.
It was around that point that Teyran finished with his ordeal, though he'd been listening quietly as the others spoke. "I appreciate the thought, though I find that it doesn't make me feel any better that it happened. The sooner we move on, the better, I say."
Valeska seems to reflect in a low voice... shaking her head.
Tad, having finished his own preparations for travel, starts assisting someone else.
You are back on the trail again as you explore more of the Narlmarches. You do not encounter more then some deer, rabbits, and squirrels from a distance as you scare them out of their hidden places with the crunching of the horse hooves in the foliage on the ground. Evening is quickly approaching again when you catch the sounds of something loud crashes its way through the woods; likely in your direction.
You notice a glint up in the trees as a ray of light strikes several shiny objects dangling from the trees around a cat-sized hole into the center of one of the larger trees; almost like a nest.
"Teyran, is that a bear?" asked Antha, worried that whatever it was seemed to close and trusting to the paladin's long years of experience and knowledge of the wilderness.
"Get ready to run. Some of the big things in these woods we stand little chance against."
The volume of the crashing increases as the creature gets closer. You suddenly see a large troll in the forest and it rises to full height as it thunders a roar through the woods slamming a fist into its chest and a club against the ground eyes locked on the party.
"Creatures like that!" Grendolynn says, sounding a bit panicked.
Fall BAAAACK! Thwipp!
Valeska looses a crossbow bolt and moves down the road/path away from the troll.
Morley pulls back 20 feet, moving off perpendicularly to the group... He guides with his knees to ready his weapon, and then wheels around and fires the musket. Trying to quell his fear, he thinks to himself "... it can't hurt you if you stay out of reach."
"Last one to fall back is Monster food you twit!" Tad retorts as he back his horse away from the Troll, keeping himself between it & the others while at the same time staying clear of Morley's shot.
Antha, while hardly a combat-trained rider, wheeled her horse around and called forth a fountain of magical streaks of all colors - her most powerful spell.
Whooping in exhilaration, she spurred her horse into action.
Standard Action: Cast Color Spray
Move Action: Move away from troll (horse's speed)
HP 6/6
AC 13
Spells Used: 1st-Color Spray
Conditions: Mounted on Light Horse
Teyran had two thoughts he was wrestling with, though in the end his course was clear. He could have retreated with the others, and fired at the troll with his bow as he did so, a likely ineffectual gesture since he had such little skill handling a horse as it was. If he did that, however, he could not guarantee his allies' safety, so instead he resorted to the only method he saw available.
Teyran ordered his horse forward, moving so that he was the closest one to the troll, with the intention of peeling off to one side and leading it away. After that, he would, well, he hadn't quite gotten that far yet, but he was sure he'd think of something, even if it was just hoping that his horse could outrun the monster. As he approached, he shouted at the creature, "Come on! Chase me, you big pile of ugly!"
The horse might have had different intentions, though.
Perception:
With the use of spells and weapons fired at the creature and now Teyran's approach of the troll. You realize that it isn't responding properly, and as you blink your eyes the image fades through you can see the outline of the illusion.