As he sees the creatures step forth from the forest to accost them, Dareon gulps. "Trolls." he says, in a low voice, to his compatriots. "If we have fire, we can take them on, maybe, but if not we should run. On horses, we'll be able to outrun them."
'Maybe I should look into some of that...explosion magic that my tutors were always blathering on about. Gah. Uncivilized, boring...but maybe we need it.'
If it's alright, I'd like to do a slight retcon and say that Wilhelm took the time to skin the owlbear at the Stag Lord's and is now wearing it's pelt as a fur. You can't be a baron in such a cold land without a proper set of furs. :)
Having finished his meeting the night of the 18th of Pharasma, Wilhelm tends to a few matters of state (seeing to the storage of supplies) and informing the council of his plans. He also secures some needed supplies from Oleg, including the weaponry he'd ordered before the assault on the Stag Lord's fortress. Retiring early after, he lays awake for a time, mulling over the events of the preceding month. It's been a whirlwind these past months. At the start of all this, I'd only hoped that I might lead the founding of a kingdom. It's not quite so simple as they indicate in the stories. Foolish to expect it would be, but still. Baron Wilhelm Orlovsky, Lord of the Greenlands. It has a nice ring to it...
The next few day's riding see Wilhelm growing increasingly used to his new companion and the mechanics of command. He makes a note of the quality of the farmland on the plains. Good land for farming and for horses here. If we could get good Taldan stock to take here, we can probably have some of the better riding stock from Kyonin to the Crown of the World.
Riding with his furs thrown back for the first time in days, Wilhelm revels in the decidedly spring-like weather. Noticing the foul stench wafting from the forest, he glances towards it appraisingly. I can't say I've ever heard of a forest that stinks like that... His incredulity is 'rewarded' as the two beasts step out of the forest. Wrinkling his nose in disgust at the smell of the creatures, Wilhelm says in a quiet aside to his companions, "I believe Rowan can assist with the fire. I'll give them a chance to surrender peacefully, but I'd prefer to deal with them now if they're going to be a problem." Keeping a careful eye on the forest behind, Wilhelm retrieves his shield and lance, watching the pair carefully for any signs of deceit.
Wilhelm responds in an imperious tone, "I'm afraid we'll be doing no such thing. Be aware that bandits found in the Greenlands are violating the law of Domierov and will be treated as befitting their crimes. I'll give you an opportunity to lay down your arms and renounce your banditry or, by power vested in me as lord of this realm, I will see you tried and punished for your crimes." Picking up on his master's irritation, Triumph prances in place, ears laid flat on his head and nostrils flared at the stench of the creatures.
Though she wrapped her blanket around her while riding, Lanya seemed to love the outdoors again. Her hair waving in the wind as she sometimes galloped a little faster and felt the freedom of before again.
This is as it should be, every time, freedom to do what you want or an escape from all the seriousness. Just go riding or hiking and forget your troubles.
Whenever the others try to catch up with her again as she rides off from time to time, she just smiles wickeldy and laughs after that.
Lanya doesn't know the creatures, but recognizes them as the same kind of creature as her ancestor was.
Lanya sits a litle bit uneasy in her saddle, but other than that her expression shows nothing.
"Whenever you say Wilhelm, I'm ready for them."
She holds a hand close to her middle, gleaming a dark-green to brown. Draekh on the other hand looks poised to strike from on her shoulder, hissing and recoiling whenever a new waft of the creature's scent comes over him.
Dante reigns up next to Wilhelm, silently allowing his sire time to be diplomatic with the beasts. He holds his lance in hand and Mandarb stamps the wet turf poised for a charge.
"They're trolls..." Rowan says, shaking his head with disgust. "Fire and acid should harm them, all other wounds they will heal rapidly from. We'll have to kill them quickly if they decide to fight."
The male troll bares his fangs. Urxehl, spare us from this torment. he spats. We'll feast on your bones tonight, humans." He and his mate begin to advance.
"Well, that seems to have answered that. Have at them! Lanya, if you can, disable the one further from us."
Dropping his lance and spurring Triumph to a gallop, Wilhelm charges towards the nearer of the trolls, gesturing and invoking Iomedae's wrath as he does so. Glowing with holy light, he closes the last few yards and levels the lance with the troll's chest. As the impact thunders home, Triumph rears back and strikes at the troll with a hoof.
Lanya nods while staring at the trolls moving away. "I will certainly try Wilhelm." She says absent-mindedly.
"May the great snake that slumbers beneath the earth trouble your path." She calls out as she moves her arms in a fluid graceful motion, the air crackling around her with innate magic pulsing in and through her veins.
As Grumps speaks he and Kali toss their clubs into the air, a completely unexpected maneuver although Wilhelm is able to get his Divine Favor cast and Dante gets his shield up to deflect. The clubs fly at Dante and Willhelm.
The clubs fly remarkably, one might say magically through the air and one hits solidly on the shield that Dante has just brought up, bouncing away harmlessly. The clubs don't return, they just lay there on the ground. Wilhelm has heard the name Urxehl somewhere, he's certain. But he just can't recall any details about the name. As the clubs are sailing Wilhelm charges forward. Man and Horse hit the lead Troll with a tremendous smash, the Troll taking a horrendous wound from the lance and hooves. As Lanya speaks a pit opens up behind the rearmost troll.
Somehow the troll manages to stumble away from the crumbling earth.
As the club falls to the ground beside him Dante rears up on Mandarb and spurs him to a charge, leveling his lance at the lead troll with a yell.
His lance driving into the flesh of the creature
Rowan is prepared as the trolls hurl their clubs at the group and breathes a slight sigh of relief that no one was injured yet. It's a truly impressive spectacle watching Wilhelm and Dante charge into battle as he asked Erastil for the gift of fire to burn away the remains of these foul creatures. After the first troll appears to take a fatal blow, Rowan choose to burn that one first.
DC 15 Reflex to avoid damage
With a scream of pain Grumps crumples under the weight of Dante's charge. Kali gives a roar of rage as she moves away from the pit and bites at Wilhelm.
She misses as she stumbles away from the pit.
Rowan creates a sphere of fire and starts to incinerate the remains of Grumps. His body weight actually causes the side of the pit he is next to to give way and the body rolls into the pit.
Continuing his charge, but veering clear of the pit Lanya created, Dante lowers his lance once more.
and connects!
After the burning remains of the first troll slides into the pit, Rowan then concentrates on moving it on to the next troll.
DC 15 Reflex save to avoid damage.
Slammed back again his saddle by the force of the impact, Wilhelm unclenches his teeth and ignores the ringing in his ears. As the other troll attempts to bite through his armor, Wilhelm drops his lance and shield, drawing his falchion and guiding Triumph to step closer to the beastly humanoid. With a yell, Wilhelm brings his falchion down in a powerful overhand blow. "Iomedae protect against these fiends!" Triumph rears back, slamming his hooves into the troll repeatedly and landing a forceful bite on the troll's neck.
Wilhelm's Falchion bounces off her scaly hide. Triumph however connects with both hooves and bite. Dante whirls his horse around and hits her with his lance.
The fire sears the trolls flesh and temporaritly stops her from regenerating.
She bares her fangs at Dante as she tries to bite him, her claws she uses on Wilhelm.
The bite scrapes off Dante's hardened skin.
She sinks her claws into the paladin and begins to rend him apart.
but she doesn't have a good enough grip. She does leave a bloody mess behind though.
Coughing wetly, Wilhelm touches hand to chest and murmurs a quick prayer to Iomedae. White light envelops the young paladin as his wounds close through divine will. Baring his teeth in a yell, "Argh! Down with you, bandit!", Wilhelm cleaves into the troll in a spray of blood. Triumph's training as a warhorse continues as the now red-streaked animal rears back and screeches its anger as it sense its master's pain.
Lanya rides up somewhat closer, just 10 feet behind Dante begins to call out to the troll.
"You should not be so troubled with those two men in front of you, I am the only one that matters."
She looks the troll right into its eyes and casts Lock Gaze.
The troll seems unable to take it's eyes from Lanya, even after Wilhelm cleaves its head from its shoulders. Rowans flame serves more than sufficient to make sure the two trolls do not get back up. The trolls have no possesions other than several sacks full of various dead animals, including a small deer. Their clubs however seem to be masterwork make and have a sigil of an eye with a pupil of fire carved in them.
The smell from the forest does not go away after the Trolls were burnt. Whatever is causing it was not the trolls.
Lanya squats down next to slain trolls and looks over them inquisitively.
Hmm... Are these trolls just normal roaming creatures or do they also serve 'The Green Lady'? Maybe their equipment will tell.
"I'm not sure if there are many shamans among trolls, but their weapons seem magical in nature. To me they look to be enchanted in such a way that you could throw them farther then normal."
She sniffs the air and Draekh seems to be still a little queezy from the scent coming from the nearby forest.
"I think we still have something to investigate over there. Shall we get along with it?" She says eagerly as she jumps back on her horse.
The smell gets stronger as you head into the forest, it has the distinctive smell of rotten eggs. You travel less than half a mile before you get to the source of the odor. It is a pond about 150' in diameter. From the bubbling it looks like there are multiple hot springs feeding from underneath the water.
Standing next to Lanya, Wilhelm cleans his blade on a spare rag as he studies the charred corpses of the creatures. "Nasty looking brutes, aren't they? I wonder if they're native to the land or if they're wanderers..."
Mulling over the matter, Wilhelm nods to Lanya's suggestion. "Yes, we should determine what's causing the foul stench in case it's something dangerous. Let's take the clubs with us, I suppose." Assisting in loading a pack mule with the clubs and retrieving and cleaning his lances, Wilhelm vaults into Triumph's saddle and starting into the forest.
Wrinkling his nose in disgust as they enter the yellowed clearing containing the lake. Studying the lake for a moment, he wonders at the forces that could cause a lake to boil. Noticing the frogs in the water, Wilhelm eyes the creatures and whispers to his companions, "I see a pair of frogs in the water, watching us. Huge frogs, not the normal little ones. Can you see them? Are they likely to be a danger to us or settlers, Rowan?" As he asks, Wilhelm carefully retrieves his lance and shield in case the beasts act aggressively.
" I wondered that myself just a few seconds ago." She tells Wilhelm.
"Even thought so much as perhaps them being send this way..." She adds murmuring to herself.
Lanya sits on her horse and wonders what might be wrong at this place.
"Huge frogs? I'd think it depends on whether they see us as flies or not, I'm not getting too close if you don't mind."
"I wonder how powerful of a shaman they must have to make weapons like these. Hopefully there isn't a large tribe of them around here."
Rowan feels the now familiar sharpening of his senses as he dons the Stag Lord's helm. Immediately he notices the two giant frogs Wilhelm pointed out, as well as the other two hidden nearby. "There's four of them." he says simply, pointing out the other two.
"I'm not quite sure yet, the water is a bit murky to make out their markings. We should be careful though, no telling when their last meal was and I know even peaceful creatures will attack if hungry enough."
Rowan watches the frogs intently and when one of them stirs a little bit in the water he recognizes the species.
"See the claws and spur on the forelimbs? They're Daggermark Clawbacks. They won't eat adults but I've heard tales of them eating children and halflings before." he frowns as he weighs his thoughts on balancing the needs of nature against those of their growing kingdom.
"They are aggressive and we will have to deal with them sooner or later." He looks at Wilhelm. "I imagine being a ruler is a lot like this. Deciding the lives of creatures you just met and wondering if you're doing the right thing. It's not any easy thing and I don't envy you the job."
Wilhelm sighs and nods in acknowledgement. "No, I'm not thrilled with this aspect of my duty, but it must be done nonetheless. They're not actively threatening us, but if we settle the woods nearby they'll be a threat to anyone wandering to the pond. Unless any of you object, I'd like to try to deal with them now."
Pausing a moment, Wilhelm glances in an aside to his companions. Assuming there are no objections, the young paladin looks back to the pond contemplatively. "I'd like to draw them out if we can, but I'm not sure how we'll manage that. Perhaps we can strike at them from range until they feel compelled to try to attack us at range?"
Wilhelm glances to his companions inquisitively, curious what other solutions they have in mind.
Looking over the pond, Wilhelm can see that it really isn't that deep, maybe 4' at the center. A good deal runs off in a torrent to the southeast. The frogs do have improved cover, but that seems more due to the fact that they are hunched down, ready to spring.
"Let me try something, perhaps I can lure them or agitate them out."
Lanya seems to think over her options before riding a little bit closer, then conjuring up her signature blue snakes, three this time. They twirl around her hand until she whispers to them.
"Seek those frogs out, make them jump."
With a small hand gesture, the three snakes fly from her hand and bound towards three of the submerged frogs, striking out at their backs.
Dante rears up on Mandarb. "Well that went smoothly, smells like death in this area."
Dismounting, Dante ties Mandarb to a tree, he draws his greatsword and stands near the front of the group. "Lure away if you can Lanya."
Nodding to Lanya, Wilhelm firms his grip on his lance and guides Triumph a little closer so that he's level with Lanya. Now in a position to intercept any angry amphibians, Wilhelm prepares to charge any of the frogs that emerge.
Lanya's blue snakes go flying out, hitting Frogs 1,2 and 3 and spurring them into action. 2 and 3 leap out of the pond heading straight towards the group. They get there in a full action and are unable to attack. Frogs 1 and 4 start to swim towards the party, the quickly hop up onto the shore 30' away.
Frog Status
1-2
2-4
3-5
Lanya spurs her horse to back off and retreat at least 5 feet, so someone else can step in, like Dante or Wilhelm.
When there's another person between her and the Frog she'll cast Grease beneath the two closest frogs.
"Slimy things shouldn't combine with a slippery surface. It would all go downhill from there on."
She says to no one in particular as the glistening magical substance is thrown off of her hands and beneath the frogs.
Dante swings his greatsword in a vicious arc splaying open the first frog that jumps at them, continuing the motion into the second frog that was hopping up.
And drives his swinging blade into the jaw of the second frog. Having dispatched the frogs in a blink of an eye he runs up to one of the others and swings at it with herculean force.
Slaughtering that frog, he follows with a back swing.
Standing over his foes, forearms and blade drenched in slime and frog blood.
Cursing at the speed with which the frogs closed on the group, Wilhelm lashes out with lance and spurs Triumph into action.
Shouting to his companions, "Keep at them!", Wilhelm spurs Triumph towards the nearest frog, dropping lance and shield to take up his finely crafted falchion. Hacking into the nearest frog, Wilhelm skillfully directs Triumph to start trampling on a frog as only a trained warhorse can.
Shouting to his companions, "Keep at them!", Wilhelm spurs Triumph towards the nearest frog, dipping his lance point at the last moment in an attempt to impale a frog. Having completed his own attack, Wilhelm skillfully directs Triumph to start trampling on a frog as only a trained warhorse can.
Rowan moves into the attack with Dante, aiding him in the fight.
Dante cleaves the two frogs that have hopped near you effortlessly, clearing Wilhelm a path to charge the second group of frogs. Wilhelm winds up with a frog impaled on his lance, while Dante and Rowan following close behind dispatches the fourth. Lanya stops casting her spell, as she quickly realizes the frogs were outmatched.
The pond proves a good place to camp, provided you can stand the smell. The waters are fairly warm, but not scalding and anyone that wishes finds that the heat and minerals in the water actually make for a comforting soak, although afterwards drying off is a little chilly. There are no encounters that night.
Pharast 23
The morning breaks with a light rain and you surprise an elk early in the day. The rain soon stops but stays cloudy and you finish exploring the hex with the hot springs. It is heavy woods and the springs feed into a stream which soon becomes fairly robust and you realize that you may have found the beginnings of the Skunk River. At least now you know why it has that name. About midafternoon a fairly severe thunderstorm hits and for a few hours it rains heavily. The temperature drops during the storm and by the end it is in the mid 40's. There are no encounters that night.
Pharast 25
It looks to be a beautiful day. It's still a bit cool, the temperature tops out in the high 50's, but otherwise it is sunny. You turn to the east, exploring more heavy forest, about lunchtime you dispatch a man sized centipede, that had been hidden in some very heavy bramble and thorns. As you push your way through the brush to make sure that no more of the bugs exist (you had to leave your horses behind) you stumble across a large clearing in the woods. You happen to be entering from the east and the western side of the clearing is dominated by a looming, upthrust ridge of rock, nearly 300' across and rising to a moss tipped height of 200' at the center. The side of the rock facing you has been carved in the likeness of an immense elk, its antlers drooping down from its weathered face to frame a 50' wide cave. A flight of moss covered stone steps lead up from the clearing floor to the cave. A 50' long oval pool lies between you and the stairs, filled with algae and putrid water. As you look over the area, the largest bear you have ever seen appears in the entrance of the cave and gives a frightening bellow.
Rowan smiles at the surprised elk, considering it to be a sign of Erastil's blessing as he watches it gracefully leap away. He continues mapping the area after the rain stops and grins and jokes with the others about how the Skunk river received it's name. When the thunderstorm begins, Rowan pulls his hides a little tighter around himself and keeps his magic helm upon his head as they continue their journey.
Rowan looks up at the huge elk carved rock, grinning as an idea comes to mind.
"This would be an inspiring place to consecrate to Erastil," he tells the others. His grin fades, however, as the most immense bear he has ever seen emerges from the cave and roars.
"How in Avistan do the animals here get so damn huge?!" Rowan asks incredulously.
"Argos! Defend!" he orders, pointing at Lanya. "Don't let the lady get hurt."
Wiping the tip of his lance clean of frog blood, Wilhelm looks down at the frogs with a mixture of sadness and distaste. "It's a shame to have to put them down, but I wouldn't want them to harm a child wandering near the pool."
Dismounting and stepping to the edge of a pool, he holds a hand just above the surface for a moment before dipping it in. "Pleasantly warm, but not what I'd call hot. I can understand why the frogs liked it here. This seems a decent enough place to set up camp." Recovering a vial from his grooming kit, Wilhelm dabs a little bit of the juniper scented oil beneath his nose before offering it around. "I'm not a fan of the stench, but it's getting later and I haven't seen any other campsites. This should help a little bit."
Grimacing up at the sky, Wilhelm ignores the constant driving rain. Chuckling in appreciation of Rowan's quips, Wilhelm replies, "I can't blame that poor elk from running away from us. After last night spent near that pond we no doubt stink something fierce."
Casting a glance at Lanya, Wilhelm pulls the owlbear furs from around his shoulders and nudges Triumph a bit closer. With a smile, Wilhelm offers to Lanya playfully, "Here, this should keep off the worst of the cold and wet. It wouldn't do if our only arcanist caught sick, now would it?"
Having enjoyed the day, Wilhelm grimaced in frustration as the group breaks into the clearing. "It seems it was just the one oversized bug. Thank Iomedae for that. Disgusting creature..." Wiping centipede ichor off of his boot, Wilhelm glances up in surprise at Rowan's exclamation. Taking in the immensity of the structure, Wilhelm grins a little before the bellowing challenge reaches his ears. Cursing quietly as a monster of a bear appears, Wilhelm draws his longbow and starts to nock an arrow. Nodding approvingly to Rowan, Wilhelm says as he draws his arrow to his ear, "Stay behind us, Lanya, and if you can slow that monster down, I'd be appreciative. Dante, I'll do what damage I can as it closes and then join you in fighting the monster up close, Iomedae protect."
Lanya chuckles at Wilhelm's offer. "Why thank you Wilhelm, how gallant of you. Now how could I repay the favour?" A playful smile displayed on her lips as she says that.
She takes the cloak of owlbear furs and huddles in it while riding her horse. "No doubt four horsemen also make a lot of sound in addition to the smell. Hunting might not be our strongest point now."
Lanya turns her horse around at the sight of the huge bear and falls back behind Wilhelm, Dante and Rowan.
"No need to tell me twice, that bear is huge." Lanya already has an idea about which spell to use, but seems to be caught pretty much off guard to act.
"Say Rowan that's an interesting idea you have there, could this possibly be that place that priest Jhon Khavked was searching for?"
Immediately after belowing the bear backs up to the right stairway and starts moving down them huffing towards the party. It's appearance is torturous, bones have grown through the skin and it appears to be in great pain.
Lanya casts Grease beneath the bear and hopes he'll fall from it,
"Let's hope bears slide as well as they can swim."
Surprised by the lumbering speed with which the bear was approaching, Wilhelm considers for a moment if he may have been a bit rash in thinking the group should attack the bear. If anyone will die today at the hands of this beast, it will be me. I won't let another die like I did when Felix fell. The young paladin shouts at the gigantic bear, hoping to draw its attention to him, "Monstrousity! Run away! Back to the woods with you! Haargh!"
Gesturing towards the bear, Wilhelm attempts to invoke Iomedae's wrath after noticing the unusual spurs and growths on the beast. Could this be some demon spawn or cursed somehow?
"Move behind the fountain so he can't get to us directly. Let him come to us! Rowan, if you have some way to slow him down, now might be a good time. Dante, let him focus on me before starting in on him." Drawing his longbow to its full length, Wilhelm finishes offering tactical advice and takes aim at the bear. As the string releases, he grunts at the violent force of the bow.
Dropping his bow, Wilhelm draws his falchion and prepares to receive the beasts charge. Hopefully I live to tell the tale. The baron of Domierov and the demon bear of the Narlmarches will make a find bard's song...
With a nod, Dante dismounts and draws his sword, waiting for the bear to close and hoping to flank it with Wilhelm.
"It very well could be, Lanya. I'll let him know once we return to Oleg's."
Rowan nods at Wilhelm's suggestion, "Got it." He replies simply, focusing on calling the roots and vegetation to spring forth to entangle the bear once it leaves the stairs.
Wilhelm's puts a perfect longbow shot into the bears shoulder but Iomedae doesn't seem to consider the bear evil. Wilhelm feels conflicted, she does seem to providing protection versus the bear. (You get the AC boost). The sound of Wilhelm barking orders seems to enrage the bear more than the actual arrow. As Rowan casts his spell the vines in the area seem to grab at the bear, more effectively than Rowan has ever seen them before (The bear is getting a -4 to his reflex) but the bear charges through them like they weren't there, although it does slow it down a bit.
Argos moves in front of Lanya, between her and the bear.