Carith nodded in appreciation of Erodin's assessment and the proposed trade. He had been intending on waiting until their immediate issue was addressed, but the devil-blooded's thinking was on the same page as the cleric's. Any army was ultimately led by its stomach, so there was no shame in attempting to enlist the stone giant's help in exchange for food.
The priest stood his ground, waiting to see if the more sharp-sighted of the group could spot the bunny-man's trail again. A rather clever ploy on the beast-man's part, to be sure. Carith raised his assessment on the danger presented by these enemies, if they could devise such a devious trap.
The conjured lights cut through the darkness with ease, allowing the party to show the giant where the muddy paw prints led across the clearing and right through his wall into his domain. The exercise essentially became an invitation into his home since the giant seemed to encourage the hunt. It became apparent that the rabbit-man had entered through the wall then immediately turned toward the gorge flank where his tracks become nigh untraceable due to the steep rocks and continued rainfall. It looked as if he climbed his way out, making this seem more like a ruse with every passing moment.
This ruse infuriated the giant. He went on several further verbal tirades against Gore and his "man-beasts", wishing upon them a creative array of doom and misfortune. After the search for more tracks came to an end, he addressed the adventurers,
"My name is Fofsag. Little men are usually not to be trusted but I believe that you are not typical. It is late and the weather is difficult for travelers. Do you wish to shelter here this night?"
Fofsag's domain was composed of a small gorge that narrowed toward the back, with its opening walled off at the front (where the rabbit-man and you all entered). There was a smoothed stone slab that appeared to be a bed, replete with a man-sized stone pillow! Chiseled into the stone gorge walls were huge shelves filled with a few stacked bowls and mugs, giant-sized of course. Wooden crates and barrels (clearly made by normal-sized folk) were neatly placed next to a corral, likely where the cows spent most of their time. There was almost certainly more to be seen here but the darkness of night and shadow swallowed up anything beyond the torchlight at hand.
"We are blessed with healing power. Would you like for us to see what we can do about that wound of yours?"
"Your offer is kind however the damage is mostly healed. I believe the scar will remain for the rest of my days."
He wondered what might happen to the giant as it grew hungrier. It might not be quite as friendly as it had been now. But maybe there was a way to help. "Ya know, I bet there's good folk who could use a protector like you. Maybe wouldn't mind tradin' you food in exchange. Whaddya think 'bout that? If we found a place for ya, would ya wanna go?"
Fofsag listened intently and thought for a few moments before answering.
"I would need to know more. I like my home here, and I am not particularly fond of little folk, but I will not rule anything out until I hear more."
"Hail, Fofsag. I am Carith Blankenship, follower of the Inheritor, Iomedae. I appreciate your offer of hospitality and will gladly accept." The priest didn't know what kind of gesture of respect to make to the giant, so wisely offers none.
Carith again thought Erodin's words wise. Though the idea itself was sound, the priest doubted they had the resources at the moment to fund sending enough food to keep the giant happy for long, if the Keep decided against such an idea. Better to under-promise and over-deliver, if it could be helped.
As the watch is sorted out and it appeared the young man would be on the last watch, he spread out his bedroll on a somewhat comfortable looking patch of ground. He then went through the arduous process of removing his armor, setting the various pieces beside the bedroll neatly. Once done, he grasped his new holy symbol and offered praise to his Goddess for offering a potential ally and a fine place to rest. The cleric is soon fast asleep.
Pinto felt strangely safe next to the stone giant, "Well, we little folk can be trusted for sure."
He thought fir a moment and then added, "We have not met the folk at the Keep but I can assure that they do not want to count you as their enemy. We'll find out more information from them to see if some sort of an alliance makes sense."
He concluded, "At the very least, we, meaning us here, would like to count you as a friend and offer our help in any task. Your hospitality will not be forgotten."
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WATCH
Pinto rubbed his shoulders as he was assigned first watch. he joked with Elia, "I guess it's you and me, kid. You are not going to get drunk again, are you?"
"Thank you for generously opening your home to us Fofsag," Eina says after the giant invites them in. "Perhaps after this business is over, we could swap tales of our peoples."
"No, I do not plan on repeating that experience, at least not without some sort of reward for my troubles," she says, shaking her head. She gives Pinto a smile to let him know that no offence was taken.
The giant brought around some wood for a fire to help warm and dry the friends after the rainy journey. Unfortunately Fofsag is used to making fires much larger than a typical human campfire and so the logs were large enough to make a bonfire. After a few laughs at the impracticality, the logs were broken, chopped, and resized into more manageable logs, and a fire was made.
The exhausting march that brought the group here was soon felt in full. The giant host went to fetch his cattle, dragged a stone slab to close off the wall from intruders, and bid the companions 'goodnight'. The trust he showed became apparent when he fell asleep so quickly, so close to what amounted to strangers right in his home. After a brief discussion about who will stay up on watch, the group fell asleep as well, secure in the knowledge that two sets of friendly eyes and a powerful guardian were nearby if any trouble were to arise.
Carith slept hard that night after the long day's march, thankful he got a full rest before having to serve his watch with Brandt. As the glow of the sun started to brighten the sky to the east, not yet sunrise but with imminent promise of such, the man kneels and prays to his Goddess, asking for Her blessing on the day's travel and for such gifts as She might bequeath to him.
Solemn, yet with the eagerness of youth still burning in his veins, he is more than ready to strike camp and leave after everyone is ready.
A tentative friendship seemed to have been forged; Fofsag the stone giant had welcomed the party into his domain for rest and recovery. Offers of future alliances and propositions were discussed again over breakfast, with the giant remaining noncommittal but curious. Such notions would have to wait for another day.
After letting Wirt and Derry out for their morning walk, Fofsag walked the adventurers back to the thruway, bidding them farewell while offering the first bounty they were to receive,
”I do not have coins as you little people use so I cannot offer a monetary reward, but if you bring me Gore’s head, I will be exceedingly grateful and will owe you a significant favor in return. Perhaps a treasured enchanted item as well? Yes, I think so.”
“Good fortune. We will meet again.”
The morning brought with it blue skies and white clouds with a warm humidity and occasional dirty puddles nestled along the roadside to remind of the rains the day before. Black birds perched atop scraggly trees turned their heads to watch the travelers go by, cawing with scandalized ire at these newcomers scaring away possible prey. The old road was irregular through these crags; it wound around the steep hills while rising and falling over the stouter ones. It was in better repair than the many miles west of this area, likely due to a lack of regular use over the last century or so. The ups and downs and wide-arounds were regular, making it a tiring journey in spite of the good road. It was easily twice the walking distance and thrice the energy to traverse than the straight line as the crow flies. These crags actually managed to grow ever more rugged the farther east they traveled - making for deeper dips, longer inclines, and even a natural bridge spanning the narrowest portion of a shockingly deep gorge that otherwise would be treacherous indeed.
A full day of travel was behind them as they discussed stopping to make camp. It was then that a new smell beckoned them forward – the intoxicating scent of greenery and raw wilderness seemed to wash over the inclining ridge ahead toward the group. Keeping their pace for a short distance further the party crested the ridge to a breathtaking landscape before them to the east –
-A lush and fertile valley of green sprawled out for miles on end, with these crags running north and south in a wide crescent shape, acting as a sort of barrier to the woodland beyond.
-To the northeast was a nearby mountain range covered in multi-colored trees, marking a contrast between the solid green woods it nestled in below.
-Beyond this range in the distance stood a tall dark mountain peak thrusting upward into a smoky canopy of ashy clouds that sporadically flashed shades of orange and red.
-The road eastward left behind these red stone badlands about a quarter mile ahead where the scattered tree line quickly grew dense and impenetrable to view from this distance.
-A fair-sized river poured out from somewhere to the south, running eastward and drawing near the road up ahead. Though it is unclear from the dense trees, it appeared that a swampy land to the southeast was likely fed by the waters of this river.
-More to the immediate interest of the group was what appeared to be a keep in the distance some miles due east. It rested atop a range of gray hills poking out from the otherwise green landscape. The castle was the only structure in sight, forcing all to assume that it was likely their destination, the Keep on the Borderlands!
"A lovely land indeed." Brandt says in delight, looking over the view with admiration.
"And a pleasant journey thanks to the good Sir Thud." He adds, patting the yak in thanks for carrying Brandt's pack.
The priest, admiring the majestic view in the setting sun, can only nod at Taecuss' statement. This was hopefully the beginning of great things for his Goddess in this region, and the people who lived here as well. There would always be conflict in the world, but people took heart in knowing that there were those available who would leap to their defense. He nods to his eleven companion, a smile budding on his face. If She wills it, most certainly."
Eina tried to stay awake and alert for her watch, but the long day and wearying march finally made their toll felt and Pinto could see the young woman fighting a losing battle with sleep for the last half-hour or so. By the time they woke Erodin and Taecuss for their watch, she was all but a sleep on her feet. When she finally curled up in her bedroll, she was asleep almost as soon as she laid her head down.
The next morning, she manages to curb her curiosity for the sake of the others, but as they leave, she asks Fofsag if she could visit one day and hear the tales of him and his people. She's barely able to keep her anticipation in check, but the way her eyes light up at the possibility is impossible to miss.
Thud gives Brandt a playful bump and a friendly snort of appreciation at the northman's thanks. Eina just chuckles and shakes her head.
"I have never seen something like this," she says, though it's a bit difficult to tell if she is speaking of the landscape or the friendliness between Thud and Brandt. Her mirth disappears as she sees the mountain shrouded in smoke and ash.
"Do any of you know what many of storm that is," she says pointing to the black, ashy clouds and the flashes of red and orange. "I find the flashes of what seem to be fire an ill omen."
"Volcano." Brandt says respectfully. "The fires of the earth are close to the surface there, pushing lava and smoke every upward. If it erupts the sky will blacken and rivers of lava will flow forth, burning though everything it their path."
He suddenly grins, breaking his somber tone. "Also very good for hot springs. Nothing like soaking in a hot pool after a long hard day."
"A storm of fire and ash. My people have tales of these, and they always end badly," Eina says with a note of worry in her voice, though she gives Brandt a grin and adds, "I would not mind trying these hot springs, if you say they are good for soaking."
Pinto looked out at the keep ans asked, "How much farther do you think it is?"
He added, "I mean we chased a rabbit man for a few hours longer last night and we all made it OK. If a few hours more will get us to the Keep, I would rather do that than camp here."
Being on his own in the wilds gave the man a pretty good idea of distances.
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-A fair-sized river poured out from somewhere to the south, north, cutting eastward and drawing near the road up ahead. Though it is unclear from the dense trees, it appeared that a swampy land to the southeast was likely fed by the waters of this river.
-Though it was far distant, there was no mistaking the blue-green hue on the horizon; it was the sea! Vast and untamable, filled with the most ancient of monsters, reaching all the way to the ends of the world!
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Pinto looked out at the keep ans asked, "How much farther do you think it is?"
He added, "I mean we chased a rabbit man for a few hours longer last night and we all made it OK. If a few hours more will get us to the Keep, I would rather do that than camp here."
Being on his own in the wilds gave the man a pretty good idea of distances.
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Erodin helps gauge the distance to the Keep to evaluate the option of pressing on.
Alas, the keep appeared to be too far to justify a continued march this day. It was distant enough that another day's march would be needed.
Before settling in, Taecuss will ask Erodin to join him. "I just want to walk around our campsite for a little ways to make sure it is relatively safe. I'd hate to have everyone bed down a hundred yards from some terrible noctural predator." With the darksighted warrior with him, Tae is comfortable in the evening light walking a circuit, maybe a hundred yard radius, to make they don't miss any boons (a natural spring, berry bushes?) or banes (predators, noxious insect hives?) too close to them.
The area atop the crags bluff overlooking the borderlands was remarkably barren of both apparent refreshment and dangerous fauna. The elf's brief walk around the vicinity did reveal the presence of fur-filled excrement, though it was plainly quite old and brittle. A hunting cat or something similar had once used this perch for its high vantage, granting an excellent place from which to scout prey. Satisfied that no such predator had been here in many days at the least, Taecuss returned to the group with word that the area was clear.
Boots hit the road early that morning immediately after camp was broken, an hour or so after dawn. Eager to reach the keep by dinner time they chewed on hard tack and dried apples as they walked instead of delaying any longer at camp. The trees were growing more prevalent and clustered but the thruway had not yet entered any sort of forest as was seen from the camp's vantage this morning. Hopes of yesterday's fine weather staying on through today were dashed in a matter of minutes, casting doubt on the smooth journey ahead. White clouds darkened over, chest-rattling thunder clapped overhead, and white lightning danced from cloud to cloud before deciding which tree to immolate.
And immolate it did. Tree after tree, some closer than others, were ripped apart by the angry sky's furious attacks, splitting trunks and causing an eruption of orange flames. The storm's intensity was profound, much worse than the rains a few days ago, and so these fires didn't last more than several moments before being snuffed out by the wet. Gushing fingers of thick white smoke that replaced the fires blew out and dispersed into the rainy wind. A pair of unfortunate birds flailed their wings in vain, struggling against the wind as punishment for not finding shelter in time.
The road came to a fork where it split around and reformed beyond a small ovular stone patio upon which a pile of rubble rested. The stone rubble appeared to have once been a obelisk, though with ample graffiti and deliberate damage done to the old inscriptions. A few moments of study showed the number '1000' prominently stated upon multiple flat surfaces of the broken monolith.
Many roads within the Free Realms of Mylosis were well maintained during the height of its power, and squat monolith mile-markers were placed along these roads with numbers representing how many miles of road (not as the crow flies) were between that point and the great city. This might be one of these, though this obelisk would have stood 15' at the least, and the number '1000' sounded a bit hard to imagine in this context.
This land was once the edge of civilization, a civilization that was much stronger and farther away than the Baroness' seat of power to the west. The former Jewel of the West, Mylosis, was the center of this empire that stretched for nearly a thousand miles in several directions.
Many roads within the Free Realms of Mylosis were well maintained during the height of its power, and squat monolith mile-markers were placed along these roads with numbers representing how many miles of road (not as the crow flies) were between that point and the great city. This spot represents the farthest east the realm had ever stretched, and so a monolith more grand than the normal squat mile markers was erected here.
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As the group paused to study the broken obelisk, a creeping sensation of being watched washed over the adventurers, surely as the rainfall running down their cloaks. Lightning flashed and revealed a short-statured rider up ahead a hundred feet up the road, standing still in the grass just north of the thruway. The rider appeared to be the size of a halfling, though the cloak drawn over his/her face dispelled any chance at knowing for certain at this distance. He/she was mounted upon what looked like a long-toothed lion - a rare mount indeed.
Brandt will make a gesture with an open hand to show peaceful intentions, waiting for a response from the rider.
Brandt will make a gesture with an open hand to show peaceful intentions, waiting for a response from the rider.
Thunder cracked overhead almost continually and the pouring rain rushed all around, but the lone rider made no move to acknowledge Brandt's wave.
Thousand miles, eh? Pinto was tired just by thinking about making such a trip.
Pinto tried again to flag down the rider; he cupped his hands as he yelled, "Hello there? Is there shelter nearby to get out of this rain?"
Eina and Little Thunderhead had been in storms like this before. Thud, as Eina affectionately called the yak, plodded on as if it was just another day. Eina, though, began to dance. It wasn't perfect, and a time or two she slipped in the mud, but as they made for the keep, she danced alongside her companions, her laugh just heard above the thunder and the wind. Her dancing did slow things a little, but as they draw closer to the diminutive rider on the fearsome mount, Eina stops and her smile disappears. She waits for the rider to respond, remembering that goblins are also small like a halfling.
The cat rider made no effort to reply. After a few dull moments of wondering if any answer was coming, the rider patted the hunting cat's neck. The dutiful mount then turned around toward the tree cover, darting off on swift paws. The hooded rider turned toward the group before disappearing and cackled maniacally, though it was heavily muffled by the storm.
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A short walk past the broken monument delivered the group to a sturdy stone and wood bridge that spanned a wide rushing river. The waters rushed along violently below, frothing through jagged rocks and broken tree trunks. Knowing that bridges represented a dangerous choke point and large potential for banditry, the group made certain to check for hidden foes or any such trouble. Finding none they moved forward cautiously and were relieved to find the bridge and several miles of road behind them before anything interesting happened.
Rounding a bend brought several squat humanoid figures into view. The road ahead was obscured by a mudslide from the north that ran downhill toward the raging river that skirted the road for much of the way. Half a dozen or more pudgy pale gray-skinned figures with comically bulbous noses milled about the muddy vicinity, looking at the ground. Some used sticks to poke and probe into the soft ground.
Their focus elsewhere meant the newly-arrived adventurers were yet unseen.
These humanoids appeared to be a race of goblinkind known as grumpkins. More fey in nature than their more common greenskin wide-mouth cousins, grumpkins are a rare offshoot propped up by the stories of rural folk.
Grumpkins prefer to live underground.
These humanoids are a race of goblinkind known as grumpkins. More fey in nature than their more common greenskin wide-mouth cousins, grumpkins have an affinity with nature - specifically earth - that sets them apart in several ways. Their skin is resistant to normal physical attacks, countered by the cold-forged iron that is the bane of fey creatures. Stories also tell of them burrowing with unnatural (some might say supernatural) skill in spite of a lack of claws or body shape inclined for such movement.
While most grumpkins prefer to live underground, it is not unknown for groups to reside in huts or hideouts above ground if good opportunities for theft and murder are better served there. This could also be due to a surface-dwelling ally nearby.
"Grumpkins? What are they doing aboveground," she asks the others.
Pinto suddenly stopped and made the others aware of the humanoids up ahead.
He whispered, "Any idea who they are?"
Without waiting for an answer, he made sure his weapons were within reach and he started rolling his shoulders in anticipation of a fight or flight.
"Should we say hello, then," Eina asks with a devilish grin.
Pinto did not even have to look, "I have no cold iron weapons."
He flexed his thick arms, "These will have to do if it comes to a scuffle."
He ducked low, "Why don't we wait and see what they're planning to do?"
"Well, that was.. Dramatic." Brandt muses as the rider vanishes.
He draws his cold iron dagger when told of the nature of Grumpkins, awaiting the readiness of the others.
Seeing the others gearing up for a fight.
"A blessing before battle," Eina says as sparks of blue-white settle over the others.
Her companions given the blessing of the storm, the young Lorekeeper steps out into the road and aims her bow. Her eyes glitter and a wolfish smile spreads on her face as she sends an arrow streaking for the furthest Grumpkin.
Carith stared at the strange half-sized rider as he rode up on his dangerous cat mount, the priest's hand moving to his weapon. As the tension built as the stranger stood his ground, Carith shivered slightly as the deluge threatened to overwhelm his garments. Just as suddenly as he appeared, the beast-rider vanished with a strange laugh. It was just as well...the Cleric wasn't in the mood for much beyond worrying about a nice warm fire.
As the group came upon the humanoids milling about, Carith found he didn't need to voice his opinion on what to do with the creatures once he was told of their nature. As Eina called upon her strange totem spirits, Carith called upon his own reservoir of power granted him by Iomedae. "Oh great Lady, this group soon goes forth to do Your bidding in this world, ridding this growing land of these agents of chaos and murder. Grant this man Your protection from the foul weapons of these beasts so that he may live to serve Your agenda again."
The priest reached forward, grasping Pinto's brawny shoulder for a moment as a glowing shroud seemed to encompass the older man. Within a second it is gone, though at certain angles a slight glint can still be seen.
Pinto thanks Iomedae's faithful for the blessing and turns to the devil-blooded, "Can I use those close-up? You know I like to see the white of my enemies' eyes."
He grabs the weapon and takes a couple of swings with it, "Ok, this is not bad."
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The man then almost cuts himself with the weapon, "Maybe this is not meant to be used up close after all. Let me throw one of them and then I'll rely back this new morningstar to do the job."
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